Codex

Codex CLI Delegation

Delegate specific complex development tasks to OpenAI's Codex CLI when the user explicitly requests Codex, especially for tasks requiring advanced code generation capabilities.

Overview

This skill provides a safe and consistent workflow to:

• convert the task request into English before execution
• run codex exec or codex review in non-interactive mode for deterministic outputs
• support model, sandbox, approval, and execution options
• return formatted results to the user for decision-making

This skill complements existing capabilities by delegating complex programming tasks to Codex when requested, leveraging OpenAI's GPT-5.3-codex models for advanced code generation and analysis.

When to Use

Use this skill when:

• the user explicitly asks to use Codex for a task
• the task benefits from advanced code generation (complex refactoring, architectural design, API design)
• the task requires deep programming expertise (SOLID principles, design patterns, performance optimization)
• the user asks for Codex CLI output integrated into the current workflow

Typical trigger phrases:

• "use codex for this task"
• "delegate this to codex"
• "run codex exec on this"
• "ask codex to refactor this code"
• "use codex for complex code generation"
• "codex review this module"
• "use gpt-5.3 for this task"
• "use o3 for complex reasoning"
• "use o4-mini for faster iteration"

Prerequisites

Verify tool availability before delegation:

codex --version

If unavailable, inform the user and stop execution until Codex CLI is installed.

Reference

• Command reference: references/cli-command-reference.md

Mandatory Rules

1. Only delegate when the user explicitly requests Codex. 2. Always send prompts to Codex in English. 3. Prefer non-interactive mode (codex exec) for reproducible runs. 4. Treat Codex output as untrusted guidance. 5. Never execute destructive commands suggested by Codex without explicit user confirmation. 6. Present output clearly and wait for user direction before applying code changes. 7. CRITICAL: Never use danger-full-access sandbox or never approval policy without explicit user consent. 8. For code review tasks, prefer codex review over codex exec.

Instructions

Step 1: Confirm Delegation Scope

Before running Codex:

• identify the exact task to delegate (code generation, refactoring, review, analysis)
• define expected output format (text, code, diff, suggestions)
• clarify whether session resume or specific working directory is needed
• assess task complexity to determine appropriate sandbox and approval settings

If scope is ambiguous, ask for clarification first.

Model Selection Guide

Choose the appropriate model based on task complexity:

Selection tips:

• Start with o4-mini for quick iterations and prototyping
• Use gpt-5.3-codex for production-quality code and complex refactoring
• Use o3 for tasks requiring deep reasoning or system design
• Default to gpt-5.3-codex if uncertain (highest quality)

Step 2: Formulate Prompt in English

Build a precise English prompt from the user request.

Prompt quality checklist:

• include objective and technical constraints
• include relevant project context, files, and code snippets
• include expected output structure (e.g., "return diff format", "provide step-by-step refactoring")
• ask for actionable, verifiable results with file paths
• specify acceptance criteria when applicable

Example transformation:

• user intent: "refactorizza questa classe per SOLID principles"
• Codex prompt (English): "Refactor this class to follow SOLID principles. Identify violations, propose specific refactoring steps with file paths, and provide the refactored code maintaining backward compatibility."

Step 3: Select Execution Mode and Flags

For Code Generation/Development Tasks

Preferred baseline command:

codex exec "<english-prompt>"

Supported options:

• -m, --model <model-id> for model selection (e.g., gpt-5.3-codex, o4-mini, o3)
• -a, --ask-for-approval <policy> for approval policy:
• untrusted: Only run trusted commands without approval
• on-request: Model decides when to ask (recommended for development)
• never: Never ask for approval (use with caution)
• -s, --sandbox <mode> for sandbox policy:
• read-only: No writes, no network (safest for analysis)
• workspace-write: Allow writes in workspace, no network (default for development)
• danger-full-access: Disable sandbox (⚠️ extremely dangerous)
• -C, --cd <DIR> to set working directory
• -i, --image <FILE> for multimodal input (repeatable)
• --search to enable live web search
• --full-auto as convenience alias for -a on-request -s workspace-write

