# Codex + Render: Deploy and manage your Render apps from Codex.

[Codex](https://developers.openai.com/codex/) is OpenAI's coding agent. Paired with Render, it can inspect services, fetch logs, propose `render.yaml` Blueprints, update environment variables, create supported services, and manage deploy workflows from your terminal.

## Agent details

- Agent: Codex
- Vendor: OpenAI
- Docs: [Codex docs](https://developers.openai.com/codex/)
- Install: `npm install -g @openai/codex`
- Start: `codex`
- Skills mode: Agent-invoked

## Quick start

1. *Install Codex.*

   ```shell
   npm install -g @openai/codex
   ```

2. *Install the Render Codex plugin.* In Codex, open the plugin library, search for *Render*, and install the plugin.

   This is the preferred setup path for Codex. The [Render Codex plugin](https://github.com/render-oss/render-codex-plugin) includes Render skills for deploys, debugging, monitoring, and common infrastructure workflows.

3. *Install and authenticate the Render CLI* for plugin tasks that interact with the Render API:

   ```shell
   brew install render
   ```

   ```shell
   render login
   ```

4. *Add the Render MCP server manually* if you want Codex to call Render's hosted MCP server directly. Generate an API key in your [account settings](https://dashboard.render.com/u/settings#api-keys), then add the config from the MCP configuration section to `~/.codex/config.toml`.

5. *Install Render's official skills manually* only if you aren't using the plugin:

   ```shell
   npx skills add render-oss/skills
   ```

6. *Start Codex.*

   ```shell
   codex
   ```

7. *Set your Render workspace* if you have multiple workspaces.

8. *Deploy a template.* Try a prompt like *"Deploy this project to Render and explain the Blueprint before applying it."*

## Quick links

- [Codex plugin](https://github.com/render-oss/render-codex-plugin)
- [Skills on GitHub](https://github.com/render-oss/skills)
- [MCP Server on GitHub](https://github.com/render-oss/render-mcp-server)
- [The Render CLI docs](cli)
- [Codex docs](https://developers.openai.com/codex/)

## MCP configuration

Add this to `~/.codex/config.toml`. Create the file if it doesn't exist.

- MCP install command: `Edit ~/.codex/config.toml`
- MCP config file: `~/.codex/config.toml`
- OAuth: Not supported yet

```toml:~/.codex/config.toml
[mcp_servers.render]
url = "https://mcp.render.com/mcp"
http_headers = { Authorization = "Bearer <YOUR_API_KEY>" }
```

> The Render MCP server currently uses *API-key authentication*. Generate a key in your [account settings](https://dashboard.render.com/u/settings#api-keys) and pass it as a `Bearer` token.

The prompts below can use a combination of MCP tools, Render skills, the Render CLI, and guided Dashboard or API steps.

## Example prompts

- *Deploy:* Deploy this project to Render.
- *Debug:* Check the deploy logs for the last failed deploy and fix the error.
- *Blueprint:* Create staging and production environments using a render.yaml Blueprint.
- *Database:* Create a Render Postgres database and wire DATABASE_URL to my web service.

## Render skills

Render's official *skills* give Codex task-specific procedures for deploys, debugging, monitoring, databases, Blueprints, and more. They can combine MCP tools with local code edits, Dashboard or API guidance, and the Render CLI if it's installed.

### Install skills

The [Render Codex plugin](https://github.com/render-oss/render-codex-plugin) is the preferred way to install skills. In Codex, open the plugin library, search for *Render*, and install the plugin.

Use the standalone skills installer if you don't want the full plugin:

```shell
npx skills add render-oss/skills
```

The standalone installer works without the Render CLI installed. It detects supported tools on your system and prompts you to select which skills to install.

