Steering long-running Codex tasks with /side
Melvin Vivas · X post · 2026-06-23 · Open on X
Topics: AI Dev Tools & Productivity, AI Agents, Tool Use & MCP · Level: intermediate
Summary
The /side command in the Codex app opens a side thread for checking on a long-running task. In that thread you can ask clarifying questions, give pointers or unblock the agent, for example by asking it to summarize what's done and what's left.
Key points
- /side opens a side thread next to a running Codex task.
- Use it to check progress, ask questions, give pointers or unblock the agent.
- Useful prompt: ask Codex to summarize what's done and what's not done yet.
Resources mentioned
- OpenAI Codex · tool · openai.com · paid
OpenAI's coding agent. In the diagram it writes code, fixes review findings and drives the build loop. The creator also used it to make this video.
Also in: An agent bot that installs and drives Codex on its own (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), Asking a Coder bot to install Codex (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), Sign in with ChatGPT: Setting Usage Limits for Each App (Melvin Vivas on X · notes), Codex Cloud Environments Must Be Saved & Published Before Use (Melvin Vivas on X · notes) and 240 more
Try this
- Try /side in the Codex app to steer long-running tasks.
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