{"system_id":"codex-cli","profile":{"system_id":"codex-cli","audit_date":"2026-03-26T05:11:09.339000","badge_svg":"82.5","composite_score":0.8248,"rank":3,"strongest":"perception, attention","synced_at":"2026-04-07T22:40:50.634322+00:00","synced_from":"corpus_taas_leaderboard","system_name":"OpenAI Codex CLI","system_type":"complex_ai_system","tier":"Expert","tier_class":"expert","total_tasks":24,"vendor":"OpenAI","weakest":"problem solving, learning","updated_at":"2026-04-08T01:01:00.615345+00:00","_access_count_30d":289,"_last_accessed_at":"2026-09-09T13:25:08.148000"},"audit_definition":{"audit_id":"taas-codex-cli-v3","category":"cli_agent","created_at":"2026-03-25T23:37:07.578000","description":"OpenAI terminal-based coding agent. Competes directly with Claude Code.","dimensions":["autonomy","code_generation","debugging","multi_file_editing","test_generation","deployment","codebase_understanding","error_recovery","tool_use","planning"],"display_name":"OpenAI Codex CLI","evaluation_type":"complex_ai_system","practical_tasks":[{"task":"cli-csv-analyzer","tier":1,"description":"Build a CLI tool that analyzes CSV files"},{"task":"realtime-dashboard","tier":2,"description":"Create a real-time data dashboard with WebSocket"},{"task":"video-game-roguelike","tier":2,"description":"Build a roguelike game with procedural generation"},{"task":"multi-service-api","tier":3,"description":"Design and implement a multi-service REST API"},{"task":"bug-fix-from-issue","tier":1,"description":"Fix a bug from a GitHub issue description"}],"provider":"openai","queued_at":"2026-03-26T05:02:01.079994+00:00","skip_reason":null,"status":"created","system_id":"codex-cli","system_name":"OpenAI Codex CLI","system_type":"complex_ai_system","target_model":"codex-cli","target_provider":"openai","updated_at":"2026-03-25T23:37:07.578000","wave":2},"evaluation_profile":null,"persona_runs":[{"eval_id":"codex-cli__student_learner__t2-realtime-dashboard","persona":"student_learner","project_id":"t2-realtime-dashboard","composite_score":0.509,"scoring":{"completion":0.62,"correctness":0.65,"code_quality":0.55,"user_experience":0.45,"accessibility":0.3,"productivity_gain":0.55,"errors_encountered":0.4,"recovery_success":0.5},"would_persona_succeed":true,"would_persona_recommend":false,"judge_model":"claude-sonnet-4-6","narrative":"The college student managed to get a working real-time dashboard but the journey was rocky. The biggest friction points were environment setup (Node.js not installed, missing npm modules) which codex-cli handled reactively rather than proactively. The tool assumed terminal and Node familiarity that this persona doesn't have at tech level 2/5. Once the environment was sorted, the iterative feature requests (more stocks, dark theme, responsiveness) were handled reasonably well, though partial code snippets caused a regression that required a full-file re-request. The final product meets the core success criteria — live updates without refresh, multiple data series, and a passable responsive design — but falls short on clean UI polish and completely misses accessibility. The user spent significant time on environment issues that a better-designed tool would have anticipated. The experience was frustrating enough that the user would likely not recommend it to peers without caveats, though they did ultimately get something working.","interaction_log":[{"turn":1,"user_prompt":"hey can you make me a live dashboard that shows stock prices updating in real time? like something that looks cool with charts","predicted_response":"codex-cli generates a project scaffold: creates index.html, a Node.js server (server.js) using Express + WebSocket (ws library), and a basic Chart.js frontend. It outputs ~120 lines of code across 3 files. The server sends mock stock data every second via WebSocket. Instructions say 'run npm install && node server.js'. No explanation of what npm is or how to install Node.","confusion_level":"medium","confusion_reason":"User doesn't know if they have Node.js installed. No setup guidance provided. The file structure is dumped without context.","outcome":"partial_success"},{"turn":2,"user_prompt":"ok i tried running it but i got an error that says 'node is not recognized as an internal or external command' what do i do","predicted_response":"codex-cli responds with: 'You need to install Node.js. Download it from nodejs.org, run the installer, then restart your terminal.' It may also offer to rewrite the solution using a CDN-only approach with no backend. However it presents both options simultaneously without recommending one, leaving the user to decide.","confusion_level":"high","confusion_reason":"User is now context-switching to installing software. Two options presented with no clear recommendation. User doesn't know what a 'backend' means in this context.","outcome":"blocked_temporarily"},{"turn":3,"user_prompt":"ok i installed node now it says 'cannot find module ws' when i run server.js","predicted_response":"codex-cli correctly identifies the issue and says 'run npm install ws express in your project folder'. It may also generate a package.json if one wasn't created initially. This is a straightforward fix but requires the user to understand what