• IN PROGRESS
  • DONE
  • BACKLOG
  • HUMAN

How to update GitHub issue status with your AI

Connect ZenHub to your AI client once. After that, you can manage your entire ZenHub board through your chat interface.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How do I update GitHub issue status with my AI?

Your AI client uses ZenHub tools to pull issue details and move them between pipelines. You just tell your agent which issue to move and where it goes. This keeps your ZenHub board current while you stay in your code editor.

Pipeline outcomes

Where your issues land.

The AI moves issues based on your commands.

IN PROGRESS

Active work

The AI moves an issue from the backlog to your active pipeline. You get an updated board immediately.

DONE

Completed tasks

Move finished issues to the final pipeline. This clears your active view without manual dragging.

BACKLOG

Paused work

Send issues back to a previous stage if requirements change. Your board stays organized automatically.

HUMAN

Manual review

If an issue needs a complex description change or a new label, you'll handle that in the ZenHub UI. The AI handles the movement, not the content editing.

The workflow

What your AI does when you request a status change.

The AI handles the heavy lifting of navigating your ZenHub pipelines.

  1. Fetch issue details

    Your agent looks up the specific issue you're talking about to confirm its current state.

    get_zenhub_issue_data

  2. Identify target pipeline

    The AI determines which pipeline stage the issue belongs in based on your request.

    get_zenhub_issue_data

  3. Update the status

    The agent moves the issue to the new pipeline stage you specified.

    move_issue_between_pipelines

  4. Confirm movement

    The AI verifies the move was successful and tells you the issue is now in the new column.

    get_zenhub_issue_data

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to trigger the ZenHub tools.

Starting points

These are just ideas. Swap out the issue numbers and pipeline names for your actual ZenHub data.

ZenHub Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_beij0SNHrCXatTIqFSJSi3ZT7GoRueXOr28YrwzK/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — ZenHub capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zenhub-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_beij0SNHrCXatTIqFSJSi3ZT7GoRueXOr28YrwzK/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Move issue #402 to the In Progress pipeline in ZenHub.

  • What is the current status of issue #12 in my ZenHub board?

  • Move the 'Fix login bug' issue to the Done column.

  • Check the details for issue #88 and then move it to the Backlog.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect ZenHub once, then ask.

Click the link to connect your account. Your login stays encrypted on our side, and you can find the full technical breakdown on the Connector page.

Connect ZenHub to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves

  • 01

    Can my AI edit the text inside a ZenHub issue?

    No. The current tools only allow the AI to read issue data and move issues between pipelines.

  • 02

    Can the AI delete issues from my board?

    No. The AI can only move issues between existing pipelines.

  • 03

    Does the AI see all my ZenHub boards?

    The AI can access the data for the specific issues and pipelines you direct it toward.

  • 04

    Will this work in VS Code?

    Yes, as long as you are using an MCP-compatible client like VS Code, Cursor, or Windsurf.

  • 05

    Do I need to keep the ZenHub website open?

    No. Once connected, you can manage your pipelines entirely through your AI chat interface.

  • More questions about ZenHub? The Connector page answers them. See everything the ZenHub Connector can do

Connect ZenHub to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more