{"id":11,"date":"2026-09-24T20:15:27","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T20:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/?page_id=11"},"modified":"2026-09-25T15:05:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T15:05:36","slug":"01-meet-codex","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/01-meet-codex\/","title":{"rendered":"01 Meet Codex"},"content":{"rendered":"

LESSON 01 \/ 10 MINUTES<\/strong><\/p>

Let\u2019s start with something useful: you do not need to know all the code to begin. You do need to pay attention to what you\u2019re asking for and what you get back. We\u2019ll practice both.<\/p>

So, what is Codex?<\/h2>

Codex is OpenAI\u2019s coding agent. An agent<\/strong> can work through a task using tools: reading project files, making changes, and running checks when its access allows. You describe the result you want, and Codex can help produce the files that make it work.<\/p>

That means you can ask it to build a small website, explain an unfamiliar project, repair a broken button, or change how an app looks. It can also get things wrong. A confident \u201cdone\u201d is your cue to take a look, not proof that everything works.<\/p>

\"Codex<\/a>
Codex on the left. The website on the right.<\/strong> This official example shows a different project, but the relationship is the same: ask for changes in the conversation, then try the result in a browser. Screenshot from OpenAI\u2019s 2026 guide; your app may look different. Source: OpenAI<\/a>. Select the image to enlarge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

You\u2019re still the person making the thing.<\/h2>

Think about hiring someone to help with a project. \u201cMake it good\u201d leaves a lot of room for interpretation. Who is it for? What should it do? What would make it useful? Codex needs that direction, too.<\/p>

Your job is to choose the goal, supply the context, and decide whether the result meets the need. You\u2019ll get more out of the tool if you ask it to explain unfamiliar parts as you go.<\/p>

Describe \u2192 Build \u2192 Try \u2192 Revise<\/strong><\/p>

You\u2019ll repeat this loop. The second attempt is part of the process.<\/p><\/div>

A few words you\u2019ll see<\/h2>
Prompt<\/strong><\/dt>
The message you send: a question, instruction, or description of what you want.<\/dd>
Project folder<\/strong><\/dt>
The place on your computer where this project\u2019s files live. Choose a folder just for this activity.<\/dd>
Context<\/strong><\/dt>
The information Codex needs: your audience, requirements, relevant files, examples, or an error you\u2019re seeing.<\/dd>
Preview<\/strong><\/dt>
A way to open and try what you\u2019re building before you share it.<\/dd>
Bug<\/strong><\/dt>
A problem that makes something behave differently from what you intended.<\/dd><\/dl>

Before we hand it the keys<\/h2>

For this module, use made-up tasks and a new practice folder. Keep passwords, student records, private client information, and anything you aren\u2019t allowed to share out of your prompts and project files. Codex needs enough information to do this task; it doesn\u2019t need your entire computer.<\/p>

Read requests for extra access. If you don\u2019t understand one, ask what it will do. We\u2019ll use the approval setting in the next lesson and keep the project on your computer. Publishing it comes later, if you choose.<\/p>

QUICK TRY: YOU BE THE REVIEWER<\/strong><\/p>

Codex says your planner is finished. It looks great, but every task disappears as soon as you refresh. Is it finished? What would you check or ask next?<\/p>

Compare your thinking<\/summary>

First, check what you asked it to build. If saving tasks was a requirement, the app has a bug. If it wasn\u2019t, that\u2019s a new feature to request. Either way, describe what you did, what happened, and what you expected. Looking finished and being finished are different things.<\/p><\/details><\/div>

BEFORE YOU MOVE ON<\/strong><\/p>

In your own words, explain what Codex can do with a project folder and name one thing you\u2019ll check yourself. If those feel fuzzy, reread the first two sections. You\u2019ll use both ideas in a moment.<\/p><\/div>

Reference: OpenAI\u2019s desktop app guide<\/a>.<\/small><\/p>

Workbook home<\/a> \u00b7 Get set up \u2192<\/a><\/p><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LESSON 01 \/ 10 MINUTES Let\u2019s start with something useful: you do not need to know all the code to begin. You do need to pay attention to what you\u2019re asking for and what you get back. We\u2019ll practice both. So, what is Codex? Codex is OpenAI\u2019s coding agent. An agent can work through a … Continue reading 01 Meet Codex<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44,"href":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11\/revisions\/44"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}