Everything you need to know about Codex by OpenAI Codex isn’t just...
Prajwal Tomar@PrajwalTomar_
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May 18, 2025
~3 min read
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Everything you need to know about Codex by OpenAI
Codex isn’t just another AI tool.
It’s OpenAI’s way of building software, with real agents that do real work.
Here’s the full breakdown ↓
Codex isn’t just another AI tool.
It’s OpenAI’s way of building software, with real agents that do real work.
Here’s the full breakdown ↓
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1/ What Codex actually is
Codex is OpenAI’s new agentic coding platform.
You connect a GitHub repo. Assign a task. Codex spins up a container, understands your project, and ships code, safely, with full previews.
It’s like having a team of focused AI engineers inside your IDE.
Codex is OpenAI’s new agentic coding platform.
You connect a GitHub repo. Assign a task. Codex spins up a container, understands your project, and ships code, safely, with full previews.
It’s like having a team of focused AI engineers inside your IDE.
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2/ This isn’t Copilot
Codex isn’t about code completions.
It’s about task delegation.
You say: “Add error handling to the auth route”
Codex:
- Loads the repo
- Sets up the env
- Writes the changes
- Previews it
- Waits for your approval
You stay in control.
Codex isn’t about code completions.
It’s about task delegation.
You say: “Add error handling to the auth route”
Codex:
- Loads the repo
- Sets up the env
- Writes the changes
- Previews it
- Waits for your approval
You stay in control.
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3/ Everything happens inside containers
Every task runs in isolation:
- GitHub repo is cloned
- Environment is installed
- API keys are injected
- Work is scoped to a container
- Nothing touches your repo until you say so
This is what makes Codex async, safe, and scalable.
Every task runs in isolation:
- GitHub repo is cloned
- Environment is installed
- API keys are injected
- Work is scoped to a container
- Nothing touches your repo until you say so
This is what makes Codex async, safe, and scalable.
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4/ You talk to Codex like ChatGPT
Inside the interface:
- Ask questions about the codebase
- Delegate features, fixes, and improvements
- Review changes line-by-line
- Approve or reject with one click
It feels like managing engineers, not prompting a bot.
Inside the interface:
- Ask questions about the codebase
- Delegate features, fixes, and improvements
- Review changes line-by-line
- Approve or reject with one click
It feels like managing engineers, not prompting a bot.
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5/ It understands your codebase
Codex reads your repo and your AGENTS .md file.
This is where you define:
- How to run the app
- How testing works
- Your coding preferences
It makes the agent context-aware and avoids hallucinations.
Codex reads your repo and your AGENTS .md file.
This is where you define:
- How to run the app
- How testing works
- Your coding preferences
It makes the agent context-aware and avoids hallucinations.
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6/ You can run it locally too
Codex ships with a CLI for:
- Running tasks on your machine
- Staying private if needed
- Quickly debugging without the cloud
It’s not tied to the browser. You choose how to work.
Codex ships with a CLI for:
- Running tasks on your machine
- Staying private if needed
- Quickly debugging without the cloud
It’s not tied to the browser. You choose how to work.
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7/ Codex + Windsurf = full stack coverage
OpenAI’s acquisition of Windsurf aims to complement Codex with local AI IDE capabilities, with integration ongoing.
Now:
- Codex handles cloud tasking
- Windsurf gives you a local AI IDE
Same agentic model. Unified experience. Full control across environments.
OpenAI’s acquisition of Windsurf aims to complement Codex with local AI IDE capabilities, with integration ongoing.
Now:
- Codex handles cloud tasking
- Windsurf gives you a local AI IDE
Same agentic model. Unified experience. Full control across environments.
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8/ It’s powered by a custom model: codex-1
Codex-1 is optimized for engineering workflows.
- Optimized for engineering tasks, designed to deliver reliable code
- Trained on real tasks, not just benchmarks
- Built for task completion, not just suggestion
It’s what makes Codex feel structured and dependable.
Codex-1 is optimized for engineering workflows.
- Optimized for engineering tasks, designed to deliver reliable code
- Trained on real tasks, not just benchmarks
- Built for task completion, not just suggestion
It’s what makes Codex feel structured and dependable.
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9/ How to use it well
Here’s what I’d recommend:
- Create a solid AGENTS.md
- Be clear about the task (“Refactor auth logic” > “Improve code”)
- Break complex tasks into parts
- Use containers to test safely
- Review every diff like a real teammate sent it
This is real AI collaboration.
Here’s what I’d recommend:
- Create a solid AGENTS.md
- Be clear about the task (“Refactor auth logic” > “Improve code”)
- Break complex tasks into parts
- Use containers to test safely
- Review every diff like a real teammate sent it
This is real AI collaboration.
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10/ You’re not just writing code anymore
You’re managing intelligent contributors.
And the teams that learn how to work with them will build faster than anyone else.
Codex is a new way to ship software.
Async. Agentic. Context-aware.
And it’s only getting better.
You’re managing intelligent contributors.
And the teams that learn how to work with them will build faster than anyone else.
Codex is a new way to ship software.
Async. Agentic. Context-aware.
And it’s only getting better.
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11/ Want to try it?
Codex is currently available for:
- ChatGPT Pro
- Team
- Enterprise users
Currently in research preview, with rate limits expected soon and plans to expand to Plus/Edu users.
CLI access is live, and local + remote agents are being unified as we speak.
Codex is currently available for:
- ChatGPT Pro
- Team
- Enterprise users
Currently in research preview, with rate limits expected soon and plans to expand to Plus/Edu users.
CLI access is live, and local + remote agents are being unified as we speak.
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12/ Final thoughts
Codex lets you:
- Move faster without hiring more
- Assign real tasks to AI
- Stay in control of your repo
Let’s build smarter.
Codex lets you:
- Move faster without hiring more
- Assign real tasks to AI
- Stay in control of your repo
Let’s build smarter.
