codex-agent · git:20260619.9f35213 · 2026-06-19 · sha256 2d485f33a824280a
codex-agent git:20260619.9f35213A
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---
name: codex-agent
description: Use when you want a second-opinion review via Codex CLI, cross-verification after another agent implements changes, debugging help, or alternative implementation proposals. Requires Codex CLI to be installed and authenticated.
compatibility: {runtimes: [claude_code]}
allowed-tools:
- Bash(REPORT=*)
- Bash(DIFF_REPORT=*)
- Bash(codex:*)
- Bash(mktemp:*)
- Bash(cat:*)
- Bash(git diff:*)
- Read
- Edit
- Grep
- Glob
---
# Codex Agent Collaboration Skill
This skill enables Claude Code to collaborate with OpenAI's Codex CLI agent for second-opinion review, cross-verification, debugging analysis, and alternative implementation proposals.
Default posture: Codex reviews in `read-only`; the primary agent applies changes only when the user asked for fixes or approved them after reading the review.
## Optional Codex Review Workflow
Use this workflow when the user asks for Codex review, wants a second opinion, or needs cross-verification from a separate coding agent.
### Step 1: Call Codex and Read Feedback
```bash
REPORT="$(mktemp -t codex-review.XXXXXX.md)"
codex exec -C <project_path> -s read-only -o "$REPORT" \
"Review the code in <file_or_directory>. Check for:
- Security vulnerabilities
- Performance issues
- Code quality and best practices
- Potential bugs and edge cases
- Naming and readability
Provide specific, actionable feedback with file paths and line numbers."
cat "$REPORT"
```
Keep the write and read in the same Bash call, or pass a concrete report path
between calls; shell variables do not persist across tool calls.
### Step 2: Apply Fixes Based on Codex Feedback
When the user asked to apply fixes, handle each issue identified by Codex:
1. Read the relevant file
2. Apply the fix using Edit tool
3. Verify the fix addresses Codex's concern
If the user only asked for a review or second opinion, report findings without editing files.
### Step 3: Re-verify with Codex (Optional)
```bash
codex exec -C <project_path> -s read-only \
"Verify the fixes applied to <files>. Confirm issues are resolved."
```
## Workflow Examples
### Example 1: Review and Fix a Single File
```bash
# Step 1: Get Codex review
REPORT="$(mktemp -t codex-review.XXXXXX.md)"
codex exec -C /project -s read-only -o "$REPORT" \
"Review src/auth/login.ts for security vulnerabilities and code quality issues. Provide specific line numbers and fixes."
# Step 2: Read the feedback
cat "$REPORT"
```
Then the primary agent reads the feedback, applies fixes with Edit tool, and optionally re-verifies.
### Example 2: Review Recent Changes
```bash
# Get diff of recent changes
DIFF_REPORT="$(mktemp -t recent-changes.XXXXXX.diff)"
git diff HEAD~1 > "$DIFF_REPORT"
# Step 1: Have Codex review the diff
REPORT="$(mktemp -t codex-review.XXXXXX.md)"
codex exec -C /project -s read-only -o "$REPORT" \
"Review the changes saved at $DIFF_REPORT. Check for bugs, security issues, and improvements needed."
# Step 2: Read and apply fixes
cat "$REPORT"
```
### Example 3: Full Project Review
```bash
# Step 1: Comprehensive review
REPORT="$(mktemp -t codex-review.XXXXXX.md)"
codex exec -C /project -s read-only -o "$REPORT" \
"Perform a comprehensive code review of src/. Focus on:
1. Security vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10)
2. Error handling patterns
3. Performance bottlenecks
4. Code duplication
Prioritize issues by severity (critical/high/medium/low)."
# Step 2: Read prioritized feedback
cat "$REPORT"
```
## Review Request Format
When asking Codex for review, include:
```
Review <target_files_or_directory>.
