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Documents Stack 0.2.0-dev.20260701.1. Goal monitor tools documented in the 2026-07-01 changelog entry.
Stack exposes a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server so Codex (and other agents) can operate Synth through typed tools instead of scraping persistence or guessing API routes.

Run the server

Stdio (default for Codex in Stack):
./bin/stack-mcp
HTTP (when stackd is healthy):
http://127.0.0.1:8792/mcp
Stack registers MCP on Codex turns from the Agent pane when configured. See stackd. For hosted Managed Research without the Stack cockpit, see MCP Quickstart.

Start here: stack_status

Codex should call stack_status first. It returns bridge mode, environment, local optimizer state, remote SMR/Factory snapshot, hosted optimizer jobs, auth readiness, and suggested next actions. Then choose local-only or remote-only mode in the TUI (x) before live actions so tools match the intended surface.

Live operations tools

ToolPurpose
stack_list_live_smrsRecent live SMR runs
stack_list_factoriesResearch Factories
stack_list_hosted_optimizer_runsHosted optimizer jobs
stack_live_statusAccount + live snapshot
stack_message_live_runOperator message to a run
stack_message_factory_projectMessage via Factory route
stack_control_live_runPause / resume / stop
stack_cancel_hosted_optimizerCancel hosted job
stack_preview_hosted_optimizer_artifactBounded artifact preview
stack_download_hosted_optimizer_artifactDownload to Stack state
stack_preview_run_outputPreview WorkProduct / artifact
stack_download_run_outputDownload via owner routes
stack_list_saved_downloadsLocal download history
stack_upload_run_fileUpload file to a live run
Downloads save under .stack/downloads/<environment>/<run-id>/.

Monitor and goal tools

ToolPurpose
stack_monitor_goal_statusPost operator-visible goal/monitor updates (headline, for_human, …)
Used by the sidecar monitor in Goal mode.

Skills and guidance

ToolPurpose
stack_skills_list / stack_skills_read / stack_skills_searchStack skill catalog
stack_guidance_list / stack_search_guidance / stack_guidance_readSearchable guidance index
stack_skills_push_contextVisible monitor→primary skill context push
Bundled skills install to ~/.stack/skills/ on make install. Stack mirrors them into the workspace .codex/skills/ for Codex discovery and never writes to ~/.codex/skills.

Codex skills to load

Load in this order when helping a Stack user:
  1. synth-stack-productivity — OSS + hosted map
  2. stack-local-setup — install, auth, local GEPA
  3. synth-via-stack — containers and optimizers
  4. stack-agent-bridge — live MCP operator workflow
  5. oss-gepa / gepa — when working with synth-optimizers
Skills ship in the Stack repo under .codex/skills/.

Rules of thumb

  • Use owner routes and MCP tools — do not bypass Stack to hit backend persistence.
  • Preview before download on large artifacts.
  • Never paste API keys into prompts or logs.
  • Start with stack_status, narrow to local or remote, then act.

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