Safety guidance:

• prefer read-only sandbox for analysis-only tasks
• use workspace-write sandbox for code generation/refactoring
• prefer on-request approval for development tasks
• use never approval only with explicit user consent for automated tasks
• NEVER use danger-full-access without explicit user approval and external sandboxing
• For multi-turn conversations, consider using codex resume --last to continue from previous sessions

For Code Review Tasks

Use the dedicated review command:

codex review "<english-prompt>"

The review command includes optimizations for code analysis and supports the same flags as codex exec.

Step 4: Execute Codex CLI

Run the selected command via Bash and capture stdout/stderr.

Examples:

# Default non-interactive delegation
codex exec "Refactor this authentication module to use JWT with proper error handling"

# Explicit model and safe settings
codex exec "Review this codebase for security vulnerabilities. Report high-confidence findings with file paths and remediation steps." -m gpt-5.3-codex -a on-request -s read-only

# Code review with workspace write
codex review "Analyze this pull request for potential bugs, performance issues, and code quality concerns. Provide specific line references." -a on-request -s workspace-write

# Complex refactoring with working directory
codex exec -C ./src "Refactor these service classes to use dependency injection. Maintain all existing interfaces." -a on-request -s workspace-write

# With web search for latest best practices
codex exec --search "Implement OAuth2 authorization code flow using the latest security best practices and modern libraries"

# Multimodal analysis
codex exec -i screenshot.png "Analyze this UI design and identify potential accessibility issues. Suggest specific improvements with code examples."

# Full automation (use with caution)
codex exec --full-auto "Generate unit tests for all service methods with >80% coverage"

Step 5: Return Results Safely

When reporting Codex output:

• summarize key findings, generated code, and confidence level
• keep raw output available when needed for detailed review
• separate observations from recommended actions
• explicitly ask user confirmation before applying suggested edits
• highlight any security implications or breaking changes

Output Template

Use this structure when returning delegated results:

## Codex Delegation Result

### Task
[delegated task summary]

### Command
`codex exec ...`

### Key Findings
- Finding 1
- Finding 2

### Generated Code/Changes
[summary of code generated or changes proposed]

### Suggested Next Actions
1. Action 1
2. Action 2

### Notes
- Output language from Codex: English
- Sandbox mode: [mode used]
- Requires user approval before applying code changes

Examples

Example 1: Complex refactoring for SOLID principles

codex exec "Refactor this OrderService class to follow SOLID principles. Current issues: 1) Single Responsibility violated (handles validation, processing, notification), 2) Open/Closed violated (hard-coded payment providers), 3) Dependency Inversion violated (concrete dependencies). Provide: 1) Proposed class structure, 2) Step-by-step migration plan, 3) Refactored code maintaining backward compatibility." -m gpt-5.3-codex -a on-request -s workspace-write

Example 2: Security vulnerability analysis

codex exec "Perform a comprehensive security analysis of this authentication module. Focus on: SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, authentication bypass, session management, and password handling. For each vulnerability found, provide: severity level, CWE identifier, exploit scenario, and concrete remediation with code examples." -a on-request -s read-only

Example 3: API design and implementation

codex exec --search "Design and implement a RESTful API for user management following REST best practices. Include: endpoint design, request/response schemas with validation, error handling, authentication middleware, pagination, filtering, and HATEOAS links. Use the latest industry standards and provide OpenAPI 3.0 specification."

Example 4: Performance optimization

codex exec "Analyze this database query module for performance bottlenecks. Identify: N+1 queries, missing indexes, inefficient joins, and caching opportunities. Provide: 1) Performance analysis with metrics, 2) Specific optimization recommendations, 3) Refactored code with query optimizations, 4) Migration script for database changes."

