Codex CLI + Tintly
Use Tintly from the Codex command line.
- Codex CLI
- A Tintly API key in TINTLY_API_KEY
Connect Codex CLI in three steps
Codex reads MCP servers from ~/.codex/config.toml. For a remote server with a key, point it at an environment variable so the key stays out of the file.
- 1
Create an API key
Sign in on the developer page and create a key.
- 2
Put it in your environment
Export it in your shell profile: export TINTLY_API_KEY=your key.
- 3
Add the server
Add the block below to ~/.codex/config.toml and start Codex.
[mcp_servers.tintly]
url = "https://www.trycolorkit.com/api/mcp"
bearer_token_env_var = "TINTLY_API_KEY"Support for remote servers has changed between Codex releases. If the block is rejected, check the current Codex MCP docs for the field names.
Server address: https://www.trycolorkit.com/api/mcp. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with a key from the developer page. Field names can change between releases of Codex CLI: if one is rejected, follow its current MCP docs, which only need the address and the Authorization header.
What you need
- Codex CLI
- A Tintly API key in TINTLY_API_KEY
Good to know
- The key is read from the environment each time Codex starts.
First things to ask Codex CLI
- Make me a calm, trustworthy palette for a banking app and check the text contrast.
- Which pairs in #0B132B, #1C2541, #5BC0DE, #F4D6B0 and #D97706 are readable as text?
- Explain what the color #2A9D8F says to people, and where it works best.
Questions about Codex CLI and Tintly
My version does not accept url.
Older releases only start local servers. Use the mcp-remote bridge shown on the Claude Desktop page as a command-based server instead.
Do I need an API key?
Yes. Every request carries your key in the Authorization header. Create one on the developer page: it is free and takes a few seconds.
Can an assistant change my account or my saved palettes?
No. Every Tintly tool only reads or computes: palettes, colors, contrast and descriptions. Nothing here writes to your library or account.
What does it cost?
Nothing. Tintly is free, and so are the API and the MCP server. Each key is limited to 60 requests a minute so it stays fast for everyone.