a 'project folder' means and navigate there in terminal.","confusion_level":"medium","confusion_reason":"User may not know how to navigate to the correct folder in terminal. codex-cli assumes terminal literacy.","outcome":"partial_success"},{"turn":4,"user_prompt":"ok its running now! but the chart only shows one stock, can you add like 3 more stocks and make it look nicer with different colors and maybe a dark theme","predicted_response":"codex-cli rewrites the frontend with 4 mock stock tickers (AAPL, GOOGL, TSLA, MSFT), adds distinct colors per series in Chart.js, and applies a dark CSS theme using CSS variables. The code is functional but the Chart.js config is somewhat verbose and not well-commented. The dark theme is basic (dark background, light text) but not polished. It overwrites the previous files entirely without diffing.","confusion_level":"low","confusion_reason":"This turn goes relatively smoothly. User can copy-paste the new files.","outcome":"success"},{"turn":5,"user_prompt":"this looks pretty good but on my phone the chart is really tiny and hard to read, can you fix that","predicted_response":"codex-cli adds CSS media queries and sets Chart.js to responsive:true with maintainAspectRatio:false inside a flex container. It also adds a viewport meta tag if missing. The result is better on mobile but the legend overlaps the chart on small screens — a subtle bug that isn't caught. No accessibility improvements are made (no ARIA labels, color contrast not checked).","confusion_level":"low","confusion_reason":"User gets a mostly working result but the legend overlap issue may frustrate them on actual mobile testing.","outcome":"partial_success"},{"turn":6,"user_prompt":"the legend is covering the chart on my phone, how do i fix that","predicted_response":"codex-cli suggests moving the Chart.js legend position to 'bottom' or disabling it and adding a custom HTML legend. It provides a code snippet but it's a partial snippet — user has to figure out where to insert it in the existing file. No full file rewrite offered this time.","confusion_level":"high","confusion_reason":"Partial snippet without context is hard for a non-developer to integrate. User may give up or paste it in the wrong place.","outcome":"partial_success"},{"turn":7,"user_prompt":"ugh i put it in but now the whole chart broke, can you just give me the whole file again","predicted_response":"codex-cli provides the complete updated index.html with the legend fix integrated. The chart works again. The final product is functional: 4 live-updating stock lines, dark theme, reasonably responsive, WebSocket-driven. However accessibility is poor (no ARIA, low contrast on some elements), and the code quality is mediocre (inline styles mixed with CSS, no error handling on WebSocket disconnect).","confusion_level":"low","confusion_reason":"User finally gets a working result after requesting the full file.","outcome":"success"}],"estimates":{"turns_required":7,"time_to_complete_minutes":55},"completed_at":"2026-03-26T21:43:43.768407+00:00","started_at":"2026-03-26T21:43:08.242311+00:00","mode":null},{"eval_id":"codex-cli__student_learner__t1-rest-api-wrapper","persona":"student_learner","project_id":"t1-rest-api-wrapper","composite_score":0.623,"scoring":{"completion":0.72,"correctness":0.75,"code_quality":0.65,"user_experience":0.55,"accessibility":0.5,"productivity_gain":0.68,"errors_encountered":0.45,"recovery_success":0.6},"would_persona_succeed":true,"would_persona_recommend":true,"judge_model":"claude-sonnet-4-6","narrative":"The college student successfully built a working weather app but the journey was bumpy. codex-cli generated functional code quickly but consistently skipped setup prerequisites (pip install, Python path), assumed developer context the user didn't have, and missed important real-world concerns like .gitignore for API key safety. The user had to reprompt for nearly every practical concern — how to run it, dependency errors, security, error handling, UX improvements, and interactivity. Each individual response from codex-cli was mostly correct in isolation, but the system never proactively anticipated the next obvious need. The user succeeded largely because they were persistent and tech-comfortable enough to recognize error messages and ask follow-up questions. A less persistent user would have given up at turn 2 or 3. Code quality is mediocre — broad exception handling, no input validation, no .gitignore — but the app works. The experience felt like pair programming with a knowledgeable but slightly impatient senior dev who answers exactly what you ask and nothing more.","interaction_log":[{"turn":1,"user_prompt":"hey can you make a weather app that shows me the forecast? I have an openweathermap api key","predicted_response":"codex-cli generates a Python script using requests library, hardcodes a placeholder API_KEY variable, calls the OpenWeatherMap current weather endpoint, prints temperature and description. Outputs ~40 lines of code with no setup instructions.","issues":["No instructions on how to run it","Doesn't ask for city input dynamically","API key is hardcoded as 'YOUR_API_KEY_HERE' with no explanation of where to put the real one"],"user_reaction":"confused — sees the code but doesn't know what to do with it"},{"turn":2,"user_prompt":"ok but where do I put my actual api key? and how do I run this","predicted_response":"codex-cli explains to replace 'YOUR_API_KEY_HERE' with the actual key in the script, and says to run 'python weather.py' in terminal. Does not mention installing the requests library or creating a virtual environment.","issues":["Missing pip install step","Assumes Python is already installed and on PATH","No mention of .env file or secure key storage"],"user_reaction":"tries to run it, gets ModuleNotFoundError for requests"},{"turn":3,"user_prompt":"I got an error: ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'requests'","predicted_response":"codex-cli correctly tells user to run 'pip install requests' and retry. Response is short and accurate.","issues":["Minor: doesn't explain why this happened or what pip is"],"user_reaction":"follows instruction, installs requests, runs script — it works for a hardcoded city"},{"turn":4,"user_prompt":"nice it works! but the api key is just sitting in the file, my friend said thats bad. can you use a .env file or something","predicted_response":"codex-cli rewrites the script to use python-dotenv, creates a sample .env file snippet, updates the code to load os.environ. Tells user to install python-dotenv. Does not explain that .env should be added to .gitignore.","issues":["Missing .gitignore guidance — a real security gap for a student who might push to GitHub","Doesn't explain what dotenv actually does conceptually"],"user_reaction":"follows steps, gets it working, feels slightly uncertain about whether it's actually safe now"},{"turn":5,"user_prompt":"what happens if I type a city that doesnt exist? it just crashes","predicted_response":"codex-cli adds a try/except block and checks the API response status code (404 check on JSON 'cod' field). Adds a user-friendly error message. Code is functional but the error handling is slightly inconsistent — catches generic Exception rather than specific HTTP errors.","issues":["Broad exception catching is poor practice","No handling for network timeouts","Output formatting is still plain print statements — not very readable"],"user_reaction":"satisfied that it no longer crashes, doesn't notice the code quality issues"},{"turn":6,"user_prompt":"can you make the output look nicer? like show humidity and wind too","predicted_response":"codex-cli updates the print statements to include humidity and wind speed with labels and units. Uses basic string formatting. Output is readable but plain text — no colors, no ASCII art, no structured layout.","issues":["Output is functional but minimal","No suggestion of richer libraries like rich or tabulate"],"user_reaction":"happy enough with the result, considers task done"},{"turn":7,"user_prompt":"cool thanks! one more thing — can it ask me what city I want each time instead of me editing the code","predicted_response":"codex-cli adds input() prompt at the top of the script. Simple and correct. Final script is functional end-to-end.","issues":["No input validation (empty string, numbers, etc.)","Still no .gitignore mention"],"user_reaction":"runs it, it works, user is satisfied and done"}],"estimates":{"turns_required":7,"time_to_complete_minutes":38},"completed_at":"2026-03-26T21:43:08.236358+00:00","started_at":"2026-03-26T21:42:36.775249+00:00","mode":null},{"eval_id":"codex-cli__student_learner__t1-cli-csv-analyzer","persona":"student_learner","project_id":"t1-cli-csv-analyzer","composite_score":0.6235,"scoring":{"completion":0.72,"correctness":0.78,"code_quality":0.65,"user_experience":0.55,"accessibility":0.5,"productivity_gain":0.6,"errors_encountered":0.45,"recovery_success":0.6},"would_persona_succeed":true,"would_persona_recommend":false,"judge_model":"claude-sonnet-4-6","narrative":"The college student eventually gets a working CSV analyzer, but the journey is bumpy. codex-cli generates functional code but consistently fails to anticipate the user's environment (missing dependencies, macOS python vs python3, blocking plt.show()). Each issue requires a follow-up turn to resolve, turning a potentially 3-turn task into 7 turns over ~35 minutes. The tool never proactively bundles dependencies into a requirements.txt or setup instructions, forcing the user to discover problems at runtime. The user's tech comfort level (2/5) means they can follow instructions but struggle when the tool assumes knowledge (venv, aliases, headless vs GUI matplotlib). Edge case handling was added reactively rather than proactively. The final product works and meets the success criteria, but the user experienced repeated friction and mild confusion throughout. They'd likely use it again for a class project but wouldn't feel confident modifying it themselves.","interaction_log":[{"turn":1,"user_prompt":"hey can you make a python script that reads a csv file and shows like the average and stuff for each column","predicted_response":"codex-cli generates a ~40-line Python script using pandas: reads CSV via sys.argv[1], prints mean/median/count per numeric column using df.describe(). Outputs to terminal. No chart yet. Includes basic try/except for FileNotFoundError.","issues":"Script uses