1# Create a CLI Codex can use | Codex use cases1# Create a CLI Codex can use | Codex use cases
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3Codex use cases
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9Codex use case
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11# Create a CLI Codex can use
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13Give Codex a composable command for an API, log source, export, or team script.
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15Difficulty **Intermediate**
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17Time horizon **1h**
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19Ask Codex to create a composable CLI it can run from any folder, combine with repo scripts, use to download files, and remember through a companion skill.
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21## Best for
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23- Repeated work where Codex needs to search, read, download from, or safely write to the same service, export, local archive, or repo script.
24- Agent tools that need paged search, exact reads by ID, predictable JSON, downloaded files, local indexes, or draft-before-write commands.
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26# Contents
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3[← All use cases](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases)28[← All use cases](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases)
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30Copy page [Export as PDF](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/agent-friendly-clis/?export=pdf)
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5Ask Codex to create a composable CLI it can run from any folder, combine with repo scripts, use to download files, and remember through a companion skill.32Ask Codex to create a composable CLI it can run from any folder, combine with repo scripts, use to download files, and remember through a companion skill.
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7Intermediate34Intermediate
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27 Create the companion skill that teaches later Codex tasks which CLI commands to run first and which write actions require approval.54 Create the companion skill that teaches later Codex tasks which CLI commands to run first and which write actions require approval.
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56| Skill | Why use it |
57| ------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
58| [Cli Creator](https://github.com/openai/skills/tree/main/skills/.curated/cli-creator) | Design the command surface, build the CLI, add setup and auth checks, install the command on PATH, and verify it from another folder. |
59| [Skill Creator](https://github.com/openai/skills/tree/main/skills/.system/skill-creator) | Create the companion skill that teaches later Codex tasks which CLI commands to run first and which write actions require approval. |
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29## Starter prompt61## Starter prompt
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31Use $cli-creator to create a CLI you can use, and use $skill-creator to create the companion skill in this same thread.63Use $cli-creator to create a CLI you can use, and use $skill-creator to create the companion skill in this same thread.
35 Command name: [cli-name, or recommend one].67 Command name: [cli-name, or recommend one].
36Before coding, show me the proposed command surface and ask only for missing details that would block the build.68Before coding, show me the proposed command surface and ask only for missing details that would block the build.
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70Use $cli-creator to create a CLI you can use, and use $skill-creator to create the companion skill in this same thread.
71Source to learn from: [docs URL, OpenAPI spec, redacted curl command, existing script path, log folder, CSV or JSON export, SQLite database path, or pasted --help output].
72First job the CLI should support: [download failed CI logs from a build URL, search support tickets and read one by ID, query an admin API, read a local database, or run one step from an existing script].
73Optional write job: [create a draft comment, upload media, retry a failed job, or read-only for now].
74 Command name: [cli-name, or recommend one].
75Before coding, show me the proposed command surface and ask only for missing details that would block the build.
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38## Introduction77## Introduction
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40When Codex keeps using the same API, log source, exported inbox, local database, or team script, give that work a composable interface: a command it can run from any folder, inspect, narrow, and combine with `git`, `gh`, `rg`, tests, and repo scripts.79When Codex keeps using the same API, log source, exported inbox, local database, or team script, give that work a composable interface: a command it can run from any folder, inspect, narrow, and combine with `git`, `gh`, `rg`, tests, and repo scripts.