---

name: codex-tools description: Execute and manage Codex CLI tools including file operations, shell commands, web search, and automation patterns. Use for automated workflows, tool orchestration, and full automation with permission bypass.

Codex Tools Execution

Comprehensive patterns for executing Codex CLI tools safely and with full automation.

Last Updated: December 2025 (GPT-5.2 Release)

Full Automation Patterns

Maximum Automation

Copy# Complete bypass (zero friction)
codex exec --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox "Organize project files"

# Safe automation (sandboxed)
codex exec --full-auto "Refactor module with tests"

# Custom automation
codex exec -a never -s workspace-write "Controlled automation"

Automated Workflows

Copy#!/bin/bash
# Complete project setup automation

setup_project() {
  local name="$1"
  local type="$2"  # react, node, python, etc.

  codex exec --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox \
    --search \
    "Create $type project '$name' with:
    1. Industry-standard directory structure
    2. Configuration files (ESLint, Prettier, etc.)
    3. Git initialization with proper .gitignore
    4. README with setup instructions
    5. CI/CD workflow (GitHub Actions)
    6. Docker setup with multi-stage build
    7. Environment variables template
    8. Comprehensive tests
    9. Documentation"
}

# Usage
setup_project "my-app" "react"

Batch Processing

Copy#!/bin/bash
# Process multiple files with full automation

batch_process() {
  local pattern="$1"
  local operation="$2"

  codex exec --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox \
    --json \
    "For each file matching $pattern:
    1. $operation
    2. Preserve formatting
    3. Run tests
    4. Fix any issues
    Return JSON with changes summary"
}

# Examples
batch_process "*.js" "add JSDoc comments and type hints"
batch_process "*.test.ts" "improve test coverage to 100%"

Tool Categories

File Operations

Copy# Read and analyze
codex exec --json "List all functions in ./src with their complexity" > analysis.json

# Modify files
codex exec --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox \
  "Add error handling to all async functions in ./src"

# Generate files
codex exec --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox \
  "Generate API documentation from code"

# Organize files
codex exec --full-auto "Organize imports and exports across project"

Shell Commands

Copy# Run tests
codex exec --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox \
  "Run all tests and fix failures automatically"

# Install dependencies
codex exec --full-auto "Analyze dependencies and update to latest stable"

# Build and deploy
codex exec --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox \
  "Build optimized production bundle and run checks"

Web Search

Copy# Research-driven development
codex exec --search --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox \
  "Research best practices for GraphQL and implement schema"

# Technology comparison
codex exec --search --full-auto \
  "Compare REST vs GraphQL vs gRPC and recommend for our use case"

Safety Patterns

Backup Before Execution

Copy#!/bin/bash
backup_and_execute() {
  local task="$1"

  # Git backup
  git stash push -m "pre-codex-$(date +%s)"

  if codex exec --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox "$task"; then
    echo "Success! Backup: git stash list"
  else
    echo "Failed! Restoring..."
    git stash pop
    return 1
  fi
}

Scoped Automation

Copy# Limit to specific directory
codex exec --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox \
  -C ./src/auth \
  "Only modify files in this directory"

# Add writable directories
codex exec --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox \
  --add-dir ./docs \
  --add-dir ./tests \
  "Can write to workspace, docs, and tests"

Complete Automation Examples

Automated Testing Workflow

Copy#!/bin/bash
automate_testing() {
  codex exec --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox \
    --json \
    "Complete testing automation:
    1. Analyze code coverage
    2. Generate missing unit tests
    3. Generate integration tests
    4. Generate e2e tests
    5. Run all tests
    6. Fix all failing tests
    7. Achieve 100% coverage
    8. Generate coverage report"
}

Automated Refactoring

Copy#!/bin/bash
automate_refactoring() {
  local module="$1"

  codex exec --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox \
    "Comprehensive refactoring of $module:
    1. Analyze code quality
    2. Apply modern patterns
    3. Improve performance
    4. Add error handling
    5. Update tests
    6. Run all tests
    7. Fix any issues
    8. Generate documentation"
}

Related Skills

• codex-cli: Main integration
• codex-auth: Authentication
• codex-chat: Interactive sessions
• codex-review: Code review
• codex-git: Git workflows