Chapter C69 · Interactive Course
Codex use cases and handoffs
Scoped changes, evidenced diagnosis, review against a contract, delegation, reports, and an honest close.
Core Learning Concept
Inspect the deliverable against the original task, not only its summary. Check the actual edit or artifact, relevant validation, and the environment where work happened. A useful handoff says what is complete and what remains. The same evidence habits apply whether the output is code, a document, or a cloud-task result.
What You’ll Learn in This Chapter
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Implement a small behavior change
Turn a precise task into a reviewable patch.
For a small behavior change, state the trigger, expected result, and compatibility constraints. Let the implementation follow the existing code structure, then inspect the actual diff and relevant checks. Completion means the requested behavior is supported by evidence, not simply that files were edited.
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Investigate a failure with evidence
Request a diagnosis tied to logs and source.
Investigate a failure using its reproducer, error output, environment, and relevant code path. Keep hypotheses separate from confirmed causes. A useful result explains the evidence and the targeted repair, or identifies the exact missing condition preventing verification. Repeating unrelated fixes does not substitute for diagnosis.
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Review code against requirements
Evaluate a patch using a stated contract.
Code review compares implementation against requirements and real execution paths. Look for concrete defects, regressions, and validation gaps. Distinguish stylistic preferences from functional bugs, supporting findings with relevant diff lines and test evidence.
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Delegate a cloud task with the right inputs
Prepare a self-contained repository task.
A cloud task needs a written objective, suitable repository state, dependencies, and authorized access to required resources. Local uncommitted files may not be present. Define the expected artifact and checks in the handoff, then inspect the returned changes and results before integrating them into another environment.
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Produce a verifiable non-code artifact
Use supplied data to create a small report.
A non-code artifact still needs verification suited to its format. Inspect a rendered document for layout, a spreadsheet for formulas and totals, or a research brief for supporting sources. A successfully created file is only the start. Judge the artifact as its intended reader or user would experience it.
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Close with actual checks and remaining work
Write a handoff grounded in tool outcomes.
Close a task by reporting the final behavior or artifact, the checks actually completed, and material remaining work. Distinguish local validation from remote deployment and real-device evidence. The report should let another person assess completion without reconstructing the entire conversation or assuming that an intended check ran.
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Inspect a Codex deliverable
Review a supplied local patch and its report, verify the evidence against what the task actually did, and name one limitation before handoff.
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Complete a Codex practice run
Inspect a supplied Codex task from workspace selection through a verified local patch and a review handoff that states what the evidence covers.