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Person: "nbaschez"
OpenAI Codex App: death of the VSCode fork, multitasking worktrees, Skills Automations
codex openai agent-based-systems parallel-processing software-testing developer-workflows automation product-feedback-loop neurosymbolic-ai benchmarking sama reach_vb gdb skirano embirico ajambrosino thsottiaux nbaschez yuchenj_uw badlogicgames random_walker
OpenAI launched the Codex app on macOS as a dedicated agent-native command center for coding, featuring multiple agents in parallel, built-in worktrees for conflict isolation, skills for reusable bundles, and scheduled automations. The app emphasizes developer workflows like Plan mode for upfront task decomposition and is gaining positive adoption signals from insiders including @sama. There is movement towards ecosystem standardization of skills folders, signaling early conventions in agent tooling. Codex also exemplifies a "self-improving" product feedback loop combining humans and agents. In coding agents practice, best practices include a "test-first" approach to bug fixes, the "conductor" model where one developer manages 5-10 agents in parallel, and a neurosymbolic framing explaining why coding agents succeed due to software's verifiability and symbolic tooling. Benchmark skepticism remains about productivity studies that do not reflect agentic workflows.