10 Codex tips I wish I knew sooner

OpenAI released Codex - their coding agent app - and it's one of the best coding agents available. Even though it might seem technical, it's actually really easy to use. In this beginner's guide, I'll show you how to get started with Codex, share 10 essential tips and tricks, and by the end you'll feel comfortable downloading it and building your own projects. Stay up-to date with all things AI with our powerful daily newsletter: https://nocode.mba/daily Learn about Codex vs Claude Code here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYQjixUlj_0 Learn about Claude Code here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEIulrjHzMI Codex is free to use without a ChatGPT subscription, but with the $20/month ChatGPT Plus plan you'll get tons of usage. Right now rate limits are very generous. Download from ChatGPT's Codex page - currently Mac only, but Windows version likely coming soon. 10 TIPS: 1. Threads are folders When you add a new project, you're opening a folder on your computer. You can open existing code (like exports from Lovable) or start with an empty folder. Multiple chats can run inside one folder. 2. Use GPT 5.4 with extra high reasoning GPT 5.4 is OpenAI's best coding model. Set reasoning to "extra high" for best quality (slower response but worth it). Lower reasoning gives quicker responses and uses fewer rate limits. 3. Fast mode for speed Type /fast to enable fast mode - doubles token usage but significantly increases response speed. Great when you want to move quickly, but keep it off normally to conserve rate limits. 4. Create Git repositories Set up Git repos directly in Codex to create branches and sync with GitHub. This backs up your code to the cloud instead of just keeping it local. 5. Enable Skills for superpowers Skills give Codex extra capabilities: - Linear integration for project management - Image Gen for creating/editing images with OpenAI - PDF skill for document handling - Playwright for browser automation - And many more 6. VS Code integration Click to open any file directly in VS Code. Seamless workflow between Codex and your preferred code editor. 7. Use the Diff panel Toggle the Diff panel (top right) to see exactly what code was written, changed, or deleted. Essential for understanding what the agent is doing. 8. Plan mode for complex tasks Type /plan to enter plan mode. Codex excels at planning - use it for complex tasks and new features before jumping into coding. 9. Codex is truly agentic Unlike ChatGPT's back-and-forth, Codex breaks down your prompt into pieces and works autonomously. You can see it inspect repos, explore files, and create folders in the background. 10. Ask for help anytime Don't know how to deploy to Netlify or Vercel? Not sure how to integrate Supabase? Just ask Codex and it will walk you through step-by-step. I'm building a full SaaS app with backend database, user authentication, and Supabase integration using both Codex and Claude Code. I use Codex for complex tasks and planning, then go back and forth between the two agents for best results. Pricing advantage: Right now you're getting more value per dollar on Codex ($20/month) compared to Claude Code ($100/month for similar usage). OpenAI is subsidizing more heavily. 0:00 - Introduction to Codex 0:40 - Tip #1: It's free to use (no subscription required, $20/month recommended) 1:04 - Tip #2: Threads are folders (open existing code or start fresh) 2:45 - Tip #3: Use GPT 5.4 model with extra high reasoning 3:23 - Tip #4: Fast mode toggle (slash command for speed) 3:49 - Tip #5: Create Git repositories (sync to GitHub) 4:07 - Tip #6: Enable Skills for superpowers (Image Gen, Playwright, etc.) 4:50 - Tip #7: VS Code integration (open files directly) 7:35 - Tip #8: Toggle Diff panel (view code changes) 7:18 - Tip #9: Use Plan mode (slash command for complex tasks) 8:17 - Tip #10: Ask for help anytime (deployment, integrations, etc.)