Codex CLI Delegation
Use Codex CLI as a parallel agent with its own context window. Prefer codex exec for headless runs and codex for the TUI.
When to Use
- •Code review or spec/plan review
- •Debugging second opinion
- •Parallel implementation in an isolated worktree
Quickstart
bash
codex exec --sandbox read-only "Review src/auth against SPEC.md. Focus on security and tests." codex exec --full-auto --cd ../worktrees/task-3 "Implement Task 3 from IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md."
Exec Inputs
- •PROMPT string, or
-to read stdin. - •
--image, -iattaches one or more images to the first message.
Config and Model Overrides
- •
--model, -moverrides the configured model (e.g.,gpt-5-codex). - •
--profile, -pselects a profile from~/.codex/config.toml. - •
--config, -c key=valueoverrides config values (repeatable). - •
--ossuses the local open source provider (requires Ollama). - •
--cd, -Csets the working directory before execution. - •
--skip-git-repo-checkallows running outside a Git repo.
Safety Controls
- •
--sandbox, -s:read-only|workspace-write|danger-full-access. - •
--ask-for-approval, -a:untrusted|on-failure|on-request|never. - •
--full-auto: sets--ask-for-approval on-requestand--sandbox workspace-write. - •
--dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox,--yolo: no approvals or sandbox. - •
--add-dir: grant extra write roots. - •
--search: enable web search tool usage.
Output and Scripting
- •
--json/--experimental-json: newline-delimited JSON events. - •
--output-last-message, -o <path>: write final assistant message to a file. - •
--output-schema <path>: validate the final response against a JSON Schema. - •
--color <always|never|auto>: control ANSI output.
Session Control
- •
codex resume [SESSION_ID]orcodex resume --last [--all]. - •
codex exec resume [SESSION_ID]to continue non-interactive runs. - •
codex fork [SESSION_ID]to branch a prior interactive session.
Notes
- •Global flags apply to subcommands; place them after the subcommand (e.g.,
codex exec --oss ...). - •Codex runs with its own context window; include all necessary context in the prompt.