How OpenAI's Agentic Software Factory Works (Pragmatic Engineer)

Melvin Vivas · X post · 2026-09-16 · Open on X

Topics: AI Agents, Tool Use & MCP, AI System Design & Architecture, Industry Trends & Job Market · Level: intermediate

Summary

Melvin Vivas recommends a Pragmatic Engineer article by Gergely Orosz. It explains how OpenAI runs its 'agentic software factory', which uses agents throughout software development, including a part called Perf Factory. The caption's link to the article was broken when checked, so look it up on the newsletter.

Key points

• OpenAI uses an agentic 'software factory' to build software with agents.
• Gergely Orosz wrote it up after OpenAI staff explained how it works.
• 'Perf Factory', a performance-focused part of the system, is singled out as especially interesting.
• The creator calls it a great read for seeing how agents are used in real engineering workflows.

Resources mentioned

• OpenAI's agentic software factory (The Pragmatic Engineer) · article · newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com · check price
  Gergely Orosz's write-up and diagram of how OpenAI uses Codex and specialist agents to build, review, deploy and monitor code. The caption link is cut off, so search the newsletter for 'OpenAI software factory'.
  Also in: OpenAI's Agentic Software Factory: Build-Review-Deploy-Observe Loop (Melvin Vivas on X · notes)
• The Pragmatic Engineer · newsletter · newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com · check price
  Gergely Orosz's software engineering newsletter.
• Gergely Orosz · person · x.com · free
  Author of The Pragmatic Engineer newsletter. He writes about how big tech companies build software, including OpenAI's agentic workflows.
  Also in: OpenAI's Agentic Software Factory: Build-Review-Deploy-Observe Loop (Melvin Vivas on X · notes)

Try this

• Read the Pragmatic Engineer article on OpenAI's software factory, especially the Perf Factory section.