{"id":14,"date":"2026-09-24T20:16:46","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T20:16:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2026-09-28T04:09:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T04:09:11","slug":"02-get-set-up","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/02-get-set-up\/","title":{"rendered":"02 Get set up"},"content":{"rendered":"

LESSON 02 \/ 15 MINUTES<\/strong><\/p>

A little setup now will save you a lot of \u201cwhere did that file go?\u201d later. Keep this page open next to the app as you work.<\/p>

1. Check your access<\/h2>

This lesson uses Codex in the desktop app<\/strong>. Sign in with your ChatGPT account. Your instructor may encourage or require ChatGPT Plus; follow the requirements for your course. Claude Pro is a separate subscription and does not provide Codex access. You do not need to buy both for this lesson.<\/p>

Plans and usage allowances can change. Check OpenAI\u2019s current access information<\/a> if you\u2019re unsure what your account includes. You do not need an API key for the sign-in route we\u2019re using.<\/p>

2. Install and open the app<\/h2>

Use the download links in OpenAI\u2019s official desktop app guide<\/a>. Choose the version for your computer and follow the installer. Open the app and sign in.<\/p>

MAC + WINDOWS<\/strong><\/p>

Mac:<\/strong> Choose the Mac download and check its hardware requirements. You can see your Mac\u2019s chip or processor under Apple menu \u2192 About This Mac.<\/p>

Windows:<\/strong> Use the official Windows download instructions<\/a>. Use the native desktop app; this activity does not ask you to set up a separate Linux environment.<\/p>

On a school-managed computer, contact your instructor or IT if installation is blocked. Don\u2019t spend the whole lesson fighting the installer.<\/p><\/div>

A note about names:<\/strong> OpenAI\u2019s current documentation calls the download the ChatGPT desktop app. Choose Codex<\/strong> from the product selector if your app opens in ChatGPT. If your installed app is already labeled Codex, start there. The download page and labels may change; the task is the same: open Codex with a local project folder.<\/p>

3. Create a Project in Codex<\/h2>

A Project<\/strong> is a specific feature in Codex: a place to keep the chats for one piece of work together. Think of it as your planner\u2019s home inside the app. When you come back tomorrow, you can open that Project and pick up where you left off.<\/p>

For this activity, you\u2019ll connect the Project to a folder on your computer<\/strong>. That folder holds the actual files Codex creates, including the website you\u2019ll open in your browser. The Project keeps the work organized in Codex; the folder is where the files live.<\/p>

First, make the folder<\/h3>

Open Finder<\/strong> on a Mac or File Explorer<\/strong> on Windows. Inside Documents<\/strong>, create a new folder named nmi-codex-lab<\/strong>. Leave it empty for now. You\u2019ll give Codex this folder to work in.<\/p>

Next, create the Project<\/h3>
  1. Return to the desktop app and find Projects<\/strong> in the sidebar. Use the option to create a project. For this exercise, choose a local project<\/strong>\u2014\u201clocal\u201d means it works with files on this computer.<\/li>
  2. Name it My Week, Unstuck<\/strong> if you\u2019re asked for a name.<\/li>
  3. Connect the folder you just made. If the setup asks you to choose a folder, select Documents \u2192 nmi-codex-lab<\/strong>. If the Project is already created, open its menu, choose Edit project<\/strong>, then Add folder<\/strong>, and select that same folder.<\/li>
  4. Check that the attached folder is nmi-codex-lab<\/strong>. Select that folder itself, rather than all of Documents.<\/li><\/ol>

    Then, start a chat inside it<\/h3>

    Open your new Project and start a new Codex chat<\/strong> there. A chat is the back-and-forth conversation where you give instructions and read Codex\u2019s replies. We\u2019ll stay in this chat while we plan, build, and improve the planner.<\/p>

    If asked where the work should run, choose the local folder on this computer. In the next steps, you\u2019ll check permissions and ask Codex to confirm which folder it\u2019s using.<\/p>

    Before you continue:<\/strong> you should be able to find My Week, Unstuck in Codex and nmi-codex-lab in Finder or File Explorer. It\u2019s okay that the folder is still empty.<\/p>

    Labels can vary by app version. OpenAI\u2019s Projects guide<\/a> covers the current folder controls. You don\u2019t need GitHub, Xcode, or a published website for this activity.<\/small><\/p>

    4. Check permissions<\/h2>

    Use Ask for approval<\/strong> in the permissions control beneath the message box when available. Keep your course or organization\u2019s required settings. This lets Codex work in its workspace while asking for actions that need additional access. Leave Full access off for this exercise.<\/p>

    An approval request deserves a quick read: what will happen, and is it necessary for your project? If you\u2019re unsure, ask Codex to explain before approving. More about permissions<\/a>.<\/p>

    \"Codex<\/a>
    Find the message box, send arrow, and permissions.<\/strong> This real screenshot comes from OpenAI\u2019s March 2026 training deck. It shows an older model and \u201cDefault permissions\u201d; your version may say \u201cAsk for approval.\u201d Use the lesson\u2019s prompt below, not the example request in the image. Source: OpenAI<\/a>. Select the image to enlarge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

    5. Say hello to your folder<\/h2>

    TRY THIS PROMPT<\/strong><\/p>

    I\u2019m new to Codex. Before we build anything, tell me which project folder you\u2019re working in and list the files in it. Don\u2019t change any files yet. Explain your answer in plain language.<\/p><\/div>

    An empty folder is fine. The point is to confirm that you and Codex are looking at the same place. If it names a different folder, fix the project selection before moving on.<\/p>

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

    You\u2019re signed in, using Codex, and working in nmi-codex-lab. You can find that same folder in Finder or File Explorer. If setup is blocking you, use Help + resources<\/a> or ask your instructor before the build.<\/p><\/div>

    \u2190 Meet Codex<\/a> \u00b7 Workbook home<\/a> \u00b7 Give it a brief \u2192<\/a><\/p><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    LESSON 02 \/ 15 MINUTES A little setup now will save you a lot of \u201cwhere did that file go?\u201d later. Keep this page open next to the app as you work. 1. Check your access This lesson uses Codex in the desktop app. Sign in with your ChatGPT account. Your instructor may encourage or … Continue reading 02 Get set up<\/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-14","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14","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=14"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53,"href":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions\/53"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmi.cool\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}