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Getting Started

Andrew den Hertog edited this page Dec 3, 2025 · 1 revision

Getting Started with Codex Web

This guide will help you get started with Codex Web, from your first login to creating your first workspace.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you need:

  • An invitation to the Codex Web platform
  • An account with your organization's authentication provider (AWS Cognito or Google)
  • A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)

Logging In

  1. Navigate to your organization's Codex Web URL
  2. Click the Login button
  3. You'll be redirected to your authentication provider
  4. Sign in with your credentials
  5. After successful authentication, you'll be redirected to your Codex Web dashboard

First-Time Login

On your first login, you'll see:

  • An empty dashboard (no workspaces yet)
  • The groups you've been assigned to
  • Resource quotas available to you

Understanding the Interface

Main Navigation

The Codex Web interface has several main sections:

Dashboard

  • Overview of your workspaces
  • Quick access to running workspaces
  • Resource usage summary

Workspaces

  • List of all your workspaces
  • Create new workspaces
  • Manage existing workspaces

Groups

  • View groups you belong to
  • See group members and resources
  • Monitor group resource usage

Profile (top-right menu)

  • View your account information
  • Update profile settings
  • Change password (redirects to auth provider)

Your Dashboard

The dashboard provides an at-a-glance view of:

Workspace Summary

  • Total number of workspaces you have access to
  • How many are currently running
  • Quick actions for each workspace

Resource Usage

  • CPU usage across all your workspaces
  • Memory consumption
  • Storage used
  • Visual indicators when approaching limits

Recent Activity

  • Recently accessed workspaces
  • Workspace status changes

Understanding Your Account

User Information

Your account includes:

  • Name: Your display name
  • Email: Your email address from the auth provider
  • Username: Your login identifier
  • Groups: Teams/organizations you belong to
  • Role: Your permission level (User, Group Admin, or Platform Admin)

Permissions

As a regular user, you can:

  • Create workspaces in groups you belong to
  • Manage your own workspaces
  • View group information
  • Access resources within group quotas

See Privilege Guidelines for details on different roles.

Creating Your First Workspace

Step 1: Check Your Groups

Before creating a workspace:

  1. Go to the Groups section
  2. Verify you belong to at least one group
  3. Note the group's available resources

If you don't belong to any groups, contact your administrator.

Step 2: Create the Workspace

  1. Navigate to Workspaces

  2. Click Create New Workspace

  3. Fill in the details:

    • Name: Choose a descriptive name (e.g., "Frontend Development")
    • Description (optional): Add notes about the workspace purpose
    • Group: Select which group this workspace belongs to
    • Resource Tier: Choose based on your needs (see below)
  4. Click Create Workspace

Step 3: Save Your Password

After creation, you'll see a password displayed. Save this password securely!

You'll need this password to access your workspace. The platform does not store this password in a recoverable format.

Step 4: Start Your Workspace

  1. Your new workspace starts in "Stopped" state
  2. Click the Start button
  3. Wait for status to change to "Running" (30-60 seconds)
  4. Click Open to access your workspace

Choosing a Resource Tier

Select a tier based on your workload:

Tier Best For Example Use Cases
Single User Light development, testing Editing configs, reviewing code, small scripts
Small Team Most development work Web development, API development, typical coding
Enterprise Resource-intensive tasks Building large projects, running databases, ML work

Tip: Start with a smaller tier and upgrade if needed. You can always create a new workspace with more resources.

Accessing Your Workspace

Once your workspace is running:

  1. Click the Open button on your workspace card
  2. A new tab opens with your workspace URL
  3. Enter your workspace password
  4. Press Submit

You're now in your cloud development environment!

Your Workspace Environment

Your workspace includes:

VS Code Interface

  • Full-featured code editor
  • Terminal access
  • File explorer
  • Extension marketplace

Persistent Storage

Your files are stored at:

/workspace/.codex-projects

Files in this directory persist when you stop/start the workspace.

Important: Files outside this directory may be lost when the workspace restarts!

Terminal Access

  • Click the terminal icon or press Ctrl/Cmd + `
  • You have full shell access
  • Pre-installed tools vary by workspace image

Basic Workflow

Daily Workflow Example

  1. Morning:

    • Log into Codex Web
    • Start your workspace
    • Wait for "Running" status
    • Open workspace
  2. During Work:

    • Write code
    • Use git for version control
    • Install needed extensions/packages
    • Save work frequently
  3. End of Day:

    • Commit and push code to git
    • Close workspace browser tab
    • Stop workspace in Codex Web

Best Practices

Resource Management

  • Stop workspaces when not in use
  • Monitor your resource consumption
  • Choose appropriate resource tiers

Data Safety

  • Always use git repositories
  • Push code regularly
  • Don't rely solely on workspace storage
  • Keep persistent files in /workspace/.codex-projects

Security

  • Keep workspace passwords secure
  • Don't share workspace access
  • Log out when done
  • Don't store secrets in code

Common First-Time Questions

Can I have multiple workspaces?

Yes! Create as many as you need, subject to your group's resource limits.

What happens to my files when I stop a workspace?

Files in /workspace/.codex-projects are preserved. Other files may be lost.

Can I customize my workspace?

Yes! Install VS Code extensions, modify settings, install packages. Extensions persist between restarts.

How do I share files with teammates?

Use git repositories. Each workspace is isolated, so file sharing happens via external repos.

What if I forget my workspace password?

Contact your group admin or platform admin. They cannot retrieve it, but can help you create a new workspace.

Next Steps

Now that you're set up:

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

  1. Check the Troubleshooting guide
  2. Review the FAQ
  3. Contact your group admin
  4. Reach out to platform administrators

Next: Managing Workspaces

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