Codex CLI + Render
Deploy and manage your Render apps from Codex CLI.
Codex CLI can combine local code changes with live Render service, deploy, log, metric, and database data from your terminal.
Quick start
-
Install and start Codex CLI.
-
Install the Render plugin. Run
/plugins, search for Render, and install it. The plugin includes Render skills and the hosted Render MCP server. -
Connect with OAuth. Start a new Codex thread, use a Render MCP tool, and approve the browser prompt. No Render API key is required.
-
Verify the connection. Ask Codex to run
list_workspaces, choose a workspace if needed, then try "Deploy this project to Render."
MCP and authentication
Install Render from /plugins~/.codex/config.tomlThe plugin provides the Render MCP server with OAuth. Without the plugin, add the server manually:
For CI, set RENDER_API_KEY and use --bearer-token-env-var RENDER_API_KEY instead. See the MCP server docs for the full configuration reference and the Render plugin for plugin details.
Example prompts
Start with one of these prompts, then refine the plan with your agent.
Deploy this project to Render and explain the Blueprint before applying it.
Check the latest failed deploy, fix the cause, and verify the next deploy.
Create a Render Postgres database and connect it to this service with DATABASE_URL.
Summarize the health, recent deploys, and error logs for my Render services.
Common workflows
Deploy from a Blueprint
- Ask Codex to inspect the repository and propose a
render.yamlBlueprint. - Review the services, databases, and environment variables.
- Apply the plan, then check the first deploy.
Debug a failed deploy
- Ask Codex to fetch the latest failed deploy logs.
- Let it identify and fix the code, configuration, or environment issue.
- Verify the next deploy reaches a healthy state.
Add a database
- Ask Codex to create a Render Postgres database.
- Store its internal connection string as
DATABASE_URL. - Add migrations to the service's pre-deploy command.
Related agents
- Claude Code + RenderSet up Claude Code with Render MCP and Render skills for terminal-first deploys, debugging, and infrastructure changes.
- Claude Desktop + RenderConnect Claude Desktop to the Render MCP server to create services, query databases, and inspect logs and metrics from chat.
- Codex Desktop + RenderConnect Codex Desktop to Render with the Render plugin, skills, and OAuth-enabled MCP tools.
- Cursor + RenderAdd Render MCP and skills to Cursor so your editor agent can inspect services, update env vars, read logs, and manage deploy workflows in context.
- OpenCode + RenderConfigure OpenCode with the Render plugin, MCP, and skills for an open-source terminal workflow that can debug, create services, and deploy.
- Pi + RenderInstall the Render Pi package to add Render skills and hosted MCP access to Pi, so it can inspect services, read logs, manage env vars, and run deploys from your terminal.