<!--This issue template can be used as a great starting point for feature requests. Learn more about the process: https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/product-management/#customer-feature-requests. The section "Release notes" can be used as a summary of the feature and is also required if you want to have your release post blog MR auto generated using the release post item generator: https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/marketing/blog/release-posts/#release-post-item-generator. The remaining sections are the backbone for every feature in GitLab. The goal of this template is brevity for quick/smaller iterations. For a more thorough list of considerations for larger features or feature sets, you can leverage the detailed [feature proposal](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/.gitlab/issue_templates/Feature%20proposal%20-%20detailed.md).--> ### Release notes <!--What is the problem and solution you're proposing? This content sets the overall vision for the feature and serves as the release notes that will populate in various places, including the [release post blog](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/categories/releases/) and [Gitlab project releases](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/releases). "--> ### Problem to solve <!--What is the user problem you are trying to solve with this issue?--> The GitLab MCP Server supports the current MCP specification, [2025-06-18](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/2025-06-18). We learned that [older specifications exist](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/2025-03-26), which are implemented by clients like continue. These clients throw an error on connect: ```shell Failed to connect to "GitLab MCP server" Error: Server's protocol version is not supported: 2025-06-18 ``` To work with GitLab, these MCP Clients need to update their client SDKs implementation to the newer protocol specification. Full details in https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/561564#note_2900533601 ### Proposal <!--Use this section to explain the feature and how it will work. It can be helpful to add technical details, design proposals, and links to related epics or issues.--> The MCP protocol specification will release a new version, and we should discuss how best to support our customers using different clients (and therefore, spec versions) in production. Questions to answer: 1. Will all MCP Clients immediately be updated to the newer spec version 2. Are there any LTS use cases to support an older spec for X amount of time (will need docs + support maintenance policy updates). Idea: 1. Implement a client handshake with supported versions 2. Different behavior depending on client sent version 3. Similar to Docker API version requirements ### Intended users <!--Who will use this feature? If known, include any of the following: types of users (e.g. Developer), personas, or specific company roles (e.g. Release Manager). It's okay to write "Unknown" and fill this field in later. Personas are described at https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/ * [Parker (Product Manager)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#parker-product-manager) * [Delaney (Development Team Lead)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#delaney-development-team-lead) * [Presley (Product Designer)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#presley-product-designer) * [Sasha (Software Developer)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#sasha-software-developer) * [Priyanka (Platform Engineer)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#priyanka-platform-engineer) * [Sidney (Systems Administrator)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#sidney-systems-administrator) * [Rachel (Release Manager)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#rachel-release-manager) * [Simone (Software Engineer in Test)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#simone-software-engineer-in-test) * [Allison (Application Ops)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#allison-application-ops) * [Ingrid (Infrastructure Operator)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#ingrid-infrastructure-operator) * [Dakota (Application Development Director)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#dakota-application-development-director) * [Dana (Data Analyst)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#dana-data-analyst) * [Eddie (Content Editor)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#eddie-content-editor) * [Amy (Application Security Engineer)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#amy-application-security-engineer) * [Isaac (Infrastructure Engineer)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#isaac-infrastructure-security-engineer) * [Alex (Security Operations Engineer)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#alex-security-operations-engineer) * [Cameron (Compliance Manager)](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/personas/#cameron-compliance-manager)--> ### Feature Usage Metrics <!--How are you going to track usage of this feature? Think about user behavior and their interaction with the product. What indicates someone is getting value from it? Explore (../../doc/development/internal_analytics/internal_event_instrumentation/quick_start.md) for a guide.--> ### Does this feature require an audit event? <!--- Checkout these docs to know more https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/audit_event_guide/#what-are-audit-events https://docs.gitlab.com/administration/compliance/audit_event_reports/ ---> <!--Label reminders Make sure to add the appropriate labels for the product stage and/or group (e.g ~"devops::plan") if known and add a comment tagging the appropriate Product Manager. Use the following resources to find the appropriate labels: - Use only one tier label choosing the lowest tier this is intended for - https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/labels - https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/product/categories/features/ Examples: /label ~group:: ~section:: ~Category: /label ~"GitLab Free" ~"GitLab Premium" ~"GitLab Ultimate"--> /cc @nateweinshenker @amandarueda @wortschi