> ## 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

> Investigate and answer questions about a GitHub codebase

<Note>
  The Coding Agent is a **beta** feature.
  It is disabled by default and currently supports **public** GitHub repositories. See [Configuration](#configuration)
  below to enable it.
</Note>

## Overview

The Coding Agent gives Onyx the ability to investigate a GitHub repository and answer questions about its codebase.
Given a repository and a question,
it clones the repo into an isolated sandbox and explores the code with shell commands before returning a written answer.

This unlocks workflows such as:

* **Understanding a codebase**: Ask how a feature is implemented or where a piece of logic lives.
* **Onboarding**: Get a high-level explanation of a project's structure and key modules.
* **Code investigation**: Trace how data flows through the application or how two components interact.
* **Answering "where / how / why" questions**: Locate relevant files and summarize what the code does.

<Info>
  The LLM determines when to use the Coding Agent based on the user's query. Like other Actions,
  it can be attached to custom [Agents](/admins/agents/overview), giving the LLM the option to use it as needed.
  Be explicit in your prompt about the repository you want analyzed.
</Info>

## How It Works

When the Coding Agent is invoked, it:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Clones the repository">
    The target GitHub repository is cloned into an isolated sandbox environment.
  </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, written answer is produced based on what it found.
  </Step>
</Steps>

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

## Configuration

Because the Coding Agent is a beta Action, it is **disabled by default**.
An admin can enable it from the **Actions** tab of the Admin Panel,
and then attach it to the relevant [Agents](/admins/agents/overview).

To learn more about enabling and managing the Coding Agent,
see the [admin configuration guide](/admins/actions/coding_agent).

## Limitations

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