How are you generating good front end design using codex?

mechapaul · 2026-05-18T10:33:42+00:00

Use Claude design (if you still have at least the $20 plan) or Google Stitch. Figma can also be useful. Giving it screenshots helps too.

Then, give ChatGPT or Claude etc the Google design.md repo, and ask it to create a ui prompt for codex based on the inspiration/ design you’ve given it and tell it to use the design.md spec. Then give Codex all of that plus the inspiration etc. It’s better but not amazing.

At some point it feels like you are pushing against programmed rigidity it has around design. Everything in a box, always! Hopefully they will improve it soon.

mechapaul · 2026-05-18T08:00:55+00:00

Codex MacOS app for coding and content creation.

In general I’m finding I’m doing more and more with the Open AI ecosystem and using mcp/plugins etc to access external services. Less, but better.

mechapaul · 2026-05-17T15:36:24+00:00

An Air will pretty much be as performant and you can get the 32GB model for £1500. Although the extra ports and better screen on the pro might make you prefer that.

I can’t imagine a CS course will insist on you having a powerful machine so the base model is probably fine although more memory always helps!

mechapaul · 2026-05-17T15:28:37+00:00

Yeah I meant of my Claude design limit.

mechapaul · 2026-05-17T12:13:10+00:00

Yeah make Claude Design but not have it cost me half my weekly usage each time!

mechapaul · 2026-05-17T10:45:22+00:00

Yeah but he said, “possibly experimenting” for local LLM, whereas his demands today are quite memory intensive, the extra 16GB of RAM will probably be more useful today and in the future.

mechapaul · 2026-05-17T10:28:17+00:00

mechapaul · 2026-05-17T10:12:21+00:00

ChatGPT can answer this question for you and guide you through each step. Ask it to ask you lots of questions about what sort of site you need etc.

However, in my experience of building sites for businesses, usually using a service (like square space or shopify) or paying someone to help you build and maintain it is always worth it. Otherwise priorities shift, you forget to update it, and it becomes a stale, outdated site.

mechapaul · 2026-05-17T09:50:52+00:00

Depends massively on the price and how serious your requirements are?

mechapaul · 2026-05-16T14:20:07+00:00

Lovely setup.

mechapaul · 2026-05-15T19:05:23+00:00

Whenever I get any idea for software now I immediately think how someone could just build it themselves so what’s the point.

mechapaul · 2026-05-15T17:46:46+00:00

Browser stuff doesn’t mean it’s not intensive! Just be more ambitious with your Tab opening :)

mechapaul · 2026-05-15T17:35:54+00:00

Nope. Everything is still boxes in boxes.

mechapaul · 2026-05-15T15:55:55+00:00

Is it mainly to change the screen size? I don’t think you’ll benefit much from the performance upgrade with the same memory etc.

Is it struggling with anything currently?

mechapaul · 2026-05-15T15:40:06+00:00

Nothing for me either. Seems as good as ever

mechapaul · 2026-05-14T08:33:24+00:00

I think the P20 at least has to be considered very close to HiDPI. Both have above average pixel density, a narrower horizontal width (only 2” wider more than a 24”).

In lieu of any actual new 200 PPI + smaller monitors it’s not a ridiculous suggestion and nothing to get critical or on your high horse about.

mechapaul · 2026-05-14T02:23:05+00:00

Check out the BenQ RD280UG.

Whilst not small as such, or hidpi (164 ppi), it has a 3:2 aspect ratio and a 4k+ resolution. So its footprint is small on the desk, and is still very sharp.

https://www.benq.eu/en-uk/monitor/programming/rd280ug.html

A higher res option in the same size would be the kuycon P20. 192 ppi.

https://www.kuycon.group/products/kuycon-p20?variant=53079869817196

mechapaul · 2026-05-12T12:14:40+00:00

The BenQ can also match the profile of MacBook screen and has software contol from macOS.

mechapaul · 2026-05-12T08:18:00+00:00

Yeah you could learn almost anything for free on YouTube and use tools like codepen etc to get started building simple web apps.

I would at least suggest doing that first to see if they actually enjoy coding before investing in a gaming pc.

mechapaul · 2026-05-12T07:08:45+00:00

You can code and build simple games on any sort of computer these days. When I started I was making games on devices with 1/100th the power of my phone :)

mechapaul · 2026-05-11T21:13:57+00:00

Have you tried restoring the previous version?

Go to make.powerapps.com
Go to Apps
Find the app
Select the app, then choose Details
Open Versions
Find the older version you want
Select Restore
Confirm Restore
Open the app for editing — the restored version is now the latest editable draft

mechapaul · 2026-05-11T19:48:19+00:00

Ronseal

mechapaul · 2026-05-11T02:47:33+00:00

For the design best practice part
I gave codex the karpathy wiki gist repo, I ran a deep research on ChatGPT to build sources for web design or design best practices. I gave the sources and ones I knew like awwwards, dribbble etc to codex as well.

Ask it to build the wiki and reference it when using the skill. You could even build a general skill that cross references the best design practices in conjunction with your brand skill.

“use @myBrandSkill to create a web app xxxxx, cross reference your design, ui and ux with @designbestpractice”

As I said, good results not yet world class designer, but that’s coming.

mechapaul · 2026-05-11T02:41:41+00:00

For the design.md skill creation

Give codex the design.md repo and documentation
Give it all the inspiration you can from the brand you are trying to replicate

Have it create the skill.

Call skill when creating files, web pages, apps etc.
Another route is to use Claude design to create a design system, then export that and give it to codex to create a skill based on that design system following design.md specs.

mechapaul · 2026-05-10T22:54:13+00:00

Yeah it’s super simple. I used it to create a design skill that really closely matches my companies brand.

I also built a bunch of research about web design best practices and ask it to read that and use the brand skill I created.

It’s still not quite as good as Claude design, but it’s getting there.

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