Extend GitLab Duo Agent Platform: Connect any tool with MCP

This post introduces support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP) within the GitLab Duo Agent Platform. It details the technical steps required to configure an integration between GitLab Duo Agent Platform (acting as an MCP client) and Jira (acting as an MCP server). This includes setting up Jira OAuth applications, configuring the `mcp.json` file in GitLab projects, and enabling external MCP tools in GitLab settings. It also provides three practical use cases demonstrating how to leverage this integration for planning assistance, issue triage and creation from code, and cross-system incident investigation. The post also outlines troubleshooting steps and security considerations for the integration.