ChatGPT Codex: A New Way to Work with GitHub

As a developer, I’ve spent countless hours juggling between my editor, command line, GitHub, and documentation. Writing, testing, committing, pushing, and then dealing with pull requests is part of the normal cycle. Recently, I started experimenting with ChatGPT Codex, and it’s opening the door to a whole new way of working with GitHub.

What is ChatGPT Codex?

Codex is a specialized model built on top of GPT technology, trained with a deep understanding of programming languages, frameworks, and developer workflows. Think of it as ChatGPT with an extra brain focused on code. It doesn’t just generate snippets, it understands context.

That means it can help me do things like:

Write functions in PHP, JavaScript, Python, etc.
Translate code between languages.
Explain what a block of code is doing.
Suggest improvements, optimizations, and refactors.
And most importantly: integrate seamlessly into my GitHub flow.

GitHub + Codex = Smarter Workflows

Here’s where it gets interesting. ChatGPT Codex doesn’t just stop at writing the code; it can actually connect to my GitHub workflow.

In my testing so far, I’ve been able to:

Spin up a new branch
Codex understands git checkout -b feature/my-new-feature and can prep me with the exact command I need.
Make changes and test locally
I can generate new functions, update logic, or even rewrite entire files. When I need to run tests, Codex helps me structure and automate them.
Push updates back to GitHub
With the right integration, Codex can help me commit and push changes back to the repository with clear commit messages.
Open and manage Pull Requests (PRs)
Instead of manually jumping through the GitHub UI, Codex can assist in creating a PR, writing the description, and tagging reviewers.
Iterate quickly on feedback
If a reviewer suggests changes, I can paste their feedback into Codex, and it will rewrite the affected code block. Then I simply re-run the tests, commit, and push the updated branch.
Approve and merge
Once everything checks out, Codex can help finalize the PR. It makes the whole cycle, write, test, push, review, feel smoother and faster.

Real-World Testing

In my early experiments, I’ve been impressed. I can essentially “talk through” what I want to do:

“Create a new helper function to format dates in PHP.”
“Add unit tests for it.”
“Open a PR with those changes and mark it ready for review.”

And Codex guides me through every step, producing code that’s not just functional, but usually very clean.

The result? I spend less time fiddling with commands or writing boilerplate code and more time focusing on logic, design, and problem-solving.

Why This Matters

GitHub is already the backbone of modern software development. Adding Codex into the mix feels like putting a co-pilot in the cockpit, one that doesn’t just take notes, but can write code, run tests, and push changes.

For solo developers, this means more efficiency. For teams, it means faster collaboration, better documentation, and fewer mistakes slipping through the cracks.

Final Thoughts

ChatGPT Codex isn’t just about generating code snippets; it’s about transforming how we interact with the entire GitHub workflow. From checkout to push, PR to approval, Codex is showing real potential as a developer’s assistant.

So far, in my testing, it’s done great. If you’re a developer who lives inside GitHub, it’s worth giving Codex a try. You might just find your workflow shifting to a whole new level.