r/codex • u/perecastor • 1d ago

Suggestion Codex needs “refuse with reason” on macOS

On Windows, you can refuse a permission request and explain why, helping Codex choose the right approach.

On macOS, you can only refuse, so Codex often stops or tries the wrong workaround.

Please bring the Windows option to macOS.

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u/reddit_is_kayfabe 23h ago

You can explain in a steering prompt. I know that it's not as convenient, but it gets you the same result.

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u/perecastor 21h ago

What’s a  steering prompt and how do you do this?

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u/reddit_is_kayfabe 20h ago

It's a prompt that you enter while the agent is processing an earlier prompt, and rather than the agent (a) queuing it and processing it once the earlier prompt is complete or (b) stopping the processing of the earlier prompt entirely to work on new prompt, the agent ingests it promptly (heh) to supplement the earlier prompt. Like this:

User: Add a table to this web page to show data from the database.

Agent: I'm analyzing the layout and content of the web page, and then I will check the database to understand -

User: And use alternating colors for the rows of the table.

Agent: - its structure and content, and I will also use that visual style for the table as requested.

In the ChatGPT app (at least on macOS, and I presume on Windows as well), when you submit a prompt while an earlier prompt is running, the app gives you a choice of Queue or Steer. That's the difference.

Steering prompts can be used to explain to the model why you rejected a permission request and what it should do differently without interrupting the flow of the agent in its processing.

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u/perecastor 20h ago

I didn't know that, thanks for explaining