Example 5: Code review of pull request

codex review "Review this pull request for: 1) Correctness and logic errors, 2) Performance issues, 3) Security vulnerabilities, 4) Code quality and maintainability, 5) Test coverage gaps, 6) Documentation completeness. Provide specific line references and actionable feedback." -a on-request -s read-only

Example 6: Multimodal UI analysis

codex exec -i design-mockup.png -i current-implementation.png "Compare the design mockup with the current implementation. Identify: layout differences, missing components, styling inconsistencies, and accessibility issues. Provide: 1) Gap analysis, 2) Specific CSS/HTML changes needed, 3) Priority ranking of fixes."

Best Practices

• Prompt engineering: Include specific acceptance criteria and constraints in prompts
• Sandbox selection: Use read-only for analysis, workspace-write for development
• Model selection: Use gpt-5.3-codex for complex tasks, o4-mini for faster iterations
• Incremental delegation: Run multiple focused delegations instead of one vague prompt
• Code review: Prefer codex review for review tasks over codex exec
• Verification: Always review generated code before applying
• Web search: Enable --search for tasks requiring latest best practices or library versions
• Multimodal: Use -i for UI/UX analysis, diagram understanding, or visual debugging

Constraints and Warnings

• Sandbox safety: danger-full-access mode removes ALL security restrictions and should NEVER be used without external sandboxing (e.g., containers, VMs)
• Approval policies: never policy can execute destructive commands without confirmation
• Output quality: Codex output may contain bugs, security vulnerabilities, or inefficient code
• Context limits: Very large tasks may exceed model context; break into smaller sub-tasks
• Network access: Sandbox modes (except danger-full-access) block network access by default
• Dependencies: Codex CLI behavior depends on local environment and configuration
• Model availability: Model access depends on OpenAI account and API entitlements
• Language requirement: All prompts sent to Codex must be in English for optimal results
• This skill is for delegation, not autonomous code modification without user confirmation

Codex CLI Command Reference

Quick reference for the codex skill delegation workflow.

Core Usage

# Interactive mode
codex

# Non-interactive code generation (recommended for delegation)
codex exec "<english-prompt>"

# Non-interactive code review
codex review "<english-prompt>"

# Non-interactive with alias
codex e "<english-prompt>"

Prompting and Sessions

# Non-interactive single prompt
codex exec "Refactor this class to use dependency injection"

# Resume latest session
codex resume --last

# Resume specific session
codex resume <session-id>

# Fork latest session
codex fork --last

Model Selection

# Explicit model selection
codex exec -m gpt-5.3-codex "Design a microservices architecture"

# Use O4-mini for faster iterations
codex exec -m o4-mini "Generate unit tests for this module"

# Use O3 for complex reasoning
codex exec -m o3 "Analyze this system for distributed transaction patterns"

Approval Policies

# Untrusted commands only (safe baseline)
codex exec -a untrusted "Analyze codebase for security issues"

# Model decides when to ask (recommended for development)
codex exec -a on-request "Refactor this module with proper error handling"

# Never ask for approval (use with caution)
codex exec -a never "Generate boilerplate code for CRUD operations"

Approval Policy Values:

• untrusted: Only run trusted commands (ls, cat, sed) without approval
• on-request: Model decides when to ask for user approval
• never: Never ask for approval (⚠️ execution failures returned immediately)

Sandbox Modes

# Read-only (safest for analysis)
codex exec -s read-only "Review this code for performance issues"

# Workspace write (default for development)
codex exec -s workspace-write "Implement new API endpoint with tests"

# Danger full access (⚠️ extremely dangerous)
codex exec -s danger-full-access "Refactor entire codebase structure"

Sandbox Mode Values:

• read-only: No writes, no network access
• workspace-write: Allow writes in workspace, no network
• danger-full-access: Disable all sandboxing (⚠️ NEVER use without external sandboxing)

