OpenAI Codex Integration
Autonomous code execution using OpenAI Codex CLI.
Prerequisites
# Check installation
codex --version
# Install if needed
npm i -g @openai/codex
# or
brew install codex
Sandbox Modes
| Mode | Flag | Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Read-Only | -s read-only | Analyze code, no modifications (default) |
| Workspace-Write | -s workspace-write or --full-auto | Read/write files in workspace |
| Danger-Full-Access | -s danger-full-access | Network, system-level, all files |
Key concept: Use --full-auto for most programming tasks—it enables file editing.
Common Commands
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Analyze code | codex exec -s read-only "analyze the codebase" |
| Implement feature | codex exec --full-auto "implement user auth" |
| Fix bug | codex exec --full-auto "fix the login bug" |
| With specific model | codex exec -m gpt-5.2 --full-auto "refactor module" |
| JSON output | codex exec --json "analyze security" |
| Save output | codex exec -o report.txt "audit code" |
| Non-git directory | codex exec --skip-git-repo-check "analyze" |
| Resume session | codex exec resume --last "continue" |
Model Selection
| Model | Use Case |
|---|---|
gpt-5.2 | Latest capabilities |
gpt-5.2-codex | Code-specialized |
gpt-5.2-codex-max | Maximum quality |
Use -m MODEL to specify.
Execution Principles
| Principle | Description |
|---|---|
| Autonomous | Complete tasks without seeking approval for each step |
| Focused | Do what's requested, nothing more |
| Minimal | Write only necessary code |
| Verified | Run tests after changes |
When to Pause for User
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Destructive operations | Ask first (delete DB, force push) |
| Security decisions | Ask first (expose credentials, open ports) |
| Ambiguous requirements | Clarify before proceeding |
| Missing critical info | Request user-specific data |
For everything else, proceed autonomously.
Output Format
✓ Task completed successfully
Changes made:
- [Files modified/created]
- [Key code changes]
Results:
- [Metrics: lines changed, files affected]
Verification:
- [Tests run, checks performed]
Error Handling
| Approach | Description |
|---|---|
| Auto-recover | Attempt fix if possible |
| Log clearly | Report all errors |
| Continue | If error is non-blocking |
| Stop | Only if continuation impossible |