Codex: Codex Web Version
Last updated: 2026-08-31
Codex Web runs in cloud sandboxes, requiring no local installation, and supports parallel tasks and remote access.
📋 Prerequisites: Understanding Codex basic concepts
1. What You Will Learn
- Web version features and advantages
- Cloud sandbox working principles
- Parallel task management
- Differences from local versions
2. Access
Visit https://chatgpt.com/codex directly and log in with your ChatGPT account.
3. Cloud Sandbox
(1) How It Works
Each task runs in an independent cloud sandbox:
graph TB
A[Submit Task] --> B[Create Cloud Environment]
B --> C[Clone Repository]
C --> D[Analyze Code]
D --> E[Execute Operations]
E --> F[Run Tests]
F --> G{Pass?}
G -->|No| D
G -->|Yes| H[Generate PR]
H --> I[Await Review]
(2) Sandbox Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Isolated Environment | Each task runs independently without interference |
| Security Isolation | Does not affect local system |
| Parallel Execution | Multiple tasks run simultaneously |
| Auto Cleanup | Environment automatically recycled after task completion |
4. Web Version Advantages
| Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| Zero Installation | Use directly in the browser |
| Parallel Tasks | Run multiple tasks simultaneously |
| Cross-Device | Access from any device with a browser |
| Cloud Resources | Larger compute resources |
| Auto Integration | Directly generate PRs |
▶ Example 1: Alice's Parallel Tasks
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Alice submits 5 tasks simultaneously in the Web version:
🔄 Task 1: Fix login Bug
🔄 Task 2: Add password reset feature
🔄 Task 3: Optimize database queries
🔄 Task 4: Supplement API documentation
🔄 Task 5: Add unit tests
5 tasks execute in parallel in independent sandboxes
Serial estimate: 2 hours → Parallel: ~25 minutes
5. Differences from Local Version
| Dimension | Web Version | CLI / App |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | None required | Requires local installation |
| Runtime | Cloud sandbox | Local machine |
| Code Storage | GitHub repository | Local file system |
| Parallelism | Native support | Requires multiple instances |
| Computer Use | Not supported | Supported |
| Custom Config | Limited | Fully customizable |
| Offline Use | Not supported | Not supported |
6. Usage Flow
(1) Connect GitHub Repository
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1. Click "Connect Repository" in the Web interface
2. Select a GitHub repository
3. Authorize Codex access
4. Select branch
(2) Submit Task
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1. Enter task description
2. Select model
3. Click "Start Task"
4. Wait for execution to complete
5. Review results
(3) Review PR
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1. View code diff
2. View test results
3. Approve or Request Changes
4. Merge PR
▶ Example 2: Bob's Web Workflow
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# Bob uses Web version to handle backlog
1. Connect project repo bob/e-commerce
2. Submit task: "Upgrade payment module from Stripe v2 to v3"
3. Simultaneously submit: "Add Elasticsearch support for product search"
4. Wait for execution (~15 minutes)
5. Review both PRs
6. Merge approved PRs
7. Quotas & Limits
| Plan | Parallel Tasks | Per-Task Duration | Repo Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 1 | 10 minutes | 100MB |
| Plus | 3 | 30 minutes | 500MB |
| Pro | 10 | 2 hours | 2GB |
| Business | 20 | 4 hours | 10GB |
❓ FAQ
Q Does the Web version require a GitHub repository?
A Yes. The Web version works by cloning a GitHub repository in a cloud sandbox. Local projects need to be pushed to GitHub first.
Q How secure is the Web version?
A Each task runs in an independent sandbox and cannot access other tasks or your local environment. Results are submitted via PR and require human review before merging.
Q Can I use custom models in the Web version?
A Currently the Web version only supports official OpenAI models. Third-party models like DeepSeek are not supported.
Q Can Web version tasks be cancelled?
A Yes. Click Cancel in the task list. Already executed operations are not automatically rolled back.
Q Are Web and CLI task results formatted the same way?
A Mostly the same, but the Web version additionally provides a PR view and online code review features.
📖 Summary
- Web version accessible at chatgpt.com/codex, zero installation
- Cloud sandbox runs independently, security isolated, supports parallelism
- Advantages: zero install, parallel, cross-device, direct PR generation
- Limitations: requires GitHub repo, only OpenAI models supported
- Ideal for remote work and multi-task parallel scenarios
📝 Exercises
- Basic (⭐): Submit a simple task in the Web version and review the results.
- Intermediate (⭐⭐): Submit two parallel tasks simultaneously, compare time differences with serial execution.
- Advanced (⭐⭐⭐): Design a team workflow — multiple people developing different features in parallel via Web version, with unified review and merge.