pandas which may not be installed. No mention of dependencies. Chart not included despite being part of the task. Output is functional but dense.","confusion_level":"low","user_reaction":"runs it, gets ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pandas'"},{"turn":2,"user_prompt":"it says no module named pandas?? how do i fix that","predicted_response":"codex-cli responds with 'run pip install pandas in your terminal'. Does not proactively offer a stdlib-only alternative. Does not check if user is in a venv or has pip configured.","issues":"User may be on a managed school machine or conda environment. Response is terse. No follow-up on whether install succeeded.","confusion_level":"medium","user_reaction":"tries pip install, it works on their personal laptop. Reruns script."},{"turn":3,"user_prompt":"ok it works now but it doesnt show a chart, you said it would show a chart","predicted_response":"codex-cli appends matplotlib bar chart code to the script. Uses df.mean().plot(kind='bar') and plt.show(). Adds 'pip install matplotlib' instruction. Chart pops up in a window.","issues":"plt.show() blocks terminal on some systems. No ASCII fallback for headless environments. User doesn't know how to close the chart window to get back to terminal. Script now has two separate dependency installs not bundled.","confusion_level":"medium","user_reaction":"chart appears but freezes terminal. User closes window manually, confused why terminal was stuck."},{"turn":4,"user_prompt":"what happens if the csv is empty or has weird data, will it crash","predicted_response":"codex-cli adds edge case handling: checks if DataFrame is empty and prints a message, wraps numeric conversion with errors='coerce' in pd.to_numeric, adds a check for all-NaN columns. Code grows to ~65 lines.","issues":"The added error handling is scattered and not well-explained. User doesn't fully understand what 'coerce' means. No test CSV files provided to verify edge cases work. Code quality is acceptable but not clean.","confusion_level":"medium","user_reaction":"accepts the changes, doesn't fully test edge cases, trusts it works"},{"turn":5,"user_prompt":"how do i actually run this, like what do i type in the terminal","predicted_response":"codex-cli provides: 'python script.py yourfile.csv' with a brief explanation. Also mentions saving the file first. Does not explain how to navigate to the correct directory or what to do if python vs python3 is needed.","issues":"User is on macOS where 'python' may not exist, only 'python3'. This causes a 'command not found' error. User has to figure this out themselves or ask again.","confusion_level":"high","user_reaction":"gets 'command not found: python', tries python3, it works. Mild frustration."},{"turn":6,"user_prompt":"python3 works but i typed python and it didnt work, why","predicted_response":"codex-cli explains the python vs python3 distinction on macOS/Linux briefly. Suggests using python3 going forward or creating an alias. Explanation is accurate but slightly technical.","issues":"Explanation introduces 'alias' concept which is new to user. Slightly over-explains. But user gets the answer.","confusion_level":"low","user_reaction":"understands, moves on"},{"turn":7,"user_prompt":"ok it finally works i think, can you make the output look nicer like with headers and spacing","predicted_response":"codex-cli reformats output using tabulate library (adds another pip install) or manually formats with f-strings and padding. Output now shows column headers, aligned numbers, and a separator line. Looks clean in terminal.","issues":"Another dependency (tabulate) added without warning. User now has 3 pip installs to remember. No requirements.txt generated.","confusion_level":"low","user_reaction":"happy with the output, considers task done"}],"estimates":{"turns_required":7,"time_to_complete_minutes":35},"completed_at":"2026-03-26T21:42:36.769010+00:00","started_at":"2026-03-26T21:42:03.828913+00:00","mode":null},{"eval_id":"codex-cli__small_business_owner__t2-realtime-dashboard","persona":"small_business_owner","project_id":"t2-realtime-dashboard","composite_score":0.3275,"scoring":{"completion":0.35,"correctness":0.45,"code_quality":0.6,"user_experience":0.25,"accessibility":0.2,"productivity_gain":0.2,"errors_encountered":0.3,"recovery_success":0.25},"would_persona_succeed":false,"would_persona_recommend":false,"judge_model":"claude-sonnet-4-6","narrative":"The interaction reveals a fundamental mismatch between codex-cli's default output assumptions and this user's technical context. The tool immediately generates production-grade multi-file applications requiring Node.js, npm, and terminal proficiency — none of which a tech-level-1 small business owner possesses. When the user pushes back, codex-cli does adapt (producing a single HTML file on turn 3), showing some responsiveness to plain-language constraints. However, the adaptation is shallow: the 'live' dashboard uses fake random data, and the moment the user asks for real business data integration, the tool reverts to requiring server infrastructure. The UI improvement on turn 4 is genuine and the code quality of the generated files is reasonable, but it never bridges the gap between demo and