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GitHub and Codex Integration

6 min read

From: gregisenberg

Codex, an AI engineer in the browser developed by Sam Altman and OpenAI, is designed to allow users to input a task, have it coded, and then push the changes to GitHub [00:01:40]. This integration is central to how Codex operates, providing a way for both technical and non-technical users to manage and deploy code [00:00:13].

What is GitHub?

GitHub is a platform where code can be stored and managed [00:03:03]. It functions as a central location for your projects, referred to as “repositories” or “repos” [00:03:16]. A repository stores all the code files for a project [00:03:23].

Key GitHub concepts explained:

  • Repositories (Repos): Essentially, a project folder that stores all associated code files [00:03:18]. For example, a personal website would have its own repository [00:03:21].
  • Commits: Any changes made to the code are recorded as “commits” [00:03:26].
  • Branches: Code is often organized into “branches” [00:09:23]. The “main branch” is the primary version of the code [00:09:25]. When working on new features, it’s standard practice to create a new branch, which is a copy of the main code [00:09:29]. This allows for isolated development without affecting the main codebase [00:09:37].
  • Pull Request (PR): When changes on a separate branch are complete and tested, a “pull request” is created to propose merging these changes back into the main branch [00:09:15]. If there are no conflicts, the changes can be merged [00:09:42].

To begin with GitHub, you need to create a new repository [00:04:01]. You can name it anything, set it as public or private, and add a README file to explain the project [00:04:12].

Initial Setup with Codex

For non-technical people, a GitHub account and a connected repository are prerequisites for using Codex [00:02:43]. A website can even be created using Codex from scratch, starting with an existing website’s page source code [00:02:51]. The user copied the page source from a no-code builder like Card and used another coding agent (not Codex) to push it to a GitHub repo [00:05:10].

Once the code is on GitHub, it can be connected to GitHub Pages to host the URL live, allowing for custom domains [00:05:30]. Alternatively, tools like Vercel can be used for deployment, which offers more advanced deployment options [00:05:39].

Workflow with Codex and GitHub

The general workflow for using Codex involves:

  1. Adding a Task: Input a task into Codex, such as “add another tab next to investments tools that is called food I like in the dock. Put tacos” [00:06:01].
  2. Codex Generates Code: Codex processes the request, analyzes existing files, creates new documents, and updates the main site to match the requested changes [00:07:23]. It even performs its own internal tests [00:08:42].
  3. Create a Pull Request (PR): After Codex completes the task, you create a new PR [00:09:12]. This action proposes the changes made by Codex to be integrated into the main branch [00:09:23].
  4. Review and Merge: On GitHub, you can review the PR, which provides a summary of the changes [00:09:55]. If all checks pass and there are no conflicts with the base branch, you can merge the PR [00:10:11]. Merging integrates the new code into the main codebase [00:10:15].
  5. Deployment: Once merged, the changes will deploy and become visible on your live site, though this may take a few seconds [00:10:29].

Understanding GitHub Terminology within Codex

Within the Codex interface, you will see statuses and numbers related to your tasks:

  • Open: A task starts as “open” when you initiate it [00:16:01].
  • Merged: This indicates that the changes from the task have been successfully integrated into the main codebase or branch [00:15:49].
  • Closed: If a task’s output is unsatisfactory (e.g., the code doesn’t work), you can close the pull request, effectively denying the proposed changes without affecting the main code [00:16:25].
  • Numbers (+/-): These numbers represent the lines of code changed. A positive number (+) indicates lines added, and a negative number (-) indicates lines removed across the entire codebase [00:17:23].

Best Practices for Beginners Using Codex

For non-technical people starting with Codex and GitHub:

  • Start Simple: Begin by using Codex on a personal site or by creating a new one if you’re concerned about your existing site [00:18:38].
  • Iterate Small Changes: Work “line by line” and “piece by piece” [00:19:02]. For example, start by asking Codex to “make a website with my name as the header,” then add an “about section,” and then “social links” [00:19:37].
  • Have a README: Ensure your GitHub repo has at least a README file enabled when you create it [00:19:29].
  • Don’t Fear Mistakes: If a merged change breaks your site, you can always revert to a previous working version on GitHub [00:19:59]. There’s little risk if it’s a personal, non-client-facing site [00:20:28].
  • Ask ChatGPT for Help: If you get stuck or need to perform actions not directly available in Codex (like rolling back GitHub changes), ask ChatGPT (the main chat.openai.com version) [00:20:48]. You can even copy your entire code base (by changing github.com to uithub.com in the URL to view raw code) and paste it into ChatGPT for analysis [00:22:21].

Limitations and Advanced Usage

While powerful, Codex has some limitations:

  • File Uploads: You cannot upload files, images, or directly instruct it to make UI look a certain way [00:20:57].
  • Integrating Designs: For UI design, you might use other tools like Vercel’s v0 to generate design code and then bring that code into your GitHub repo for Codex to interact with [00:21:08].

Environments and Terminal Commands

Codex uses “environments” which are different connections to specific repositories [00:27:22]. This feature is more advanced, especially for projects using frameworks like Next.js or Python [00:29:21].

To run more complex applications with Codex, you might need to use the “code execution” feature to run terminal commands (like pnpm install or pnpm dev) [00:28:01]. These commands spin up necessary servers and components for the app to function [00:28:47]. This is part of a “proper development environment” that goes beyond basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript [00:29:18].

Why Use Codex with GitHub?

Despite potentially feeling overwhelming initially, Codex offers unique benefits:

  • Delegation: Codex acts as a delegated “agent” that handles the coding tasks for you, allowing you to focus on what you want to build rather than the how [00:14:40].
  • Iterative Development: It supports an iterative approach, allowing you to continuously add small features with built-in tests and checks, reducing time spent debugging [00:13:49].
  • Learning Tool: For non-technical people, Codex can be a “lightweight way to learn how to code” by exposing you to computer science and development terminology in a practical, fun context [00:32:14]. It “drip feeds” coding concepts without requiring you to write code yourself [00:33:36].
  • Future of AI-assisted building: The task-based UI seen in Codex is likely to become more common in other building tools [00:32:50].

While Codex may not be for daily use for everyone right now, it serves as an excellent learning project to explore AI-driven code development and gain familiarity with concepts like GitHub [00:33:05]. The ultimate goal for non-technical users is to become “curious enough” to overcome barriers and start building [00:31:22].

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