YouTrack MCP Server: New features in Issue Reminder App 2.1.0

In modern software development, context is everything. Nothing slows down the flow more than constantly jumping back and forth between IDE, browser, and issue tracker. In my last post, I reported on the remote MCP server in YouTrack. Since then, I have really come to appreciate working with MCP (Model Context Protocol) in my everyday work: I now handle simple tasks related to my issues directly from IntelliJ using Junie.

Whether I need to quickly add a comment to an issue or get a quick overview of my upcoming tasks, I can stay in my current work context. This is exactly where we come in with the update to our YouTrack app Issue Reminder .

New in version 2.1.0: Issue Reminder speaks MCP

We have integrated two MCP tools that you can use via the Remote MCP Server in YouTrack:

• get_reminders: Retrieves a list of all existing issue reminders so that the AI knows what is coming up next.
• create_reminder: Creates new reminders directly from the chat without having to leave the IDE.

Here's a quick example: You can now simply say to Junie, "Show me my reminders for today and create a new one for tomorrow at 2 p.m. to finalize DM-301." The rest happens in the background directly in YouTrack for you.

Tutorial: How to set up MCP tools in IntelliJ

To use the new features, you need to connect to YouTrack using your MCP client (such as Junie in IntelliJ).

1. Prepare authentication

First, you need a YouTrack token. You can create this in YouTrack under: Profile settings → Account security → New token. Important: Treat this token like a password. It allows access to all YouTrack functions for which your user account is authorized. Select only YouTrack as the scope here, not Administration.

2. Configuration in IntelliJ

Go to IntelliJ settings under Junie → MCP Settings and add a new configuration. An example setup looks like this. Replace the values YOUTRACK-URL and YOUTRACK-TOKEN with your own:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "youtrack": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "YOUTRACK-URL/mcp?customToolPackages=issue_reminder",
        "--header",
        "Authorization:${AUTH_HEADER}"
      ],
      "env": {
        "AUTH_HEADER": "Bearer YOUTRACK-TOKEN"
      }
    }
  }
}

3. Unlock app-specific MCP tools

The MCP tools from YouTrack apps (such as Issue Reminder) do not appear automatically in the list by default. You must enable them manually using a URL parameter. To do this, simply append the parameter customToolPackages=issue_reminder to your YouTrack URL. Once you click OK, a green check mark will appear in the UI, indicating that the connection is established.

Bonus use case

A little tip on the side: You can even use it to automate tasks in badges. One (perhaps not entirely serious) use case: Let the AI automatically remove all stars from issues that you may have distributed too generously. It just shows how deeply AI can now intervene in processes when you give it the right tools.

Outlook: We're staying on the ball

The joy of experimenting with new technologies such as MCP pays off. The update for our Issue Reminder app is the result of our creative exploration of AI interfaces. And I can promise you: these will certainly not be the last MCP tools we use to expand the usefulness of our YouTrack apps. We are eagerly following developments in this area.

Have you already gained experience with MCP in your development environment?

I look forward to your feedback and questions!