app-server.md Codex Docs, 2026-04-23 12:28 UTC → 2026-05-13 00:57 UTC

3Codex app-server is the interface Codex uses to power rich clients (for example, the Codex VS Code extension). Use it when you want a deep integration inside your own product: authentication, conversation history, approvals, and streamed agent events. The app-server implementation is open source in the Codex GitHub repository ([openai/codex/codex-rs/app-server](https://github.com/openai/codex/tree/main/codex-rs/app-server)). See the [Open Source](https://developers.openai.com/codex/open-source) page for the full list of open-source Codex components.3Codex app-server is the interface Codex uses to power rich clients (for example, the Codex VS Code extension). Use it when you want a deep integration inside your own product: authentication, conversation history, approvals, and streamed agent events. The app-server implementation is open source in the Codex GitHub repository ([openai/codex/codex-rs/app-server](https://github.com/openai/codex/tree/main/codex-rs/app-server)). See the [Open Source](https://developers.openai.com/codex/open-source) page for the full list of open-source Codex components.

4 4 

5If you are automating jobs or running Codex in CI, use the5If you are automating jobs or running Codex in CI, use the

6[Codex SDK](https://developers.openai.com/codex/sdk) instead.6 <a href="/codex/sdk">Codex SDK</a> instead.

7 7 

8## Protocol8## Protocol

9 9 

75Example (Node.js / TypeScript):75Example (Node.js / TypeScript):

76 76 

77```ts77```ts

78import { spawn } from "node:child_process";78 

79import readline from "node:readline";79 

80 80 

81const proc = spawn("codex", ["app-server"], {81const proc = spawn("codex", ["app-server"], {

82 stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "inherit"],82 stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "inherit"],

222- `thread/turns/list` - page through a stored thread's turn history without resuming it.222- `thread/turns/list` - page through a stored thread's turn history without resuming it.

223- `thread/loaded/list` - list the thread ids currently loaded in memory.223- `thread/loaded/list` - list the thread ids currently loaded in memory.

224- `thread/name/set` - set or update a thread's user-facing name for a loaded thread or a persisted rollout; emits `thread/name/updated`.224- `thread/name/set` - set or update a thread's user-facing name for a loaded thread or a persisted rollout; emits `thread/name/updated`.

225- `thread/goal/set` - set the goal for a loaded thread (experimental; requires `capabilities.experimentalApi`); emits `thread/goal/updated`.

226- `thread/goal/get` - read the current goal for a loaded thread (experimental; requires `capabilities.experimentalApi`).

227- `thread/goal/clear` - clear the goal for a loaded thread (experimental; requires `capabilities.experimentalApi`); emits `thread/goal/cleared`.

225- `thread/metadata/update` - patch SQLite-backed stored thread metadata; currently supports persisted `gitInfo`.228- `thread/metadata/update` - patch SQLite-backed stored thread metadata; currently supports persisted `gitInfo`.

226- `thread/archive` - move a thread's log file into the archived directory; returns `{}` on success and emits `thread/archived`.229- `thread/archive` - move a thread's log file into the archived directory; returns `{}` on success and emits `thread/archived`.

227- `thread/unsubscribe` - unsubscribe this connection from thread turn/item events. If this was the last subscriber, the server unloads the thread after a no-subscriber inactivity grace period and emits `thread/closed`.230- `thread/unsubscribe` - unsubscribe this connection from thread turn/item events. If this was the last subscriber, the server unloads the thread after a no-subscriber inactivity grace period and emits `thread/closed`.

242- `command/exec/terminate` - stop a running `command/exec` session.245- `command/exec/terminate` - stop a running `command/exec` session.

243- `command/exec/outputDelta` (notify) - emitted for base64-encoded stdout/stderr chunks from a streaming `command/exec` session.246- `command/exec/outputDelta` (notify) - emitted for base64-encoded stdout/stderr chunks from a streaming `command/exec` session.

244- `model/list` - list available models (set `includeHidden: true` to include entries with `hidden: true`) with effort options, optional `upgrade`, and `inputModalities`.247- `model/list` - list available models (set `includeHidden: true` to include entries with `hidden: true`) with effort options, optional `upgrade`, and `inputModalities`.

