# How to Create Netlify Deployment Plugin Configurations in the OpenAI Plugins Repository > Learn to create Netlify deployment plugin configurations for the OpenAI Plugins Repository. Define manifests, implement skills, and configure netlify.toml for seamless Netlify CLI integration. - Repository: [OpenAI/plugins](https://github.com/openai/plugins) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-06-07 --- **To configure a Netlify deployment plugin in the openai/plugins repository, you define a plugin manifest in [`plugins/netlify/.codex-plugin/plugin.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/.codex-plugin/plugin.json), implement reusable skills under `plugins/netlify/skills/`, and supply a [`netlify.toml`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/netlify.toml) configuration that the `netlify-deploy` skill consumes to drive the Netlify CLI.** The `openai/plugins` repository ships with a self-contained Netlify plugin that bundles everything needed to deploy web projects from a conversational interface. Mastering these **Netlify deployment plugin configurations** lets the OpenAI Codex runtime authenticate with Netlify, resolve build commands, and publish to preview or production environments. All configuration is rooted in the `plugins/netlify/` directory and is composed of three core layers: a plugin manifest, a skill set, and a site-level [`netlify.toml`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/netlify.toml) file. ## Plugin Architecture and Key Files The Netlify plugin is organized into a declarative manifest, discrete skills, and static assets. According to the `openai/plugins` source code, the following files control every aspect of the deployment lifecycle: - [`plugins/netlify/.codex-plugin/plugin.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/.codex-plugin/plugin.json) — Declares the plugin name, version, and skill directory. - [`plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-deploy/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-deploy/SKILL.md) — Implements the end-to-end deployment flow using the Netlify CLI. - [`plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-config/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-config/SKILL.md) — Documents the [`netlify.toml`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/netlify.toml) schema for builds, redirects, headers, and environment variables. - [`plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-image-cdn/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-image-cdn/SKILL.md) — (Optional) Configures transformed image delivery. - [`plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-forms/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-forms/SKILL.md) — (Optional) Guides Netlify Forms integration. - `plugins/netlify/assets/app-icon.png` — Icon asset rendered in the plugin UI. When a user invokes the plugin, the runtime reads the manifest, loads the requested skill, and executes the steps defined in the corresponding [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/SKILL.md). ## Configuring the Plugin Manifest Every Codex plugin must declare its identity and capabilities. In [`plugins/netlify/.codex-plugin/plugin.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/.codex-plugin/plugin.json), the manifest points the runtime to the `./skills/` folder and sets metadata such as category and supported capabilities. ```json { "name": "netlify", "version": "1.1.1", "description": "Deploy projects and manage preview or production releases on Netlify.", "skills": "./skills/", "interface": { "displayName": "Netlify", "shortDescription": "Deploy projects and manage releases", "category": "Developer Tools", "capabilities": ["Interactive", "Write"], "websiteURL": "https://www.netlify.com" } } ``` This manifest is the entry point the Codex runtime uses to discover and register the plugin. ## Structuring Skills for Deployment Skills are reusable capabilities stored in `plugins/netlify/skills/`. For deployment scenarios, the primary skill is **`netlify-deploy`**, which encodes the exact CLI workflow required to push a site live. ### Authentication The skill first runs `npx netlify status` to verify an existing session. If the user is not authenticated, the skill prompts for `npx netlify login` or the presence of a `NETLIFY_AUTH_TOKEN` environment variable. ### Site Linking Next, the skill checks whether the current repository is linked to a Netlify site. If no link exists, it attempts `npx netlify link` using the Git remote URL, or falls back to `npx netlify init` to create a new site. ### Dependency Installation Before building, the skill detects the active package manager—**`npm`**, **`yarn`**, or **`pnpm`**—and runs the appropriate install command to ensure dependencies are present. ### Deploy Execution The skill invokes `npx netlify deploy` for a preview deployment, or `npx netlify deploy --prod` for production. The Netlify CLI resolves the build command and publish directory from [`netlify.toml`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/netlify.toml). ### Result Reporting After deployment, the skill returns the preview URL, the production URL (when applicable), and a direct link to the Netlify dashboard. These steps are defined in [`plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-deploy/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-deploy/SKILL.md). ## Site Configuration with netlify.toml The **`netlify-config`** skill treats [`netlify.toml`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/netlify.toml) as the single source of truth for site-level behavior. You should place this file at the repository root—or at the relevant monorepo sub-path—so the CLI can read it during deploy. ```toml [build] base = "src" command = "npm run build" publish = "dist" [[redirects]] from = "/old-path" to = "/new-path" status = 301 [images] remote_images = ["https://cdn.example.com/.*"] ``` This sample, drawn from [`plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-config/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-config/SKILL.md), demonstrates build settings, path redirects, and Image CDN allowlists. ## Practical Deployment Workflow When invoked, the `netlify-deploy` skill executes a deterministic sequence of shell commands. You can reproduce this workflow locally or embed it in custom automation: ```bash # Verify authentication npx netlify status || npx netlify login # Link site if not already linked git remote show origin npx netlify link --git-remote-url https://github.com/your/repo # Install dependencies npm install # or yarn / pnpm # Preview deploy npx netlify deploy # Production deploy npx netlify deploy --prod ``` Each command is executed in the context of the directory containing [`netlify.toml`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/netlify.toml). ## Optional Skills and Extensions Beyond core deployment, the Netlify plugin provides auxiliary skills for specialized features. ### Image CDN The `netlify-image-cdn` skill, documented in [`plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-image-cdn/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-image-cdn/SKILL.md), enables on-the-fly image transformations via a query-string API: ```html ``` ### Netlify Forms The `netlify-forms` skill in [`plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-forms/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/skills/netlify-forms/SKILL.md) guides you through adding form handling to a static site without a separate backend. ## Summary - **Plugin manifest**: Create [`plugins/netlify/.codex-plugin/plugin.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/.codex-plugin/plugin.json) to register the plugin and point to `./skills/`. - **Primary skill**: The `netlify-deploy` skill handles authentication, site linking, dependency installation, and CLI-based deploys. - **Site config**: Use [`netlify.toml`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/netlify.toml) at the repo root to define builds, redirects, headers, and environment variables as documented in the `netlify-config` skill. - **CLI flow**: The skill runs `npx netlify status`, `npx netlify link`, installs dependencies, then calls `npx netlify deploy` or `npx netlify deploy --prod`. - **Optional capabilities**: Extend the plugin with `netlify-image-cdn` and `netlify-forms` for image optimization and form handling. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Where is the Netlify plugin manifest located in the openai/plugins repository? The manifest is located at [`plugins/netlify/.codex-plugin/plugin.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/plugins/netlify/.codex-plugin/plugin.json). This file declares the plugin name, version, skill path, and interface metadata required for the OpenAI Codex runtime to load the plugin. ### How does the `netlify-deploy` skill authenticate with Netlify? The skill begins by running `npx netlify status`. If no active session is found, it instructs the user to run `npx netlify login` or to export a `NETLIFY_AUTH_TOKEN` environment variable. This ensures every subsequent CLI command executes with valid credentials. ### Can I use this plugin for both preview and production deployments? Yes. The `netlify-deploy` skill runs `npx netlify deploy` to generate a preview URL, and it runs `npx netlify deploy --prod` when a production release is requested. The build context and publish directory are always read from [`netlify.toml`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/netlify.toml). ### What optional skills are available in the Netlify plugin? The plugin includes `netlify-image-cdn` for transformed image delivery and `netlify-forms` for managed form handling. Each skill is documented in its respective [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/SKILL.md) under `plugins/netlify/skills/`.