Cortex Code

The Sprites plugin for Cortex Code gives Snowflake Cortex Code persistent, isolated Linux environments for builds, tests, previews, and Snowflake development workflows.

The plugin connects to the hosted Sprites MCP server using browser OAuth. It also includes skills, commands, safety hooks, and a runner for long builds and tests.

Before you begin

You need:

• Cortex Code CLI with plugin and remote HTTP MCP support.
• A Fly.io account with access to a Sprites organization.
• A browser for the first authorization flow.

You don’t need to install the Sprites CLI or paste a Sprites API token into Cortex Code.

Install the plugin

Install the plugin from GitHub, then enable it:

cortex plugin install superfly/sprites-cortex-plugin
cortex plugin enable sprites

Reload plugins inside an existing Cortex Code session:

/plugin reload

You can restart Cortex Code instead. See Snowflake’s Cortex Code plugin guide for more about managing plugins.

Authorize Sprites

When Cortex Code requests authorization:

1. Open /mcp.
2. Select the Sprites server and complete browser OAuth.
3. Choose the Fly.io organization you intend to use.
4. Review the connector’s name prefix, creation limit, and access settings before approving it.

Restricted access is the safer default unless Cortex Code must manage Sprites outside the connector’s name prefix.

Verify the connection

Run:

/sprites-status

An empty Sprite list still means authentication succeeded. It only means that the selected organization and connector policy don’t currently expose any Sprites.

What the plugin provides

• Sprites tools for commands, files, services, checkpoints, and network policy.
• A runner for long builds and tests with bounded output.
• Safety hooks for destructive operations, checkpoint restores, network changes, and public exposure.
• Snowflake-aware guidance for development workflows without treating the local Cortex Code shell as a Sprite.

For example, ask Cortex Code to:

Create a Sprite for this dbt Core project and run compilation and unit tests.

Run this Streamlit project as a Sprite preview without copying production data.

Snowflake credentials stay separate

The plugin doesn’t automatically copy your Snowflake credentials or session into a Sprite. If code running in a Sprite must connect to Snowflake, configure a separate, least-privileged identity intentionally and keep governed data in Snowflake.

For the plugin’s complete command list, safety model, troubleshooting steps, and enterprise deployment notes, see the Sprites for Cortex Code repository. For the hosted MCP server’s permission model, see Remote MCP Server.