# How to Integrate google/skills with Codex: Complete Setup Guide

> Seamlessly integrate google/skills with Codex. Follow our setup guide to register the marketplace plugin, install it, and load skills using the Codex SDK for powerful AI development.

- Repository: [Google/skills](https://github.com/google/skills)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-09-05

---

**Integrate google/skills with Codex by registering the marketplace plugin, installing it via CLI or UI, and loading individual skills using the Codex SDK's `load_skill` helper.**

The **google/skills** repository provides a collection of Markdown-based knowledge modules ("Skills") and a marketplace-compatible plugin designed for seamless Codex integration. This guide walks through the exact steps to register, install, and use these skills within your Codex agents, based on the official repository structure and plugin manifest.

## Registering the google/skills Plugin in Codex

Codex discovers plugins through marketplace manifests. The **google/skills** repository includes a hidden [`.codex-plugin/plugin.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/.codex-plugin/plugin.json) file that declares the plugin metadata and entry point.

The plugin manifest at [`plugins/cloud/google-cloud-developer/.codex-plugin/plugin.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/plugins/cloud/google-cloud-developer/.codex-plugin/plugin.json) specifies:
- **Plugin name**: `google/skills`
- **Version**: `1.1.0`
- **Skills directory**: Path to the folder containing all skill definitions

To register the plugin, run the marketplace command:

```bash
codex plugin marketplace add google/skills

```

This command reads the manifest from the repository root—the same manifest that powers other integrations—and adds the plugin to your Codex plugin browser. The registration step is documented in the repository's [`README.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/README.md) at line 185.

## Installing the Plugin

After marketplace registration, install the plugin through either the Codex `/plugins` UI or the CLI:

```bash
codex plugin install google/skills

```

Once installed, the plugin exposes its **skills** directory (`./skills/`) to Codex agents. Any markdown file under this path—such as [`skills/cloud/gcloud/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/skills/cloud/gcloud/SKILL.md)—becomes available as a loadable knowledge source.

## Loading and Using Skills in Codex Agents

The Codex SDK provides a built-in `load_skill` helper that parses skill markdown and registers commands, intents, and examples for agent invocation.

Here's how to load and execute the **Google Cloud gcloud skill**:

```python
from codex.sdk import load_skill

# Load the Google Cloud "gcloud" skill

gcloud_skill = load_skill(
    path="google-cloud-developer/skills/gcloud/SKILL.md"
)

# Execute a skill command: list GCP projects

response = gcloud_skill.run("list projects")
print(response)

```

The `load_skill` call resolves paths relative to the plugin root. Any skill under the `skills/` directory can be accessed using this pattern.

### Additional Example: Listing Compute Instances

```python
from codex.sdk import load_skill

# Load the gcloud skill shipped with the plugin

gcloud = load_skill("google-cloud-developer/skills/gcloud/SKILL.md")

# Execute a skill command for compute resources

print(gcloud.run("list compute instances"))

```

## Updating the Plugin

When the **google/skills** repository publishes updates—new skills, bug fixes, or version bumps—refresh your installation by re-running the marketplace add command or using the Codex UI refresh option. The `version` field in [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/plugin.json) (currently `1.1.0`) signals new releases to the Codex marketplace system.

## Key Repository Files for Codex Integration

| File | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| [`README.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/README.md) (line 185) | Documents Codex marketplace commands and installation steps |
| [`plugins/cloud/google-cloud-developer/.codex-plugin/plugin.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/plugins/cloud/google-cloud-developer/.codex-plugin/plugin.json) | Defines plugin metadata: name, version, and skills directory |
| [`plugins/cloud/google-cloud-developer/skills/gcloud/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/plugins/cloud/google-cloud-developer/skills/gcloud/SKILL.md) | Example skill providing GCP `gcloud` guidance |
| [`plugins/cloud/google-cloud-developer/skills/gcloud/references/cli-usage.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/plugins/cloud/google-cloud-developer/skills/gcloud/references/cli-usage.md) | Reference documentation rendered by the skill |

These files work together to enable seamless **google/skills Codex integration**: marketplace discovery, plugin installation, and runtime skill loading through standardized SDK calls.

## Summary

- **Register** the plugin with `codex plugin marketplace add google/skills` to enable marketplace discovery
- **Install** via CLI (`codex plugin install google/skills`) or the Codex `/plugins` UI
- **Load skills** using `load_skill()` from the Codex SDK, passing paths relative to the plugin root
- **Execute commands** through the skill's `.run()` method with natural language prompts
- **Update** by refreshing the marketplace entry when [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/plugin.json) version changes

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the google/skills repository?

The **google/skills** repository is an open-source collection of Markdown-based knowledge modules ("Skills") and a marketplace-compatible plugin for AI coding assistants. It provides structured guidance for Google Cloud tools, particularly `gcloud` CLI operations, formatted for consumption by agent frameworks like Codex.

### Where is the Codex plugin manifest located?

The plugin manifest resides at [`plugins/cloud/google-cloud-developer/.codex-plugin/plugin.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/plugins/cloud/google-cloud-developer/.codex-plugin/plugin.json) in the repository root. This hidden directory contains the [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/plugin.json) file that declares the plugin name (`google/skills`), version (`1.1.0`), and entry point for the skills directory.

### Can I use google/skills without the marketplace?

No—the standard integration requires marketplace registration. The `codex plugin marketplace add` command is necessary because Codex parses the repository's manifest to understand plugin structure and available skills. Direct file loading without marketplace registration is not supported by the current plugin architecture.

### How do I troubleshoot skill loading failures?

First verify the plugin is installed: `codex plugin list` should show `google/skills`. Check that your `load_skill()` path matches the repository structure exactly—paths are relative to the plugin root, not your working directory. For version mismatches, refresh the marketplace entry and reinstall.