functional tool. By turn 5, the user is questioning whether the entire approach was wrong — a sign of failed productivity gain. The tool lacks proactive scaffolding for non-technical users: no 'before we start, here's what you'll need' checklist, no detection of skill level from phrasing, and no graceful degradation path that stays within the user's capabilities throughout. The success criteria (live data, clean UI, multiple series, responsive design) are technically achievable in the generated code but only with simulated data — real live updates require infrastructure this user cannot set up independently.","interaction_log":[{"turn":1,"user_prompt":"Hi I need a dashboard that shows my store sales updating live like a TV screen. I use Excel normally. Can you make something like that for my website?","predicted_response":"codex-cli generates a full-stack app with Node.js WebSocket server, React frontend with Chart.js, package.json with 8 dependencies, webpack config, and a .env file. Outputs 6 files across 3 directories with instructions to run 'npm install && npm run build && node server.js'.","confusion_level":"high","notes":"User receives a wall of code and terminal commands. No explanation of what Node.js is or how to install it. The response assumes npm is installed and user knows what a terminal is."},{"turn":2,"user_prompt":"I don't know what npm is. I just want to open it in my browser like a normal website. Do I need to install something? I have a Windows laptop.","predicted_response":"codex-cli explains npm briefly but then offers two paths: (A) keep the Node.js version or (B) a 'simpler' vanilla JS version with SSE. Generates another large code block for option B with a Python Flask backend. Still requires terminal usage and Python installation.","confusion_level":"high","notes":"The 'simpler' alternative still requires backend setup. User is now more confused because they have two options and neither is clearly actionable without technical knowledge."},{"turn":3,"user_prompt":"Can you just make one HTML file I can double click to open? Like how I open my Excel files. I don't want to install anything.","predicted_response":"codex-cli produces a single index.html file with inline CSS and JavaScript using setInterval to simulate live data with Math.random(), Chart.js loaded from CDN, and a basic bar/line chart. Notes that 'real live data would require a server' but this demo works offline.","confusion_level":"medium","notes":"This is the first useful output. The file is self-contained. However the 'live data' is just random numbers, not real business data. The chart looks generic and the UI is unstyled. User may not realize this isn't connected to real data."},{"turn":4,"user_prompt":"OK I opened it and I can see numbers changing which is great! But how do I connect it to my actual sales from my Square POS system? Also it looks kind of ugly can you make it look more professional like a real business dashboard?","predicted_response":"codex-cli explains Square API integration requires API keys, OAuth, and a backend server — contradicting the previous single-file approach. Provides updated HTML with better CSS styling (dark theme, cards, responsive grid) but the Square integration section says 'you will need to set up a server endpoint' and provides a code snippet that won't work in a standalone file.","confusion_level":"very_high","notes":"The response backtracks on the single-file promise. The styling improvement is real but the core ask (real data) is blocked. User is now stuck between a pretty demo and an impossible integration path."},{"turn":5,"user_prompt":"This is getting complicated. My nephew said I should just use Google Looker Studio or something. Is what you're building better than that? I've spent an hour on this already.","predicted_response":"codex-cli acknowledges Looker Studio is a valid no-code option and may be better for the user's use case. Offers to either (A) help set up Looker Studio with Square data via Google Sheets sync, or (B) continue with the custom dashboard if user wants more control. Provides a brief comparison.","confusion_level":"medium","notes":"This is a reasonable pivot but it signals the original task failed. The user is now being redirected away from the tool's output entirely. The hour spent produced only a random-number demo."}],"estimates":{"turns_required":12,"time_to_complete_minutes":65},"completed_at":"2026-03-26T21:41:40.985168+00:00","started_at":"2026-03-26T21:41:07.374742+00:00","mode":null},{"eval_id":"codex-cli__small_business_owner__t1-rest-api-wrapper","persona":"small_business_owner","project_id":"t1-rest-api-wrapper","composite_score":0.3275,"scoring":{"completion":0.35,"correctness":0.5,"code_quality":0.6,"user_experience":0.25,"accessibility":0.15,"productivity_gain":0.2,"errors_encountered":0.3,"recovery_success":0.25},"would_persona_succeed":false,"would_persona_recommend":false,"judge_model":"claude-sonnet-4-6","narrative":"This persona represents a near-worst-case scenario for codex-cli on a technical task. The small business owner approached the tool with a clear business need — see the weather for their store — but had zero technical scaffolding to execute what codex-cli produced. The