codex

Codex

Profiles

• (no profile) — read-only analysis (no compilation, no tests)
• --profile edit — local edits, build, or test (workspace-write, full-auto)
• --profile full — network or broad filesystem access (danger-full-access, full-auto)

Use --profile edit whenever the task involves go test, go build, or any command that writes build artifacts. The default read-only sandbox blocks all writes including compiler temp dirs.

For complex tasks, add --config model_reasoning_effort="xhigh".

Model Selection

Default to the project model in .codex/config.toml (gpt-5.4).

Use --model gpt-5.3-codex-spark for speed-first interactive work:

• tight back-and-forth iteration
• quick bug fixes and targeted edits
• small-to-medium refactors or UI tweaks
• rapid prototyping where frequent redirect/interrupt is expected

Stay on default gpt-5.4 for depth-first work:

• long autonomous runs
• broad multi-file changes with heavy reasoning
• test-heavy or verification-heavy tasks
• higher correctness/risk surfaces where deeper reasoning is worth the extra latency

If the user explicitly requests a model, follow the user's request.

Commands

Project defaults in .codex/config.toml. Always include --skip-git-repo-check and 2>/dev/null. Only override model when the user explicitly requests it, or when the task clearly fits the Spark speed-first criteria above.

Use case	Command
Read-only analysis	codex exec --skip-git-repo-check -o "$CODEX_OUT" "prompt" 2>/dev/null
Speed-first interactive loop (Spark)	add --model gpt-5.3-codex-spark
Apply local edits	add --profile edit
Network / broad access	add --profile full
Resume session	echo "prompt" | codex exec --skip-git-repo-check -o "$CODEX_OUT" resume --last 2>/dev/null

Create a temp file for output before running: CODEX_OUT=$(mktemp /tmp/codex-out.XXXXXX). Read the result from $CODEX_OUT after completion.

Run with Bash run_in_background: true. Monitor via TaskOutput with block: true, timeout: 600000 — do NOT use sleep commands to poll. Read the -o file for the final answer.

Resuming

Don't pass model/effort/sandbox flags when resuming — original session settings carry over. -o is safe to include.

Conventions

This is a Go project. Use go test, go build, go vet in prompts. Codex workers don't receive CLAUDE.md or hooks, so project conventions must be explicit.

Post-Execution Verification

Always verify Codex output via git diff --stat — never trust the worker's self-reported file list. Codex workers may make out-of-scope changes (deleting files, reverting unrelated code, removing test functions). The completion promise may list only intended files while omitting destructive side effects.

When other work exists in the same codebase, include explicit "DO NOT modify or delete" file lists in the prompt. The positive instruction ("only touch these files") is insufficient — Codex interprets "clean up" broadly.

Per [[principles/prove-it-works]]: trust artifacts, not self-reports.

Worktree Usage

With -C <worktree-dir>, the worktree has its own git index. .claude/ may symlink to .agents/ — use .agents/ paths for git operations.