Codex / Use Codex
Codex and Linear
Linear is suitable for converting product requirements into engineering tasks, and then Codex handles verifiable subtasks.

Linear work order structure
Linear work orders are suitable for Codex as a source of engineering tasks. A high-quality work order should include context, scope, acceptance criteria, design links, risk boundaries, and testing requirements.
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| background | 401 occurs occasionally after the user refreshes the token. |
| range | auth service、middleware、auth tests。 |
| Acceptance | Add regression tests and pass the build. |
| prohibited | Do not change the payment and database schema. |
status writeback
After completion, write back the change summary, verification results, remaining risks, and issues that require product confirmation back to the work order.
Complete usage points
Supplement the core concepts, operation sequences, permission boundaries and verification requirements that are easily compressed and missed in official documents, making it easier for English readers to learn completely by page.
Linear to engineering tasks
Linear is suitable for turning product requirements into Codex executable engineering tasks. High-quality work orders are more specific than ordinary requirements: the background, impact on users, reproduction path, related design, scope, acceptance criteria, untouchable scope and test requirements must be clearly written.
When Codex handles Linear tasks, it should first read the work order and related codes, output the problem understanding and plan, and then perform minimal implementation. After completion, write back a summary of the work order: what was changed, how to verify it, what risks are there, and what needs to be confirmed by the product.
If the work order is too large, it should be broken into subtasks first. Don’t let Codex do design, implementation, data migration and release at the same time in one vague work order.
Study Checklist
Put the content on this page into real tasks and use the five dimensions of entry, context, permissions, verification and team rules to check whether you have truly mastered it.
Study Checklist
After reading this page, do not just remember the concept name. You should be able to place "Codex and Linear" back into a real Codex engineering workflow: where the task starts, what context the system loads, which actions need approval, how the result is verified, and how to roll back when it fails.
If this is a portal or platform page, specifically confirm what contexts this portal can access: local files, cloud repositories, browser logins, team messages, external tools, and whether these contexts are sufficient to complete the verification.
- Be able to describe in your own words the specific problem this page solves, rather than just reciting the title.
- Able to write a minimal example task with goals, scope, prohibitions, and acceptance criteria.
- Be able to determine which information should be put into the current prompt and which should be captured as project rules or configurations.
- Be able to explain which long-term rules should go into AGENTS.md, and which runtime behavior should be handled by config.toml, permission profile, skills and MCP.
- Ability to check diffs, command output, test results, screenshots or PR notes after a task is completed instead of just trusting the natural language summary.
If this page is used for team training, ask learners to complete a small task with Codex: read and explain first, submit a plan, make the smallest useful change, and close with real verification commands plus human diff review.
Codex practical notes
Fill in the most overlooked execution details of Codex usage around local environments, privilege escalation, remote entry, automation failures, and rollbacks.
Codex Practical Notes
This page is the entrance to Codex. When landing, confirm whether the task is executed locally, in the cloud, or in a collaboration tool, and check whether the entrance can access the real repository, dependencies, network, browser status, and verification commands.
When handling tasks related to "Codex and Linear", always confirm the current Git status and working directory first. Codex can make changes quickly, but it does not automatically know which uncommitted edits came from the user, which files are off limits, or which commands may affect production.
- Prioritize using low-risk branches or working trees for local tasks, and review them with git diff after completion.
- When it comes to installation dependencies, networking, databases, deployment, push, deletion, and reset, Codex must first be asked to explain the impact before approval.
- Results generated by remote or collaborative portals must also be confirmed back to PR, CI, build logs and test evidence.
- Automated tasks must define failure output and exit conditions in advance to avoid Codex repeatedly trying in the wrong direction.
Think of Codex as an engineering teammate who can execute commands, rather than an assistant who can only write text. The closer you get to a real system, the greater the need for clear boundaries, evidence, and rollbacks.