> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://codemash.gitbook.io/codemash/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://codemash.gitbook.io/codemash/ai/developers.md).

# AI for developers

Let your coding agent work on your Norbix backend — through the Norbix CLI or the MCP server, with the roles you pick.

You already ask your coding agent (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code, …) to write your app. With Norbix it can also build and inspect the backend: create a project and its collections, set up email or push providers, write triggers, seed test data, read records and logs — the same work you do in Cloud.

## How Norbix models it

The agent connects in one of two ways, and in both it acts as an **AI service user** of your account that holds the **Membership roles** you pick when you sign it in. Everything it does goes through the normal permission check and shows up in [Logs](/codemash/cloud/logs.md).

| Way                                                                                            | What the agent does                                             | Sign-in                                          | Best for                                                             |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Norbix CLI** (recommended for coding agents)                                                 | runs `norbix …` commands and reads one JSON answer each         | `norbix login` in the browser, or an `nbsu_` key | Claude Code, Codex, Cursor — anything with a shell; CI               |
| **MCP server** (MCP = Model Context Protocol, the standard way AI tools call outside services) | calls described tools at `https://hub.norbix.ai/v3/account/mcp` | OAuth in the browser, or an `nbsu_` key          | chat apps (Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, Gemini) and IDEs that prefer MCP |

Cloud gives you the ready commands and config for your tool: avatar → **Connect your AI**. The AI service users your tools sign in as are listed in **Account → AI service users**, where you can remove one to sign that tool out.

## Start here

1. [Connect your IDE](/codemash/ai/developers/connect-your-ide.md) — copy-paste setup per tool, a first prompt and what it returns.
2. [The CLI for agents](/codemash/ai/developers/cli-for-agents.md) — `norbix login`, `norbix ai init`, and when to choose the CLI or MCP.
3. [MCP server](/codemash/ai/developers/mcp-server.md) — the address, OAuth or a key, roles and environments, the `@norbix.ai/mcp` package.
4. [Read-only keys](/codemash/ai/developers/read-only-keys.md) — the Viewer and Auditor roles, and a key for CI.
5. [What agents can do](/codemash/ai/developers/what-agents-can-do.md) — every tool group per module, how many read or change, prompts that work.

## Where you use it

* Cloud: avatar → **Connect your AI** ([Account](/codemash/cloud/account.md))
* [Norbix CLI](/codemash/cli/cli.md) · [Keys and environments](/codemash/get-started/keys-and-environments.md)
* AI for the users of your app: [AI in your products](/codemash/ai/products.md)