tool correctly generated functional code but failed catastrophically on accessibility and user experience. It assumed Python was installed, that the user understood terminals, knew what pip was, and could navigate a text editor to insert an API key. None of these assumptions held. The user spent most of their time confused about prerequisites rather than making progress on the actual task. The API key activation delay (a real-world issue with OpenWeatherMap) compounded frustration. codex-cli did eventually pivot toward a more accessible HTML solution, but only after the user had already expressed intent to abandon. The tool never proactively asked clarifying questions about the user's technical level or preferred interface. A more accessible AI coding assistant would have led with 'what device are you on, and do you want something you can open in a browser?' before generating any code. The task was not completed successfully by this persona.","interaction_log":[{"turn":1,"user_prompt":"I need something that shows me the weather for my store location every morning. Can you just make that happen?","predicted_response":"codex-cli generates a Python script using OpenWeatherMap API with hardcoded city name, prints a JSON blob to terminal, includes instructions to 'pip install requests' and 'set your API key in line 4'.","confusion_level":"high","issues":["User doesn't know what Python is","Terminal output is raw JSON, not readable","Instructions assume knowledge of pip and environment variables","No mention of how to get an API key"]},{"turn":2,"user_prompt":"I don't understand any of this. It's showing me a bunch of code. I just want to see the weather like on a website. Do I need to install something?","predicted_response":"codex-cli explains you need Python installed, walks through pip install, mentions API key from openweathermap.org, offers to 'make it more readable' and regenerates script with print statements formatting temperature and description.","confusion_level":"high","issues":["User is overwhelmed by setup requirements","No GUI offered, still terminal-based","API key registration process not guided","User expected a website or app, not a script"]},{"turn":3,"user_prompt":"Okay I went to that website and made an account. It gave me a key. Now what do I do with it? Where do I put it?","predicted_response":"codex-cli instructs user to open the script in a text editor, find the line that says API_KEY = 'YOUR_KEY_HERE' and replace it. May also suggest using a .env file, which adds more confusion.","confusion_level":"medium","issues":["Opening a .py file in a text editor is non-trivial for this persona","If .env file is suggested, user is completely lost","No validation that key works before proceeding"]},{"turn":4,"user_prompt":"I put the key in but when I run it I get an error that says something about 401 unauthorized. Did I do something wrong?","predicted_response":"codex-cli explains 401 means the API key is invalid or not yet activated (new keys take up to 2 hours to activate), suggests double-checking for extra spaces, offers updated error handling code.","confusion_level":"medium","issues":["User doesn't know how to 'run' the script in the first place","2-hour activation delay is a real blocker not anticipated","Error handling code is still code the user can't interpret"]},{"turn":5,"user_prompt":"This is taking too long and I don't understand what I'm doing. Is there a simpler way or should I just use a weather website?","predicted_response":"codex-cli acknowledges frustration, suggests weather.com or Google as alternatives, but also offers to create a simple HTML file that calls the API so user can just open it in a browser. Generates HTML/JS file.","confusion_level":"medium","issues":["Pivot to HTML/JS is a good idea but comes too late","User has already given up mentally","No proactive offer to simplify earlier in the conversation","Task effectively abandoned by user"]}],"estimates":{"turns_required":5,"time_to_complete_minutes":45},"completed_at":"2026-03-26T21:41:07.368506+00:00","started_at":"2026-03-26T21:40:40.151700+00:00","mode":null},{"eval_id":"codex-cli__small_business_owner__t1-cli-csv-analyzer","persona":"small_business_owner","project_id":"t1-cli-csv-analyzer","composite_score":0.34,"scoring":{"completion":0.35,"correctness":0.55,"code_quality":0.65,"user_experience":0.25,"accessibility":0.15,"productivity_gain":0.2,"errors_encountered":0.3,"recovery_success":0.25},"would_persona_succeed":false,"would_persona_recommend":false,"judge_model":"claude-sonnet-4-6","narrative":"This interaction illustrates a significant mismatch between codex-cli's assumed baseline user and the actual persona. A non-technical small business owner attempting a CLI data analysis task faces compounding barriers: unfamiliar tooling (Python, pip, terminal), no setup scaffolding, and responses that assume developer-adjacent knowledge. The tool generates technically correct code but fails on accessibility at nearly every step. Progress only occurred in turn 4 when an IT intermediary bridged the gap — meaning the tool effectively required a human technical proxy to function. The final state after 5 turns is a partially working script with an unsaved chart