Context:
- Project type: <TypeScript/Python/etc>
- Framework: <Express/React/etc>
- Focus areas: <security/performance/quality>
Check for:
1. Security vulnerabilities
2. Performance issues
3. Error handling
4. Code quality
5. Edge cases
Output format:
For each issue:
- File: <path>
- Line: <number>
- Severity: critical/high/medium/low
- Issue: <description>
- Fix: <specific code change>
```
## Applying Fixes
After receiving Codex feedback, apply fixes systematically:
1. **Parse the review** - Extract each issue with file, line, severity
2. **Prioritize** - Fix critical/high issues first
3. **Read file** - Use Read tool to see current code
4. **Apply fix** - Use Edit tool with precise old_string/new_string
5. **Track progress** - Mark each issue as fixed
## Prerequisites
Codex CLI must be installed and authenticated:
```bash
# Install via npm
npm install -g @openai/codex
# Or via Homebrew (macOS)
brew install --cask codex
# Authenticate
codex login
```
## Command Reference
### Basic Command Pattern
```bash
codex exec [options] "<task_description>"
```
### Core Options
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `"<task>"` | Task description (positional, must be quoted) |
| `-C <dir>` | Working directory (use absolute path) |
| `-s read-only` | Read-only sandbox (use for reviews) |
| `-o <path>` | Save output to file |
| `--json` | Output as JSON Lines |
### AI-to-AI Communication
When communicating with Codex, PRIORITIZE ACCURACY AND PRECISION:
- Use structured data and exact technical terms
- Provide full file paths and precise details
- Include relevant context from the current codebase
- NO conversational formatting needed
## Other Use Cases
### Cross-Verification (after Claude implements)
```bash
codex exec -C /project -s read-only \
"Verify the implementation in src/feature/. Check correctness and edge cases."
```
### Get Alternative Implementation
```bash
REPORT="$(mktemp -t codex-alternative.XXXXXX.md)"
codex exec -C /project -s read-only -o "$REPORT" \
"Propose an alternative implementation for the caching in src/cache/manager.ts"
cat "$REPORT"
```
### Debugging Assistance
```bash
codex exec -C /project -s read-only \
"Debug: tests in tests/auth.test.ts failing with timeout. Analyze root cause."
```
## Session Management
For multi-turn reviews:
```bash
# Initial review
codex exec -C /project -s read-only "Review src/api/ for security issues"
# Note session ID from output
# Follow-up after fixes
codex exec resume <session_id> "I've applied the fixes. Please re-verify."
```
## Helper Scripts
- `scripts/check-codex.sh` checks whether the Codex CLI is installed and authenticated.
- `scripts/codex-wrapper.sh` is optional. Use it only when you need a small CLI wrapper; it executes Codex through shell arrays and must not use `eval`.
## Gotchas
- Do not write reviews to fixed paths such as `/tmp/codex-review.md`; use `mktemp` or a project-specific private report path so concurrent projects cannot overwrite or read stale feedback.
- Keep Codex review commands in `read-only` unless the user explicitly asked Codex itself to edit.
- Treat `danger-full-access`, `--dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox`, `--dangerously-bypass-hook-trust`, and `--skip-git-repo-check` as high-impact flags. Ask before using them.
- Do not blindly apply every Codex suggestion. Re-read the target file, confirm the root cause, and verify the final behavior.
## Troubleshooting
### Authentication Issues
```bash
codex logout
codex login
```
### Check Installation
```bash
codex --version
which codex
```
## See Also
- [scripts/check-codex.sh](scripts/check-codex.sh) - Local Codex CLI availability check
- [scripts/codex-wrapper.sh](scripts/codex-wrapper.sh) - Wrapper for repeatable Codex CLI invocation
- [sandbox-modes.md](sandbox-modes.md) - Sandbox security levels
- [examples.md](examples.md) - More usage examples
- [advanced.md](advanced.md) - Advanced configuration