> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.onyx.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Coding Agent

> Enable your AI Agents to investigate and answer questions about a GitHub codebase

<Note>
  The Coding Agent is a **beta** Action.
  It is disabled by default and currently supports **public** GitHub repositories only.
</Note>

The Coding Agent action lets your Agents investigate a GitHub repository and answer questions about its codebase.
It clones the repository into an isolated sandbox, explores the code with shell commands, and returns a written answer.

## Capabilities

* **Codebase Q\&A**: Answer questions about how a repository is implemented and where logic lives
* **Code investigation**: Trace data flow and interactions between components
* **Onboarding**: Summarize a project's structure and key modules

## How It Works

When invoked, the Coding Agent:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Clones the repository">
    The target GitHub repository is cloned into an isolated sandbox.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Investigates the code">
    An iterative loop powered by an LLM executes shell commands to explore the codebase.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Returns an answer">
    A final answer is produced based on its findings.
  </Step>
</Steps>

The Coding Agent runs in the same sandboxed environment as the [Code Interpreter](/admins/actions/code_interpreter),
so it requires a connected code execution (bash) server.

## Configuration

The Coding Agent is a built-in Action, but because it is in beta it is **disabled by default**.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable the Action">
    Go to the **Admin Panel** and open the **Actions** tab. Locate the **Coding Agent** action and enable it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the code execution server is connected">
    The Coding Agent relies on the same sandboxed bash environment as the Code Interpreter.
    Make sure the code execution server is connected and healthy from the Admin Panel.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Attach it to an Agent">
    Enable the **Coding Agent** action on the [Agents](/admins/agents/overview) that should be able to use it.
    Once enabled, the LLM automatically decides when to invoke it.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Using the Coding Agent

Once enabled and attached to an Agent,
the LLM decides when to invoke the Coding Agent based on the user's query — no explicit invocation is needed.

<Tip>
  Be explicit about which repository you want analyzed. For example:
  *"Using the repository at [https://github.com/onyx-dot-app/onyx](https://github.com/onyx-dot-app/onyx), explain how the connector indexing pipeline works."*
</Tip>

## Limitations

* **Public repositories only**: Private repositories are not yet supported and will currently fail to clone. Support
  for private repositories is planned.
* **Beta**: Behavior and configuration may change as the feature matures.