Codex Zero-Basics Tutorial Part 2: Hands-On Guide to Using Codex for AI Beginners

Introduction

Codex has surpassed Claude Code to become the world's most popular AI Agent tool. If you haven't started using Codex yet, don't hesitate. This tutorial will guide you from scratch, using practical projects as demonstrations, to teach you how to use Codex to assist with your work and learning.

What is Codex?

Codex is an AI Agent tool that provides an interface for you to communicate with it through typing, similar to familiar tools like Doubao or DeepSeek. However, the key difference is that while Doubao can only chat with you, Codex can directly operate your computer and help you complete tasks on it.

What Can Codex Do?

• File Management: Organize files, read work content, and edit reports
• Document Creation: Generate PPTs, create spreadsheets, and write weekly reports
• Browser Operations: Directly control your browser
• Software Development: Build complex software
• Automation: Set up tasks to run automatically while you sleep

Codex can handle almost any task you can imagine, and you don't need any technical knowledge to use it.

Installation Guide

Codex is available in the Microsoft Store and Apple App Store, making installation straightforward:

For Windows Users

1. Open the Microsoft Store
2. Search for "Codex"
3. Click "Install"

For Mac Users

1. Open the App Store
2. Search for "Codex"
3. Click "Get"

Getting Started with Codex

After opening Codex, you'll notice it looks similar to the web version of Doubao, with a central input box and a sidebar on the left. The sidebar contains features not found in Doubao, such as plugins and automation workflows, which we'll explore in detail later.

Initial Configuration

When you first open Codex, I recommend modifying a simple configuration:

1. Go to settings
2. Find the "Work Mode" option
3. Switch it to "Daily Work"

This setting allows Codex to remain powerful while avoiding displaying a lot of technical details that might be difficult to understand, making your experience much smoother.

Core Concepts

Before diving into more advanced usage, let's understand some key concepts that will make using Codex easier and more powerful.

Projects

Since Codex works directly on your computer, it needs a working folder. These folders are called "projects" in Codex and are displayed in the sidebar. You can categorize different tasks into different folders (projects), making it easy to find the content you need.

To select a project for your current conversation:

1. Click on the project selection option below the input box
2. Choose the folder you want Codex to work with

Codex will then have direct access to all files in that folder to help you complete your tasks.

Practical Example: Organizing Files

Let's say you have a folder called "Computer Language Café" on your computer, filled with various files like sales records, invoices, and inventory lists in different formats (Excel, PDF, etc.). You can ask Codex to organize these files and extract the data into an Excel spreadsheet for easy access.

Task Description:

This is a folder related to a café called "Computer Language Café". It looks messy right now. Please organize these files and extract the information and data into an Excel spreadsheet so I can easily access the detailed data of this store.

After sending this task, Codex will analyze the files, move them around, modify their content, and create new files. It will organize the files by their purpose, generate a detailed data table with all the sales data and product rankings, and even extract information from PDF invoices. It will also identify any issues in the files, such as missing transaction records or abnormal invoices.

Advanced Usage

Now that we've covered the basics, let's explore some more advanced features of Codex.

Plan Mode

For complex tasks, Codex doesn't execute them directly. Instead, it first creates a detailed execution plan, confirms the details with you, and then proceeds. This is called "Plan Mode."

To enable Plan Mode:

1. When sending a complex task, select "Plan Mode"
2. Codex will analyze the task in detail
3. If there are any uncertainties, it will ask you questions
4. It will then provide a detailed plan for you to review
5. You can adjust the plan or submit it for execution

Pet Feature

Codex has a fun feature called "Pet." To access it:

1. Type "/" in the input box
2. Select "Pet" from the options

A small pet will appear on your desktop. You can place it anywhere on your screen, and it will not only be cute but also display all currently running tasks. You can even customize the pet's appearance in the settings.

Creating a Dashboard

Let's say you want to create a visual dashboard for the café using the data from the Excel spreadsheet Codex generated earlier. You can:

1. Attach the Excel file to your message
2. Send the following task:

Please use the data in this spreadsheet to create a visual dashboard for the Computer Language Café, so I can easily view the store's business situation, such as sales, expenses, costs, inventory, etc. Also, please analyze what I need to pay attention to.

Since this is a complex task, enable Plan Mode. Codex will create a detailed plan, ask for any necessary clarifications, and then generate a professional-looking dashboard with all the requested information, along with suggestions and key points to focus on.

You can even ask Codex to modify the dashboard's theme to be more modern and intuitive, like Apple's design style.

Conclusion

This tutorial has covered the basics of using Codex, from installation to advanced features. Codex is a powerful tool that can help you with a wide range of tasks, from file organization to complex data analysis and software development.

Remember, you don't need any technical knowledge to use Codex. With just a few simple commands, you can make Codex do amazing things. So don't be afraid to experiment and explore what Codex can do for you.

常见问题

How is this tutorial different from Part 1?

Part 1 covered the Codex workflow from a developer's perspective — installation, project setup, Git, refactoring, and plugins. This Part 2 is designed for absolute beginners with zero technical background. It uses a real-world café example (organizing messy business files, creating dashboards) instead of code examples. It also covers features Part 1 didn't: the "Daily Work" mode (which hides technical details), the Pet feature, and the Plan Mode workflow from a non-developer's perspective. If you're a developer, read Part 1. If you're new to AI tools entirely, start here.

Do I really need zero coding knowledge to use Codex?

Yes. The café example in this tutorial is a real task — organizing invoices, sales records, and inventory lists — that requires no coding. Codex handles the technical complexity internally. You describe what you want in plain language, and it figures out how to do it. The "Daily Work" mode (recommended in the setup section) further simplifies the experience by hiding terminal output, file paths, and technical jargon. That said, Codex becomes even more powerful if you do know some coding — but it's not required to get started and be productive.

What's the difference between Codex and tools like Doubao/DeepSeek?

Doubao and DeepSeek are chat tools — they answer questions and generate text. Codex is an Agent — it can actually operate your computer: open files, edit spreadsheets, organize folders, control your browser, and run software. Think of Doubao as a knowledgeable friend you can ask questions. Think of Codex as a capable assistant who can do the work for you. The chat interface looks similar, but the capabilities are fundamentally different. Codex is closer to having an intern who can use your computer than a chatbot that can answer questions.

Can I use Codex on my phone?

Codex has a mobile app (Codex Mobile) that connects to your desktop Codex installation. You can send tasks from your phone, and Codex executes them on your computer. This is covered in detail in the full Codex guide. For the tasks in this tutorial (file organization, dashboard creation), you'll want to be at your computer. Mobile is best for quick tasks like "check my unread messages and summarize them" or "add this event to my calendar."