ChatGPT Codex is like 10 AI software developers (tutorial for beginners)

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May 21, 2025

Ben Tossel, who runs the insightful Ben's Bites newsletter, dives into how OpenAI's Codex empowers non-technical users to create and modify websites effortlessly. He showcases a hands-on demo of adding a new tab via simple text commands, eliminating the need for code. The conversation also covers GitHub basics, the importance of pull requests, and best practices for beginners. Tossel emphasizes how Codex lowers barriers to coding, encouraging everyone to tackle personal projects and explore the exciting possibilities of technology.

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ANECDOTE

Demo: Adding Website Tab with Codex

Ben Tossell demonstrates using Codex to add a "food I like" tab to his personal website with no coding needed.
The process involves generating code, creating a pull request, and merging changes for deployment.

INSIGHT

Codex Simplifies Coding Workflow

Codex feels less intimidating than typical code editors because it hides code complexity behind natural language tasks.
It supports iterative, test-backed coding, reducing debugging time compared to overbuilt drag-and-drop tools.

ADVICE

Start Simple and Use GitHub

Start simple by using Codex on your personal website and build features gradually.
Always have a GitHub repo with a README and learn to merge or close pull requests to manage site changes safely.

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Join me as I chat with Ben Tossell to discuss how non-technical users can leverage OpenAI's Codex to build and modify websites without writing code. The video showcases a practical example of adding a new tab to a personal website through simple text commands, with Codex handling all the coding work. Ben explains GitHub basics, pull requests, and how to manage code changes while emphasizing that this approach makes coding more accessible to beginners.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro
01:28 - What is Codex
02:38 - Explanation of GitHub and repositories
05:54 - Demonstration of adding a new tab to a website
10:53 - Why use Codex if you are non-technical
15:26 - Explanation of merging and closing pull requests
18:18 - Best practices for non-technical people using Codex
21:54 - Tips for Debugging using ChatGPT
23:47 - More advanced use cases beyond personal websites
25:30 - Cloning a Repo and using Codex
30:08 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts on Codex

Key Points:

• Codex is an OpenAI terminal product that allows users to type in tasks, generate code, and push it to GitHub without writing code themselves
• The workflow involves creating tasks, reviewing generated code, creating pull requests, and merging changes
• For non-technical people, Codex offers a more accessible entry point to coding than traditional development
• Best practice is to start with simple personal website projects before attempting more complex applications:

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