Modern API-driven applications need fast, repeatable, and low-friction deployment workflows. When you're building custom APIs  using the IBM API Agent, getting your application code into a runtime environment shouldn’t become a bottleneck.

That’s exactly where the Code Deployment Tool inside the IBM API Agent comes in.

It provides a simple, automated, and developer-friendly way to deploy your custom applications directly to IBM Code Engine—with support for both zip uploads and GitHub-based deployments.

In this blog, we’ll explore what the tool does, when to use each deployment method, and how the workflow fits into your development lifecycle.

What Is the Code Deployment Tool?

The Code Deployment Tool is a built-in utility within the API Agent that helps you deploy your application source code directly into IBM Code Engine.

Why it matters:

• ✔ Eliminates manual runtime setup

• ✔ Automates deployment steps and resource provisioning

• ✔ Allows quick iteration on Agent applications

• ✔ Lets developers stay focused on code, not infrastructure

If you're building custom extension logic for APIs via API Agent, this tool becomes your one-click bridge from source → running service.

Two Flexible Ways to Deploy Your Code

The tool offers two deployment pathways, depending on how your development workflow is structured.

1. Deploy via .zip File

A lightweight option ideal for:

• Rapid prototyping

• Iterating quickly on service logic

• Local development workflows

Simply package the source along with its Dockerfile and let the tool handle building, running, and hosting the service in Code Engine.

2. Deploy Directly from GitHub (SSH-Based Authentication)

A more scalable option designed for teams and automation.
By pulling code directly from a GitHub repository, the tool eliminates manual packaging steps and keeps deployments aligned with source control practices.

This approach fits perfectly into environments where:

• Code reviews matter

• CI/CD pipelines are standard

• Multiple developers collaborate on the same service

A Developer-Friendly, Prompt-Driven Workflow

One of the distinguishing experiences of the API Agent ecosystem is prompt-driven operations. Instead of writing CLI commands or deployment scripts, developers can simply ask the Agent to perform deployment tasks.

Here are the types of interactions developers typically use:

1. Deploy a ZIP file
   • “Deploy my application using the zip file named <file>.zip.”
     
     
2. Deploy from a GitHub repository
   • “Deploy my application from the GitHub repository git@github.com:<org>/<repo>.git.”
3. Specify a feature branch or subdirectory
   • “Deploy the app from the repo git@github.com:<org>/<repo>.git from branch <branch> and context directory <path>.”
     
     
4. Check the deployment status
   • “Check the deployment status for <zip-file or repo>.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
5. Retrieve runtime logs
   • “Fetch the application logs for <deployed-application-name>.”
     
     
6. Delete a deployed application
   • “Delete the application named <deployed-application-name>.”
     
     

No infrastructure scripts.

No manual Code Engine setup steps.

Just conversational deployment.

Built-In Visibility and Debugging

A major strength of the Code Deployment Tool is its focus on making deployments observable.

You get:

• Deployment progress tracking

• Clear success/failure states

• Automatic reporting of application name and endpoint URL

• A downloadable .log file for debugging runtime behavior

This reduces friction during development cycles and helps teams move faster while maintaining reliability.

Designed for Both Temporary and Persistent Deployment Models

One of the standout advantages of using API Connect in a Multi-tenant SaaS environment is the additional ability to deploy applications into IBM-managed temporary Code Engine instances.

What makes IBM-managed Code Engine unique?

• No setup required

• Applications run for a short, temporary period (≈2 hours)

• Perfect for demos, testing, or validating new logic

• Automatically cleaned up

• Provides the endpoint URL without exposing internal Code Engine resources

It’s a frictionless way to experiment and iterate — especially valuable for early development stages.

Meanwhile, user-managed Code Engine supports:

• Persistent services

• Full development lifecycle control

• Integration into production or pre-production environments

Together, these two models give developers a spectrum of deployment options that match both innovation and stability needs.

Why This Matters for API Development Teams

The Code Deployment Tool is more than just a deployment mechanism — it reshapes how developers integrate custom services into API Connect.

It gives teams:

• Faster iteration loops

• Lightweight deployment workflows

• Source-driven and ZIP-driven options

• Built-in visibility and debugging

• Temporary testing environments without operational overhead

• Persistent environments for production-grade services

In practice, this results in:

• Shorter development cycles

• Fewer deployment errors

• Simpler handoffs between dev and ops

• A smoother onboarding experience for new developers

The Code Deployment Tool elevates the API Agent from a component of API Connect into a full-fledged developer productivity layer.

With its combination of GitHub integration, ZIP-based deployment, and temporary IBM-managed environments, it provides a modern, frictionless way to run API service applications in Code Engine.

Whether you're testing a new idea, deploying a microservice, or maintaining a production-grade API backend, the tool enables you to move faster with less operational complexity — exactly what modern API-driven development demands.