Codex + Kanban
Codex Kanban
A task board OpenAI Codex can actually use. You plan the work. Codex pulls tasks over MCP and moves them across columns as it ships.
Why Codex needs a kanban board
Codex reads the board
Over MCP, Codex can snapshot columns, create tasks, and move cards. The backlog survives new TUI sessions instead of living in the last prompt.
You keep the plan
You decide what is next. Codex pulls from To Do. It does not invent the roadmap. In Review is your gate between “the agent thinks it’s done” and “you agree.”
Same board on Mac
Run Kanboard as a native macOS app or in the browser. Codex, Claude Code, and Cursor can all work the same cards.
Keyboard-first for you
Vim-style H/J/K/L, N to capture a task, Cmd+K for the command palette. Planning stays as fast as working in the Codex TUI.
How Codex works the board
Codex is a terminal coding agent. It does well when the next unit of work is already written down. A Codex kanban setup makes that the default: the top card in To Do is the spec. Codex calls get_board, claims the card with move_task, and updates it when the change is ready for you.
Persist that protocol in AGENTS.md. Codex reads that file before it starts work. Check Kanboard, take the top To Do task, move it to In Progress before writing code, and leave finished work in In Review.
Set up Codex kanban in a few minutes
Create a board and an API key
Sign in, create a project (To Do, In Progress, In Review, Done), and generate an API key under Settings → Integrations. Copy the key. It is shown once.
Add Kanboard to Codex
Keep the key in an env var. bearer_token_env_var prepends “Bearer ” for you, so store only the raw key.
Add the server
export KANBOARD_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"
codex mcp add kanboard --url https://kanboard.io/api/mcp \
--bearer-token-env-var KANBOARD_API_KEY~/.codex/config.toml (what that writes)
[mcp_servers.kanboard]
url = "https://kanboard.io/api/mcp"
bearer_token_env_var = "KANBOARD_API_KEY"Verify the connection
kanboard should appear with its URL. In the Codex TUI, run /mcp to see tools.
codex mcp listPut a rule in AGENTS.md
Add this to the repo AGENTS.md so Codex pulls from the board by default.
## Kanboard
Before you start work, call get_board and pick the top task in To Do.
Move that task to In Progress before writing code.
When you finish, move it to In Review (not Done).
File newly discovered work as new To Do cards.Prompts that work well
- “Pick up the top task in To Do.”
- “Break this feature into tasks and add them to my board.”
- “Move everything you finished today to In Review.”
Quirks and the full tool list live on the Codex MCP setup page. Also using Claude Code or Cursor? Same board, different config.
Share the board with other agents
Codex does not have to own the queue. The same hosted AI agent board works from Claude Code, Cursor, or any other MCP client. On a Mac you can watch the cards in the native macOS kanban app while Codex runs in the terminal. Download for macOS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Codex kanban board?+
It is a shared task board OpenAI Codex can read and update. You plan work in columns. Codex pulls the next task over MCP, moves it to In Progress, and parks it in In Review or Done when it ships.
How do I connect Codex to Kanboard?+
Create an API key in Settings → Integrations, export it as KANBOARD_API_KEY, then run codex mcp add with Kanboard's URL and --bearer-token-env-var. Snippets are below. The server is remote. Nothing extra to install besides Codex itself.
Where does Codex store the MCP config?+
codex mcp add writes ~/.codex/config.toml. Prefer bearer_token_env_var over putting the key in the file. That field prepends "Bearer " automatically, so the env var should be the raw key only.
Does Codex use CLAUDE.md?+
No. Codex reads AGENTS.md (and AGENTS.override.md) for project instructions. Put the pull-from-board rule there.
How much does Codex kanban access cost?+
Kanboard Pro is $12/month and includes the board, the MCP server, REST API keys, unlimited projects and tasks, and the Mac app. Agents do not need their own seats.
Broader agent workflow: kanban for AI agents.
Give Codex a board to pull from
One Pro plan covers you, Codex, and every other agent you connect.