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How to ask Codex about a repo without allowing edits with Git Bot

Explore an unfamiliar codebase with Codex in Plan only mode, with no file changes.

Who it is forA developer joining a project who wants answers about how it works without risking changes to the files.

The problemReading an unfamiliar codebase is slow, and an agent with edit access could change files while you are only asking questions.

The outcomeAnswers about the code from a Codex thread that runs in Plan only mode inside the chosen repo folder.

What you need first

  • Node.js 18 or newer
  • At least one installed, signed-in coding agent: Claude Code, Codex, or OpenCode
  • A local folder that holds the repos you want the bot to work in

Steps

  1. Install the codex CLI and run codex login.
  2. Run npm install -g @gitbot-hq/gitbot.
  3. Run gitbot start from the folder that holds your projects, then open http://localhost:3000.
  4. Create a bot, choose Codex as the agent, and set Permissions to Plan only.
  5. Open a new thread, choose the repo folder, and ask how one feature works.

Prompt for your agent

Using the gitbot-hq/GitBot package, start it with gitbot start and create a Codex bot with Plan only permissions. Ask it to explain how <feature name> works in <repo folder>. Expected output: a written explanation that names the files it read, with no edits made. Verify that the working files are unchanged after the reply.

Caveat. Codex cannot enforce an Allowed tools list, so Plan only mode is the control to rely on for read-only work.

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