Codex Desktop Tutorial: Complete Workflow from Installation to Deployment

OpenAI's Codex desktop app has been receiving frequent updates with continuously improving capabilities. Compared to Claude Code, Codex offers higher GPT quotas, more comprehensive features (including Image Tool for automatic image generation), a simple learning curve, and no rate-limiting or account suspension issues. This article walks you through a complete hands-on project—from installation to deployment—so you can master the core operations of the Codex desktop app.

Codex Desktop Installation & Initial Configuration

Installing Codex is straightforward—just download the installer from the official website, open the app after installation, and log in with your GPT account. On first launch, the system will ask about your work type and recommend some Skills to install. You can choose freely here, as you can always install more later.

If you've previously used tools like Claude Code, Codex will automatically detect them and offer an import option. If you're starting fresh, simply skip this step. Once inside the main interface, you'll see a clean UI with a task bar on the left where you can create new sessions and projects.

Before starting a conversation in a new project, you need to configure the permission mode. Codex offers three permission levels: Default, Auto-review, and Full Access. Full access carries higher risk, so the recommended option is "Auto-review," which balances convenience and security. For the model, you can select GPT-5.5, and for speed, standard mode is recommended (1.5x speed consumes more quota).

Hands-On Demo: Creating a Car Care Shop Website with Codex

Basic Page Generation

Let's use creating a "car wash & care shop website" as our example. After entering your requirements in the chat box, Codex automatically starts generating the page. One incredibly useful feature is that you can run multiple sessions simultaneously. New sessions created in the left sidebar won't interrupt running tasks—for example, you can have Codex generating a webpage in one session while asking about the weather in another, with both tasks running in parallel without interference.

During task execution, you'll occasionally see "Awaiting approval" prompts. Clicking through lets you preview the current rendering. Codex also supports Approval Mode, a frequently used modification feature—you can annotate directly on the frontend page to mark areas that need changes.

Approval Mode & AI Image Generation

For instance, if we want to rename the store to "Friendly Neighbor Car Care Center," we simply tell Codex in the chat. Even more powerful is Codex's integrated Image Tool, which can generate images like logos directly within the project. We just annotate the position on the page and tell Codex to "use the AI image generation feature to create a logo," and it handles the rest automatically.

Similarly, you can annotate to modify the store address, replace map screenshots, and more. Multiple annotations can be submitted at once, and Codex will process all modifications simultaneously.

Context Management & Background Information

Interestingly, as conversations grow longer, you'll notice Codex performing "context compression." When context becomes too lengthy, AI performance may degrade. At this point, it's recommended to add Background information to your project, so that even when opening a new conversation window, Codex immediately understands the project's foundational information and maintains consistency.

Codex Plan Mode: Plan First, Execute Later

Plan Mode is a key feature of the Codex desktop app. When enabled, the AI won't execute tasks directly—instead, it first outlines a detailed implementation plan, confirms it with you, and only then begins execution.

Let's use "migrating the project to the Next.js framework" as an example. In Plan Mode, Codex will:

1. Ask clarifying questions: Whether you prefer TypeScript or JavaScript, specific configuration preferences, etc.
2. Present a complete plan: Showing migration steps, file changes, etc.
3. Wait for confirmation: Only proceeding after you approve

During execution, if you notice npm install is taking too long, you can use the guidance feature to suggest optimizations to the AI. It's like a co-pilot telling the driver "wrong turn, go right"—it won't interrupt the current task but gently guides the AI to adjust its strategy.

Parallel Development: Using Git Worktree to Work on Multiple Features Simultaneously

After initializing the project as a Git repository and pushing to GitHub, we can leverage Git Worktree for parallel development. Suppose we have two requirements:

• Requirement 1: Replace the Mercedes images on the page with Xiaomi cars (since the shop is next to a Xiaomi store)
• Requirement 2: Add illustration diagrams for the standardized service workflow

Steps:

1. Create two independent branches
2. Send each requirement to its corresponding branch session
3. Both tasks execute simultaneously without interference
4. Review results after completion—Xiaomi car images are swapped in, and workflow diagrams are in place
5. Merge both branches back to main

The advantage of this workflow: multiple requirements progress in parallel and are merged together upon completion—efficient and conflict-free.

One-Click Deployment via Netlify

Once development is complete, deployment is equally simple. Codex has a built-in Netlify plugin—a free deployment platform with extremely fast operations.

Steps:

1. Install the Netlify plugin in Codex
2. Complete authentication and authorization
3. Tell Codex in the project chat: "Deploy this project to Netlify"
4. Codex automatically handles the build and deployment, returning a public URL
5. Visit that URL directly—your project is live immediately

The entire process from zero to live deployment can genuinely be completed within 10 minutes.

Summary: Core Advantages & Usage Recommendations for Codex Desktop

The Codex desktop app has demonstrated remarkably mature web development capabilities. Compared to similar AI coding tools, its core advantages include:

• Multi-task parallelism: Multiple sessions and branches can run simultaneously
• Plan Mode: Complex tasks are planned before execution, reducing rework
• Built-in image generation: Image Tool generates assets directly within the project
• Guidance mechanism: Adjust direction at any time during execution
• One-click deployment: Integrated platforms like Netlify for seamless development-to-launch

For developers looking to rapidly build prototypes or small projects, the Codex desktop app is a highly efficient tool worth trying. Start with simple projects and gradually familiarize yourself with advanced features like Approval Mode, Plan Mode, and parallel development.