use-cases/learn-a-new-concept.md Codex Docs, 2026-04-13 00:44 UTC → 2026-05-18 22:01 UTC

1# Learn a new concept | Codex use cases1---

2name: Learn a new concept

3tagline: Turn dense source material into a clear, reviewable learning report.

4summary: Use Codex to study material such as research papers or courses, split

5 the reading across subagents, gather context, and produce a Markdown report

6 with diagrams.

7skills:

8 - token: $imagegen

9 description: Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Mermaid

10 diagram is not enough.

11bestFor:

12 - Individuals learning about an unfamiliar concept

13 - Dense source material that benefits from parallel reading, context

14 gathering, diagrams, and a written synthesis

15 - Turning a one-off reading session into a reusable Markdown report with

16 citations, glossary terms

17starterPrompt:

18 title: Analyze a Research Paper and Teach Me the Concept

19 body: >-

20 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].

2 21 

3[← All use cases](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases)

4 22 

5Use Codex to study material such as research papers or courses, split the reading across subagents, gather context, and produce a Markdown report with diagrams.23 Please run this as a subagent workflow:

6 24 

7Intermediate25 - Spawn one subagent to map the paper's problem statement, contribution,

26 method, experiments, and limitations.

8 27 

930m28 - Spawn one subagent to gather prerequisite context and explain the

29 background terms I need.

10 30 

11Related links31 - Spawn one subagent to inspect the figures, tables, notation, and any

32 claims that need careful verification.

12 33 

13[Subagents](https://developers.openai.com/codex/subagents) [Subagent concepts](https://developers.openai.com/codex/concepts/subagents)34 - Wait for all subagents, reconcile disagreements, and avoid overclaiming

35 beyond the source material.

14 36 

15## Best for

16 37 

17 - Individuals learning about an unfamiliar concept38 Final output:

18- Dense source material that benefits from parallel reading, context gathering, diagrams, and a written synthesis

19- Turning a one-off reading session into a reusable Markdown report with citations, glossary terms

20 39 

21## Skills & Plugins40 - create `notes/[concept-name]-report.md`

22 41 

23- [ImageGen](https://github.com/openai/skills/tree/main/skills/.curated/imagegen)42 - include an executive summary, glossary, paper walkthrough, concept map,

43 method diagram, evidence table, caveats, and open questions

24 44 

25 Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough.45 - use Markdown-native Mermaid diagrams where diagrams help

26 46 

27## Starter prompt47 - use imagegen to generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a

48 Markdown-native diagram is not enough

28 49 

29 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].

30 Please run this as a subagent workflow:

31- Spawn one subagent to map the paper's problem statement, contribution, method, experiments, and limitations.

32- Spawn one subagent to gather prerequisite context and explain the background terms I need.

33- Spawn one subagent to inspect the figures, tables, notation, and any claims that need careful verification.

34- Wait for all subagents, reconcile disagreements, and avoid overclaiming beyond the source material.

35 Final output:

36 - create `notes/[concept-name]-report.md`

37- include an executive summary, glossary, paper walkthrough, concept map, method diagram, evidence table, caveats, and open questions

38 - use Markdown-native Mermaid diagrams where diagrams help

39- use imagegen to generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough

40 - cite paper sections, pages, figures, or tables whenever possible50 - cite paper sections, pages, figures, or tables whenever possible

51 

52 

41 Constraints:53 Constraints:

54 

42 - do not treat the paper as ground truth if the evidence is weak55 - do not treat the paper as ground truth if the evidence is weak

56 

43 - separate what the paper claims from your interpretation57 - separate what the paper claims from your interpretation

58 

44 - call out missing background, assumptions, and follow-up reading59 - call out missing background, assumptions, and follow-up reading

60relatedLinks:

61 - label: Subagents

62 url: /codex/subagents

63 - label: Subagent concepts

64 url: /codex/concepts/subagents

65---

45 66 

46## Introduction67## Introduction

47 68 

112- An experiment map that connects datasets, metrics, baselines, and reported claims.133- An experiment map that connects datasets, metrics, baselines, and reported claims.

113- A limitations diagram that separates assumptions, failure modes, and open questions.134- A limitations diagram that separates assumptions, failure modes, and open questions.

114 135 

115For Markdown-first reports, ask for Mermaid when the destination supports it, or a small checked-in SVG/PNG asset when it does not. Ask Codex to use imagegen only when you need an illustrative, non-exact visual or something that doesn’t fit in a Markdown-native diagram.136For Markdown-first reports, ask for Mermaid when the destination supports it, or a small checked-in SVG/PNG asset when it does not. Ask Codex to use the imagegen system skill, which comes with Codex by default, only when you need an illustrative, non-exact visual or something that doesn't fit in a Markdown-native diagram.

116 137 

117## Write the Markdown report138## Write the Markdown report

118 139 

145 166 

146Example prompt:167Example prompt:

147 168 

148Generate a script that reproduces a simple example from this paper.

149The script should be self-contained and runnable with minimal dependencies.

150There should be a clear output I can review, such as a csv, plot, or other artifact.

151If there are code examples in the paper, use them as reference to write the script.

152 

153## Skills to consider169## Skills to consider

154 170 

155Use skills only when they match the artifact you want:171Use skills only when they match the artifact you want:

164 180 

165**Create the Report Outline First**181**Create the Report Outline First**

166 182 

167Before writing the full report, inspect [paper path] and propose the report outline.

168Include:

169- the core concept the paper is trying to explain

170- which sections or figures are most important

171- which background terms need definitions

172- which diagrams would help

173- which subagent tasks you would spawn before drafting

174Stop after the outline and wait for confirmation before creating files.

175 

176**Build Diagrams for the Concept**183**Build Diagrams for the Concept**

177 184 

178Read `notes/[concept-name]-report.md` and add diagrams that make the concept easier to understand.

179Use Markdown-native Mermaid diagrams when possible. If the report destination cannot render Mermaid, create small checked-in SVG files instead and link them from the report.

180Add:

181- one concept map for prerequisites and related ideas

182- one method flow diagram for inputs, transformations, and outputs

183- one evidence map connecting claims to paper figures, tables, or sections

184Keep the diagrams faithful to the report. Do not add unverified claims.

185 

186**Turn the Report Into a Study Plan**185**Turn the Report Into a Study Plan**

187 

188Use `notes/[concept-name]-report.md` to create a study plan for the next two reading sessions.

189Include:

190- what I should understand first

191- which paper sections to reread

192- which equations, figures, or tables need extra attention

193- one toy example or notebook idea if experimentation would help

194- follow-up readings and questions to resolve

195Update the report with a short "Next study loop" section.

196 

197## Related use cases

198 

199[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-2.webp)

200 

201### Coordinate new-hire onboarding

202 

203Use Codex to gather approved new-hire context, stage tracker updates, draft team-by-team...

204 

205Integrations Data](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/new-hire-onboarding)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-3.webp)

206 

207### Generate slide decks

208 

209Use Codex to update existing presentations or build new decks by editing slides directly...

210 

211Data Integrations](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/generate-slide-decks)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-2.webp)

212 

213### Analyze datasets and ship reports

214 

215Use Codex to clean data, join sources, explore hypotheses, model results, and package the...

216 

217Data Analysis](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/datasets-and-reports)