Begin with a small, verifiable coding task rather than a broad 'build my application' request.
The practical workflow
Read the repository README, scripts and tests. Confirm branch status and dependencies. Ask Codex to explain the relevant files before modifying them. Give one narrowly scoped task with a measurable outcome, and require a summary of changes and test results.
Copy-and-adapt prompt
Inspect this repository. Do not edit yet. Identify the framework, how to run tests, the relevant files for [feature], and the risks. Then propose a minimal implementation plan. Wait for explicit instruction before changing unrelated files.
Review checklist and limitations
Review diffs, run tests locally and never paste production secrets into prompts. Official reference: https://developers.openai.com/codex/.
What to do next
Choose a small issue, document the baseline and verify the result with a real test. Continue with the other Codex guides in the navigation menu.
Official documentation
OpenAI Codex documentation: https://developers.openai.com/codex/
