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

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

Model	Best For	Characteristics
gpt-5.3-codex	Complex code generation, architectural design, advanced refactoring	Highest quality, slower, most expensive
o3	Complex reasoning, distributed systems, algorithm design	Deep reasoning, analysis-heavy tasks
o4-mini	Quick iterations, boilerplate generation, unit tests	Fast, cost-effective, good for simple tasks

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