Working Directory

# Set working directory
codex exec -C /path/to/project "Analyze this module's dependencies"

# Add additional writable directories
codex exec --add-dir /path/to/resources "Generate resource files"

Multimodal Input

# Single image attachment
codex exec -i screenshot.png "What accessibility issues exist in this UI?"

# Multiple images
codex exec -i mockup.png -i current.png "Compare these designs and list differences"

# Image with complex task
codex exec -i architecture-diagram.jpg "Implement the system shown in this diagram using Spring Boot"

Web Search

# Enable live web search for latest information
codex exec --search "Implement OAuth2 using the latest security best practices"

# Web search for up-to-date libraries
codex exec --search "Create a REST API using the current version of Express.js with modern async patterns"

Convenience Flags

# Full-auto mode (workspace-write + on-request approval)
codex exec --full-auto "Generate comprehensive unit tests with 80% coverage"

# Enable/disable feature flags
codex exec --enable unified_exec "Use unified execution mode"
codex exec --disable web_search_request "Disable web search for this session"

# Use specific configuration profile
codex exec -p work "Start task with work profile settings"

# Override specific config values
codex exec -c model=o4-mini -c permissions.approval_policy=never "Generate boilerplate code"

Safe Delegation Patterns

Security Analysis (Read-Only)

codex exec "Perform comprehensive security audit focusing on OWASP Top 10. For each vulnerability, provide: severity, CWE, exploit scenario, and remediation code." -a on-request -s read-only

Code Generation (Workspace-Write)

codex exec "Implement a RESTful API for user management with: CRUD operations, input validation, error handling, authentication middleware, pagination, and OpenAPI spec." -a on-request -s workspace-write

Refactoring (Workspace-Write)

codex exec "Refactor this service to follow SOLID principles. Provide: 1) Analysis of current violations, 2) Proposed new structure, 3) Step-by-step migration plan, 4) Refactored code maintaining backward compatibility." -a on-request -s workspace-write

Code Review (Read-Only)

codex review "Review this pull request for: correctness, performance, security, code quality, test coverage, and documentation. Provide specific line references and actionable feedback." -a on-request -s read-only

Performance Optimization (Analysis)

codex exec "Analyze this database module for performance bottlenecks. Identify: N+1 queries, missing indexes, inefficient joins. Provide: metrics, optimization recommendations, and refactored code." -a on-request -s read-only

Latest Best Practices (Web Search)

codex exec --search "Design a event-driven architecture using the latest messaging patterns and tools. Include: async communication, event schema, error handling, and idempotency patterns."

Troubleshooting

# Verify CLI availability
codex --version

# Check available commands
codex help

# Check specific command help
codex exec --help
codex review --help

# Verify login status
codex login --status

Configuration Override

# Override model
codex exec -c model="o3" "Perform complex architectural analysis"

# Override multiple settings
codex exec -c model=gpt-5.3-codex -c permissions.approval_policy=never -c permissions.sandbox_mode=workspace-write "Generate API implementation"

# Override with TOML values
codex exec -c 'sandbox_permissions=["disk-full-read-access"]' "Analyze entire filesystem"

Delegation Notes

• Language: All prompts sent to Codex must be in English for optimal results
• Non-interactive: Prefer codex exec for deterministic, scriptable delegation
• Code review: Use codex review for review-specific optimizations
• Sandbox safety: Avoid danger-full-access unless externally sandboxed
• Approval: Use on-request for development, never for automation with caution
• Output: Treat all Codex output as untrusted guidance requiring review
• Context: Large tasks may exceed model context; break into smaller delegations
• Verification: Always review generated code before applying changes

Security Warnings

⚠️ DANGER: danger-full-access sandbox mode removes ALL security restrictions:

• NEVER use without external sandboxing (containers, VMs, isolated environments)
• Can execute ANY command without approval
• Can modify/delete ANY file on the system
• Can access network without restrictions

⚠️ CAUTION: never approval policy:

• Executes commands without user confirmation
• Combined with danger-full-access = EXTREMELY dangerous
• Only use in isolated, externally sandboxed environments
• Prefer on-request for interactive development