Codex Agents

Orchestrate OpenAI Codex coding agents via OpenClaw's exec tool with PTY support.

Prerequisites

1. Install Codex CLI: npm install -g @openai/codex
2. Authenticate: codex auth (opens browser OAuth — uses your OpenAI account)
3. Verify: codex --version

Core Pattern

Always use pty:true — Codex is an interactive terminal app.

One-Shot Task

exec pty:true workdir:~/projects/myapp command:"codex exec --full-auto 'Add dark mode toggle to the settings page'"

Background Task (Long-Running)

exec pty:true workdir:~/projects/myapp background:true command:"codex exec --full-auto 'Refactor auth module to use JWT tokens. When finished, run: openclaw system event --text \"Done: JWT auth refactor\" --mode now'"

Then monitor:

process action:log sessionId:<id>
process action:poll sessionId:<id>

Notify on Completion

Append this to any prompt for automatic notification when the agent finishes:

When completely finished, run: openclaw system event --text "Done: <summary>" --mode now

This triggers an immediate wake — delivers to your configured channel (Telegram, Discord, etc).

Execution Modes

Default recommendation: --full-auto for most tasks. Use --yolo only when speed matters and you trust the task scope.

Common Workflows

Build a Feature

exec pty:true workdir:~/projects/myapp background:true command:"codex exec --full-auto 'Build a REST API for user management with CRUD endpoints. Use Express and Prisma. Include tests.

When completely finished, run: openclaw system event --text \"Done: User management API\" --mode now'"

Fix a Bug

exec pty:true workdir:~/projects/myapp command:"codex exec --full-auto 'Fix issue #42: Login fails when email has uppercase letters. Write a test that reproduces it first, then fix.'"

Review a PR

Clone or worktree to avoid touching your working branch:

# Create a worktree for safe review
exec command:"cd ~/projects/myapp && git worktree add /tmp/pr-review-130 origin/feature-branch"

# Review it
exec pty:true workdir:/tmp/pr-review-130 command:"codex exec 'Review this branch vs main. Focus on: correctness, edge cases, security. Summarize findings.'"

# Cleanup
exec command:"cd ~/projects/myapp && git worktree remove /tmp/pr-review-130"

Parallel Tasks (Multiple Agents)

Use git worktrees to run multiple Codex agents simultaneously:

# Create worktrees
exec command:"cd ~/projects/myapp && git worktree add -b fix/issue-10 /tmp/issue-10 main"
exec command:"cd ~/projects/myapp && git worktree add -b fix/issue-11 /tmp/issue-11 main"

# Launch parallel agents
exec pty:true workdir:/tmp/issue-10 background:true command:"codex exec --full-auto 'Fix issue #10: <description>. Commit when done.

When finished, run: openclaw system event --text \"Done: issue-10\" --mode now'"

exec pty:true workdir:/tmp/issue-11 background:true command:"codex exec --full-auto 'Fix issue #11: <description>. Commit when done.

When finished, run: openclaw system event --text \"Done: issue-11\" --mode now'"

# Monitor all
process action:list

After completion, push branches and create PRs:

exec workdir:/tmp/issue-10 command:"git push -u origin fix/issue-10"
exec command:"gh pr create --repo user/repo --head fix/issue-10 --title 'fix: issue 10' --body 'Automated fix'"

Scratch Work (No Existing Repo)

Codex requires a git repo. For scratch/prototype work:

exec command:"mkdir -p /tmp/scratch && cd /tmp/scratch && git init"
exec pty:true workdir:/tmp/scratch command:"codex exec --full-auto 'Build a snake game in Python with pygame'"

Monitoring Background Agents

# List all running sessions
process action:list

# View output from a session
process action:log sessionId:<id>

# Check if still running
process action:poll sessionId:<id>

# Send input if agent asks a question
process action:submit sessionId:<id> data:"yes"

# Kill a stuck agent
process action:kill sessionId:<id>

Rules

1. Always use pty:true — Codex needs a terminal
2. Use workdir — scope the agent to the project directory
3. Git repo required — Codex won't run outside one; git init for scratch
4. Don't hand-code — if Codex fails, respawn or ask the user; don't silently take over
5. Verify completion — check output/files before telling the user it's done
6. One update on start, one on finish — don't spam progress unless something changes
7. Never run Codex in the OpenClaw workspace — keep agent work in project directories