name: codex-delegation description: How to delegate implementation tasks to Codex workers via MCP. Use when executing tasks that require code implementation by GPT Codex workers.

Codex Delegation Skill

This skill defines how the CEO (Claude) delegates tasks to Codex workers.

When to Delegate

Delegate to Codex workers when:

• Task is implementation-focused (writing code)
• Task has clear acceptance criteria
• Task doesn't require strategic decisions
• Task is scoped to specific files

Do NOT delegate when:

• Task requires architecture decisions
• Task is a [VERIFY] checkpoint
• Task requires user interaction
• Task involves research or analysis

Preparing Context Packages

Minimal Context Package

{
  "taskId": "1.1",
  "task": {
    "title": "Task title",
    "do": "What to do",
    "doneWhen": "Completion criteria",
    "acceptance": ["Criterion 1", "Criterion 2"]
  }
}

Full Context Package

{
  "taskId": "1.1",
  "task": {
    "title": "Implement user login form",
    "do": "Create login form component at src/components/Login.tsx",
    "doneWhen": "Form renders with email/password fields and validation",
    "acceptance": [
      "Form has email input with validation",
      "Form has password input with masking",
      "Submit button triggers onSubmit handler",
      "Shows validation errors"
    ]
  },
  "files": {
    "src/components/Form.tsx": {
      "path": "src/components/Form.tsx",
      "content": "// Existing form component for reference...",
      "language": "typescript",
      "relevantSections": [
        { "startLine": 10, "endLine": 50, "description": "Form pattern" }
      ]
    }
  },
  "design": {
    "architecture": "React functional component with hooks",
    "patterns": ["controlled inputs", "form validation", "error display"]
  },
  "constraints": [
    "Follow existing Form component pattern",
    "Use project's validation library (zod)",
    "Match existing styling approach"
  ],
  "workingDirectory": "/path/to/project",
  "commitPrefix": "feat(auth)"
}

Context Optimization

File Selection

1. Include files directly mentioned in task
2. Include pattern files from same directory
3. Include type definitions if TypeScript
4. Limit to ~5 files maximum
5. Use relevant sections, not entire files

Context Pruning

If context is too large:

1. Extract only relevant functions/classes
2. Remove comments and whitespace
3. Summarize repetitive patterns
4. Reference design.md instead of repeating

Delegation Protocol

Step 1: Prepare

I am preparing to delegate Task {id} to a Codex worker.

**Task**: {title}
**Files to include**: {list}
**Constraints**: {list}

Step 2: Delegate

Delegating via MCP: mcp__codex__codex

Context package prepared with {n} files and {n} constraints.

Example payload:

{
  "prompt": "TASK: Implement user login form\nEXPECTED OUTCOME: Working form with validation\nCONTEXT: {contextPackage JSON here}\nCONSTRAINTS: Follow existing patterns\nMUST DO: Update Login.tsx\nMUST NOT DO: Modify unrelated files\nOUTPUT FORMAT: Summary + files modified + signal"
}

Step 3: Monitor

Task {id} delegated to Codex worker.
Status: {pending|completed|failed}

Step 4: Receive

Received result from Codex worker.
Signal: {TASK_COMPLETE|TASK_BLOCKED|NO_SIGNAL}
Files modified: {count}

Handling Worker Output

On TASK_COMPLETE

1. Parse file modifications
2. Hand off to codex-reviewer
3. Wait for review decision

On TASK_BLOCKED

1. Read block reason
2. Assess if CEO can unblock
3. If yes: Provide guidance and retry
4. If no: Escalate to user

On NO_SIGNAL

1. Check if output looks complete
2. If yes: Treat as soft completion, verify carefully
3. If no: Retry with explicit signal instruction

Retry Strategy

When retrying:

{
  "previousAttempts": [
    {
      "attempt": 1,
      "feedback": "Missing validation on email field",
      "issues": [
        "Email input lacks validation",
        "Error messages not displayed"
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Feedback Quality

Good feedback:

• "In Login.tsx line 23, add email regex validation"
• "The onSubmit handler doesn't prevent default"

Bad feedback:

• "Fix the validation"
• "It doesn't work"

Token Efficiency

Track token usage:

state.usage.codex.totalTokens += result.tokensUsed;
state.usage.codex.taskTokens[taskId] = result.tokensUsed;

Optimize by:

• Reusing context across related tasks
• Keeping prompts concise
• Extracting only necessary file content