OpenAI Codex
Terminal-native integration. Extract the zip file and run install.sh. CLI-friendly output for scripting and automation.
You bring your own API key. Pay your provider directly.
The installer picks up whichever key you've exported and resolves a sensible default model. Set one of GEMINI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, or OPENAI_API_KEY and you are done.
Want something else? Set IDEATWISTER_MODEL to any LiteLLM-supported provider - OpenRouter, DeepSeek, Together, Groq, Mistral, Ollama, and more. You pay your provider directly, no IdeaTwister markup, no subscription.
Prerequisites
- āCodex installed (codex command available in terminal)
- āPython ā„3.10 in PATH (the installer checks)
- āAn API key for Gemini, Anthropic, or OpenAI (you bring your own; the installer detects which is exported and picks a model). Typical run: $0.20ā$3 billed by your provider.
- āIdeaTwister zip file (received after purchase)
- ā~30ā50 minutes for a full run
Installation
Step 1: Extract the Zip File
Unzip the IdeaTwister file you received. You'll see a folder structure with install.sh and platform-specific files.
Step 2: Run the Install Script (Recommended)
- Open your terminal and run:
- cd /path/to/ideatwister-zip
- ./install.sh
- The script auto-detects Codex and installs everything automatically.
Step 3: Or Install Manually
- If you prefer manual setup:
- 1. Run: mkdir -p ~/.agents/skills
- 2. Run: cp -r /path/to/ideatwister-engine/skills/ideatwister ~/.agents/skills/ideatwister
- 3. Run: mkdir -p ~/.ideatwister/runs
- 4. Restart terminal
Verify the Installation
Verify the Installation
- codex
- > $ideatwister help
- You should see the command list.
Your First Run
$ codex > $ideatwister I want to build a B2B SaaS for accounting automation [Running Phase 1-6...] ā Pipeline Complete Variations: 52 High conviction (8+): 8 Time elapsed: 45 minutes Dashboard: ~/.ideatwister/runs/accounting-automation-b2b-2026-04-24/dashboard.html
All Available Commands
$ideatwister <idea>
Run the complete pipeline on your idea.
$ideatwister list
List all past runs.
$ideatwister open <slug>
Open the dashboard (path printed for manual opening).
$ideatwister variations <slug>
Browse all variations.
$ideatwister help
Show all commands.
Known Limitations
- ā¢Interactive browser: Not supported. Dashboard path is printed; open manually in your browser.
- ā¢Web search: Available via Codex's native tools.
- ā¢Sequential execution: Phases run sequentially (no parallel execution).
- ā¢Terminal output: Results stream to terminal; redirect to file if needed.
Troubleshooting
Skill not found error
- Check the skill directory exists:
- ls -la ~/.agents/skills/ideatwister
- If missing, re-run the installer or copy manually to ~/.agents/skills/ideatwister
codex: command not found
Verify Codex is installed and in your PATH: which codex
Data store not initialized
- bash ~/.agents/skills/ideatwister/scripts/init-store.sh
Updating
To update, download the latest version from your account and run the install script again, or manually replace the files in ~/.agents/skills/ideatwister
Uninstalling
- rm -rf ~/.agents/skills/ideatwister
- Data in ~/.ideatwister/ is preserved.
Your data in ~/.ideatwister/ is preserved after uninstalling.
Next Steps
- Run your first idea through the pipeline
- Open the dashboard in your browser
- Browse all 50+ variations with scores
- Explore the variations that look promising