248- `modelProvider/capabilities/read` - read provider capability bounds for model/provider combinations (experimental; requires `capabilities.experimentalApi`).

245- `experimentalFeature/list` - list feature flags with lifecycle stage metadata and cursor pagination.249- `experimentalFeature/list` - list feature flags with lifecycle stage metadata and cursor pagination.

246- `experimentalFeature/enablement/set` - patch in-memory runtime enablement for supported feature keys such as `apps` and `plugins`.250- `experimentalFeature/enablement/set` - patch in-memory runtime enablement for supported feature keys such as `apps` and `plugins`.

247- `collaborationMode/list` - list collaboration mode presets (experimental, no pagination).251- `collaborationMode/list` - list collaboration mode presets (experimental, no pagination).

248- `skills/list` - list skills for one or more `cwd` values (supports `forceReload` and optional `perCwdExtraUserRoots`).252- `skills/list` - list skills for one or more `cwd` values (supports `forceReload` and optional `perCwdExtraUserRoots`).

249- `skills/changed` (notify) - emitted when watched local skill files change.253- `skills/changed` (notify) - emitted when watched local skill files change.

250- `marketplace/add` - add a remote plugin marketplace and persist it into the user's marketplace config.254- `marketplace/add` - add a remote plugin marketplace and persist it into the user's marketplace config.

255- `marketplace/upgrade` - refresh a configured Git marketplace, or all configured Git marketplaces when you omit the marketplace name.

251- `plugin/list` - list discovered plugin marketplaces and plugin state, including install/auth policy metadata, marketplace load errors, featured plugin ids, and local, Git, or remote plugin source metadata.256- `plugin/list` - list discovered plugin marketplaces and plugin state, including install/auth policy metadata, marketplace load errors, featured plugin ids, and local, Git, or remote plugin source metadata.

252- `plugin/read` - read one plugin by marketplace path or remote marketplace name and plugin name, including bundled skills, apps, and MCP server names when those details are available.257- `plugin/read` - read one plugin by marketplace path or remote marketplace name and plugin name, including bundled skills, apps, and MCP server names when those details are available.

253- `plugin/install` - install a plugin from a marketplace path or remote marketplace name.258- `plugin/install` - install a plugin from a marketplace path or remote marketplace name.

265- `feedback/upload` - submit a feedback report (classification + optional reason/logs + conversation id, plus optional `extraLogFiles` attachments).270- `feedback/upload` - submit a feedback report (classification + optional reason/logs + conversation id, plus optional `extraLogFiles` attachments).

266- `config/read` - fetch the effective configuration on disk after resolving configuration layering.271- `config/read` - fetch the effective configuration on disk after resolving configuration layering.

267- `externalAgentConfig/detect` - detect external-agent artifacts that can be migrated with `includeHome` and optional `cwds`; each detected item includes `cwd` (`null` for home).272- `externalAgentConfig/detect` - detect external-agent artifacts that can be migrated with `includeHome` and optional `cwds`; each detected item includes `cwd` (`null` for home).

268- `externalAgentConfig/import` - apply selected external-agent migration items by passing explicit `migrationItems` with `cwd` (`null` for home); plugin imports emit `externalAgentConfig/import/completed`.273- `externalAgentConfig/import` - apply selected external-agent migration items by passing explicit `migrationItems` with `cwd` (`null` for home). Supported item types include config, skills, `AGENTS.md`, plugins, MCP server config, subagents, hooks, commands, and sessions; plugin imports emit `externalAgentConfig/import/completed`.

269- `config/value/write` - write a single configuration key/value to the user's `config.toml` on disk.274- `config/value/write` - write a single configuration key/value to the user's `config.toml` on disk.

270- `config/batchWrite` - apply configuration edits atomically to the user's `config.toml` on disk.275- `config/batchWrite` - apply configuration edits atomically to the user's `config.toml` on disk.

271- `configRequirements/read` - fetch requirements from `requirements.toml` and/or MDM, including allow-lists, pinned `featureRequirements`, and residency/network requirements (or `null` if you haven't set any up).276- `configRequirements/read` - fetch requirements from `requirements.toml` and/or MDM, including allow-lists, pinned `featureRequirements`, and residency/network requirements (or `null` if you haven't set any up).