Codex Sdk Research

---
name: codex-sdk-research
description: Investigate the @openai/codex-sdk API by first inspecting installed .d.ts typings in node_modules, then cloning and searching the github.com/openai/codex repo for source/docs. Use for questions about Codex SDK API surface, types, response formats, threads/runs, or debugging codex-sdk behavior.
---

# Codex SDK Research

## Overview

The Codex SDK Research skill provides a comprehensive framework for investigating the @openai/codex-sdk API. This skill enables systematic exploration of the SDK's type definitions, source code, and documentation to support development teams in understanding API capabilities, response patterns, and runtime behaviors.

The investigation process begins with examining installed type definitions within the node_modules directory, followed by cloning and analyzing the upstream repository. This dual approach ensures that both the deployed implementation and the source repository are thoroughly evaluated for consistency and completeness.

## Usage

To utilize this skill effectively, follow the structured workflow that guides the investigation from initial package inspection through comprehensive source analysis. The process is designed to identify API surface elements, type signatures, and implementation details that support development and debugging activities.

### Operational Guidelines

The following guidelines establish the operational framework for SDK research activities:

1. **Package Discovery and Version Alignment**
   - Identify installed package versions and their corresponding type definitions
   - Verify alignment between deployed and source repository versions
   - Document any version-specific features or deprecations

2. **API Surface Mapping**
   - Catalog exported classes, functions, and type definitions
   - Document JSDoc comments and deprecation markers
   - Track key types supporting threads, runs, and response schemas

3. **Session and Rollout Management**
   - Monitor session JSONL rollouts for debugging purposes
   - Track conversation IDs and their associated metadata
   - Maintain version history for continuous improvement

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## Workflow

Follow the stages in order. Treat stage 1 as the source of truth for the *installed* API, and stage 2 for implementation details and docs.

### Stage 1: Inspect installed .d.ts in node_modules

1. Locate the installed package and version.
   - `npm ls @openai/codex-sdk`
   - `node -p "require.resolve('@openai/codex-sdk/package.json')"`
2. Open the package.json and record:
   - `version`
   - `types` / `typings`
   - `exports` entries (especially any `types` fields)
3. Find all .d.ts files under the package root and skim the entrypoint first.
   - `rg --files -g '*.d.ts' <pkg-root>`
   - Open the main .d.ts referenced by `types` or `exports`
4. Map the public API surface:
   - Identify exported classes/functions/types and their signatures.
   - Note any JSDoc comments or deprecation markers.
   - Track key types related to the question (e.g., threads, runs, response formats, schemas).
5. If something is missing or unclear, search within .d.ts files:
   - `rg -n "export|interface|type|class|enum" <pkg-root>`
   - `rg -n "Thread|Run|outputSchema|response_format|schema" <pkg-root>`

### Stage 1.5: Locate Codex session rollouts (debugging)

When debugging Codex CLI behavior, locate the session JSONL rollouts stored under the Codex home directory (`~/.codex` by default or `$CODEX_HOME` if set):
- Latest rollout file (by mtime):
  - `ls -t "${CODEX_HOME:-$HOME/.codex}"/sessions/*/*/*/rollout-*.jsonl | head -n 1`
- Grep for a conversation id (if known):
  - `rg -n "<conversation-id>" "${CODEX_HOME:-$HOME/.codex}"/sessions/*/*/*/rollout-*.jsonl`

### Stage 2: Clone repo and inspect source/docs

1. Clone the repo if it is not already present.
   - `git clone https://github.com/openai/codex ~/repos/codex`
2. If you know the installed SDK version, try to align tags/commits:
   - `git -C ~/repos/codex tag --list | rg <version>`
   - `git -C ~/repos/codex checkout <tag-or-commit>`
3. Search for implementation and docs related to the question:
   - `rg -n "codex-sdk|sdk|Thread|Run|outputSchema|response_format" ~/repos/codex`
   - Check `README`, `docs/`, and any JS/TS packages or SDK folders.
4. Use source to confirm behavior, defaults, and error handling that are not explicit in .d.ts.

## Output

- State the installed SDK version and where the typings were found.
- Summarize the relevant public API from .d.ts (signatures, types, expected inputs/outputs).
- Add implementation/doc details from the repo (if needed) and call out any version mismatch.
- If unsure, say what is missing and which file you would inspect next.