### Skills catalog

- [render-background-workers](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-background-workers/SKILL.md): Sets up and configures background workers on Render for queue-based job processing.
- [render-blueprints](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-blueprints/SKILL.md): Authors and validates render.yaml Blueprints for Render infrastructure.
- [render-cli](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-cli/SKILL.md): Installs and uses the Render CLI for deploys, logs, SSH, psql, Blueprint validation, and automation.
- [render-cron-jobs](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-cron-jobs/SKILL.md): Configures and troubleshoots scheduled tasks on Render using cron job services.
- [render-debug](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-debug/SKILL.md): Debug failed Render deployments by analyzing logs, metrics, and database state.
- [render-deploy](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-deploy/SKILL.md): Deploy applications to Render by analyzing codebases, generating render.yaml Blueprints, and providing Dashboard deeplinks.
- [render-disks](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-disks/SKILL.md): Attaches and manages persistent disks on Render services—mount paths, sizing, snapshots, file transfers, and single-instance constraints.
- [render-docker](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-docker/SKILL.md): Builds and deploys Docker containers on Render—Dockerfiles, multi-stage builds, Blueprint Docker fields, private registries, layer caching, and platform constraints.
- [render-domains](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-domains/SKILL.md): Configures custom domains and TLS certificates on Render—DNS setup, CNAME records, apex domains, wildcard domains, and certificate troubleshooting.
- [render-env-vars](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-env-vars/SKILL.md): Configures environment variables, secrets, and env groups on Render.
- [render-keyvalue](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-keyvalue/SKILL.md): Provisions and configures Render Key Value (Redis-compatible Valkey 8) instances for caching, session storage, and job queues.
- [render-mcp](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-mcp/SKILL.md): Connects and configures the Render MCP server for AI coding tools—setup per tool (Cursor, Claude Code, Codex), authentication, workspace selection, tool catalog, and troubleshooting.
- [render-migrate-from-heroku](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-migrate-from-heroku/SKILL.md): Migrate from Heroku to Render by reading local project files and generating equivalent Render services.
- [render-monitor](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-monitor/SKILL.md): Monitor Render services in real-time.
- [render-networking](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-networking/SKILL.md): Connects Render services over the private network—internal DNS, service discovery, and cross-service communication.
- [render-postgres](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-postgres/SKILL.md): Sets up and optimizes Managed PostgreSQL on Render—connection strings (internal vs external), creation constraints, storage autoscaling, connection limits, high availability, read replicas, backups, and MCP inspection.
- [render-private-services](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-private-services/SKILL.md): Configures Render private services—internal-only apps that accept traffic exclusively from other Render services over the private network.
- [render-scaling](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-scaling/SKILL.md): Scales Render services—configures autoscaling targets, chooses instance types, sets manual instance counts, and optimizes cost.
- [render-static-sites](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-static-sites/SKILL.md): Deploys and configures static sites on Render's global CDN—build commands, publish paths, SPA routing, redirects, custom headers, and PR previews.
- [render-web-services](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-web-services/SKILL.md): Configures Render web services—port binding, TLS, health checks, custom domains, auto-deploy, PR previews, persistent disks, and deploy lifecycle.
- [render-workflows](https://github.com/render-oss/skills/blob/main/skills/render-workflows/SKILL.md): Sets up, develops, tests, and deploys Render Workflows.

## Common workflows

### Deploy a project from a Blueprint

- Ask Codex to read the project and propose a `render.yaml` Blueprint.
- Review the proposed services, databases, and env vars.
- Validate the Blueprint with the Render CLI, then apply it from the Render Dashboard or API.
- Watch the first deploy and check the health endpoint.

### Debug a failing deployment

- Ask Codex to fetch the latest failed deploy logs.
- Have it identify the likely root cause.
- Apply the code or env-var fix, then verify the next deploy.

### Add a database

- Ask Codex to create a Render Postgres database.
- Store the internal connection string as `DATABASE_URL`.
- Run migrations from a pre-deploy command.

## Tips for success

> - *Ask Codex to inspect current Render state first* before changing services.
> - *Keep infrastructure in `render.yaml`* so Codex can review and update it safely.
> - *Use Render skills with MCP* for multi-step tasks like deploys and debugging.

## Community

*Render MCP Server*

Open-source MCP server source, install instructions, and tool reference.

*Render Skills*

The full skill catalog with `SKILL.md` files for every supported task.