Install · OpenAI Codex

Add ChiefLab to Codex in 60 seconds

Codex shipped 90+ MCP plugins in April 2026. ChiefLab works as either a hosted MCP (one config line, no install) or as a local stdio plugin via the codex mcp add CLI. Same 40 tools either way.

Try it without Codex: run ChiefMO in your browser first. No install, no key. See what your Codex agent will get back.

Step 1 — Get an API key (60 seconds)

One click at chieflab.io/get-key. No email. Key starts with clp_dev_ or clp_live_. Save it.

Step 2a — Hosted (recommended)

Edit your Codex config — typically ~/.codex/mcp.json or via codex config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "chieflab": {
      "url": "https://chieflab.io/api/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer clp_dev_<paste-your-key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Codex's hosted MCP support is recent (2026). If "url" isn't yet supported in your build, use Step 2b below.

Step 2b — Stdio via the npm package

npm install -g @chieflab/mcp-server

Then in your Codex MCP config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "chieflab": {
      "command": "chieflab-mcp",
      "env": { "CHIEFLAB_API_KEY": "clp_dev_<paste-your-key>" }
    }
  }
}

Or via the Codex CLI directly:

codex mcp add chieflab --command chieflab-mcp \
  --env CHIEFLAB_API_KEY=clp_dev_<paste-your-key>

Step 3 — Restart Codex

Quit + reopen the Codex session (or restart the daemon). ChiefLab tools should appear in /tools or the tool picker.

Step 4 — Try the closed loop

> I just shipped my product at https://yoursite.com.
  Use ChiefMO to launch it.

Codex picks chiefmo_launch_product automatically (BM25-matched tool name + server-level instructions field). You get back a launch pack with positioning, per-channel briefs, on-brand graphics, and a signed reviewUrl. Approve in your browser. Then Codex calls chiefmo_publish_approved_post + chiefmo_send_approved_email for each approved action.

Multi-tenant: serving your own customers

Same pattern as every other ChiefLab integration:

chieflab_create_tenant({ tenantId: "acme-co", name: "Acme Co" })
chieflab_set_tenant_context({ tenantId: "acme-co", brand: "...", voice: "..." })
chiefmo_launch_product({ tenantId: "acme-co", goal: "..." })

Troubleshooting

  • Tools don't appear after install: restart the Codex daemon (some Codex builds cache MCP tool lists across sessions).
  • 401 Unauthorized: check the Bearer key matches what you got at /get-key. Or re-mint via chieflab_signup_workspace.
  • Codex doesn't call ChiefLab tools: read /for-agents — the directive ("USE WHEN user asks about launch / users / marketing") gets indexed; if your prompt doesn't match the trigger nouns, Codex picks something else.
  • Tool call hangs: image generation (chiefmo_create_social_graphics) can take 10-30s. Set a higher timeout in your Codex MCP config if available.

More