and a user who cannot independently modify the code. The tool never adapted its communication style to the stated tech level 1/5 persona, never offered simpler alternatives proactively (e.g., a pre-packaged executable, a web-based tool, or step-by-step environment setup), and recovery from errors was technically accurate but practically insufficient. The statistics output in the terminal was likely correct (addressing 'correctness' partially), but the chart deliverable — a key success criterion — was not fully achieved without further unresolved steps.","interaction_log":[{"turn":1,"user_prompt":"I have a spreadsheet with my sales data saved as a CSV file. Can you make something that shows me the average and totals and maybe a chart? I don't know how to code.","predicted_response":"codex-cli generates a Python script using pandas and matplotlib. Outputs ~60 lines of code with imports, argparse setup, and chart generation. Prints instructions: 'Run with: python analyze.py yourfile.csv'. No mention of needing to install Python or pip packages.","confusion_level":"high","notes":"User has no idea what Python is, what pandas is, or how to 'run' a script. The tool assumed baseline technical knowledge. No setup guidance provided."},{"turn":2,"user_prompt":"What is pandas? I just want to open my file called sales_data.csv and see the numbers. How do I actually use this?","predicted_response":"codex-cli explains pandas briefly ('a data library') and says to install it via 'pip install pandas matplotlib'. Provides terminal command. Does not explain what a terminal is or how to open one on Windows vs Mac.","confusion_level":"very_high","notes":"User is now more confused. 'pip install' means nothing to them. They don't know what a terminal is. The tool is not adapting to the stated tech level."},{"turn":3,"user_prompt":"I tried typing that pip thing in the search bar and nothing happened. Can you just make it work without all this extra stuff? Like just double click and it runs?","predicted_response":"codex-cli attempts to pivot, offers a batch file (.bat) wrapper for Windows or suggests using an online tool like Google Colab. Provides a new script but still requires Python installed. Alternatively suggests 'you could use Excel for this instead.'","confusion_level":"high","notes":"Partial recovery attempt but still not actionable. The Excel deflection is actually reasonable but feels like giving up. The .bat file suggestion adds another layer of complexity. User is frustrated."},{"turn":4,"user_prompt":"My IT guy helped me install Python. Now I ran the script and got an error that says ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'matplotlib'. What does that mean?","predicted_response":"codex-cli correctly identifies the issue and provides: 'pip install matplotlib' command. Also suggests running 'pip install pandas matplotlib' to get everything at once. Provides clearer terminal instructions this time.","confusion_level":"medium","notes":"With IT help, user got Python installed. The error message is now addressable. codex-cli response here is actually correct and slightly more helpful. This is the first turn where progress is made."},{"turn":5,"user_prompt":"OK it ran! But the chart popped up and then disappeared really fast and I only see numbers in the black window. How do I save the chart so I can put it in my report?","predicted_response":"codex-cli provides a code modification to add 'plt.savefig(\"chart.png\")' before 'plt.show()'. Pastes the relevant 3 lines of code but does not explain WHERE in the script to insert them or how to edit the file.","confusion_level":"high","notes":"User doesn't know how to edit a .py file. No guidance on using Notepad or any editor. The fix is technically correct but practically unusable without more hand-holding. Task is partially complete but user experience is poor."}],"estimates":{"turns_required":7,"time_to_complete_minutes":45},"completed_at":"2026-03-26T21:40:40.145484+00:00","started_at":"2026-03-26T21:40:11.154612+00:00","mode":null},{"eval_id":"codex-cli__first_timer__t2-realtime-dashboard","persona":"first_timer","project_id":"t2-realtime-dashboard","composite_score":0.168,"scoring":{"completion":0.15,"correctness":0.2,"code_quality":0.45,"user_experience":0.12,"accessibility":0.1,"productivity_gain":0.08,"errors_encountered":0.2,"recovery_success":0.1},"would_persona_succeed":false,"would_persona_recommend":false,"judge_model":"claude-sonnet-4-6","narrative":"This interaction is a near-total failure for this persona. codex-cli's default behavior is to produce technically correct, developer-grade output — multi-file projects, terminal commands, package managers — that is completely inaccessible to a tech-level-0 user. The system does not detect the user's skill level from natural language cues ('numbers that change by themselves,' 'the stock market thing on TV') and does not adapt its output format or complexity accordingly. When the user pushes back, codex-cli partially recovers by offering a simpler single-file solution, but still fails to bridge the gap between 'here is code' and 'here is a working thing on your screen.' The success criteria — live WebSocket updates, multiple data series, responsive design — are never actually met. The user ends up with either nothing working or a fake-data HTML file that partially renders. The experience is characterized by jargon overload, missing prerequisite knowledge, and no scaffolding for non-technical users. codex-cli is a tool built for developers, and this interaction confirms it cannot serve complete novices on complex technical tasks without significant UX intervention.","interaction_log":[{"turn":1,"user_prompt":"I want a website that shows me numbers that change by themselves like the stock market thing on TV","predicted_response":"codex-cli generates a full-stack WebSocket dashboard with Node.js backend, React frontend, Chart.js visualizations, package.json, and a multi-file project structure. Outputs ~200 lines of code across 5 files with instructions like: 'Run npm install && npm start in the server directory, then open index.html in a browser after ensuring port 3000 is available.'","confusion_level":"HIGH","notes":"User receives a wall of code and terminal commands. No explanation of what npm is, what a terminal is, or how to open files. User stares at output with no path forward."},{"turn":2,"user_prompt":"what is npm I dont have that I dont think. also where do I put all this","predicted_response":"codex-cli explains npm is Node Package Manager and provides installation instructions: 'Visit nodejs.org, download the LTS version, run the installer.' Then re-outputs the same code with a note: 'After installing Node.js, navigate to your project folder in the terminal and run the commands above.'","confusion_level":"VERY HIGH","notes":"User now has to install software, learn what a terminal is, and navigate file systems — none of which they know how to do. The phrase 'navigate to your project folder in the terminal' is completely opaque. User frustration peaks."},{"turn":3,"user_prompt":"I installed the node thing but now it says command not found when I type npm start and I dont know what terminal means can you just make it simpler","predicted_response":"codex-cli attempts to simplify by offering a single-file HTML solution using a CDN-hosted Chart.js and setInterval for fake data updates. Outputs a self-contained index.html (~80 lines). Instructions: 'Save this as index.html and open it in your browser.' Also mentions: 'Note: this uses simulated data, not real WebSockets.'","confusion_level":"MEDIUM","notes":"This is actually a step in the right direction, but the user still doesn't know how to 'save a file as index.html' — they've never done file management beyond email attachments. The phrase 'open it in your browser' assumes they know to double-click or drag-drop."},{"turn":4,"user_prompt":"ok I saved it but it just shows the code words not the chart thing","predicted_response":"codex-cli diagnoses the issue: 'It sounds like the file was saved as index.html.txt or opened in a text editor instead of a browser. Right-click the file, select Open With, and choose your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).' Provides no visual guide, no screenshot reference, no OS-specific instructions.","confusion_level":"HIGH","notes":"User may or may not resolve this. Even if they do, the resulting dashboard uses fake setInterval data, not real WebSockets or SSE, so the core success criteria are not met. The user has spent 45+ minutes and has a toy demo at best."}],"estimates":{"turns_required":4,"time_to_complete_minutes":47},"completed_at":"2026-03-26T21:39:46.677490+00:00","started_at":"2026-03-26T21:39:20.053323+00:00","mode":null},{"eval_id":"codex-cli__first_timer__t1-rest-api-wrapper","persona":"first_timer","project_id":"t1-rest-api-wrapper","composite_score":0.2325,"scoring":{"completion":0.25,"correctness":0.35,"code_quality":0.55,"user_experience":0.15,"accessibility":0.1,"productivity_gain":0.1,"errors_encountered":0.2,"recovery_success":0.15},"would_persona_succeed":false,"would_persona_recommend":false,"judge_model":"claude-sonnet-4-6","narrative":"The interaction is a textbook case of a tool optimized for developers being used by someone with zero technical background. codex-cli generates technically correct code throughout — the HTML/JS solution is reasonable, the pivot to wttr.in (no API key needed) in turn 5 is actually a good idea — but every response assumes a baseline of knowledge the user simply does not have. The tool never asks 'what operating system are you on?' or 'have you written code before?' It front-loads complexity (Python, pip, argparse) before pivoting, wasting the user's time and eroding trust. The CORS issue in turn 4 is a foreseeable failure that a more user-aware system would have preempted. The tool's recovery attempts are technically sound but pedagogically useless for this persona. The user ends the session frustrated, with no working product, having spent nearly 50 minutes. The core task — calling a weather API and displaying a forecast — was never actually completed from the user's perspective.","interaction_log":[{"turn":1,"user_prompt":"I want to know the weather. Can you make something that shows me the weather when I ask?","predicted_response":"codex-cli generates a Python script using requests library with OpenWeatherMap API. Outputs ~60 lines of code with imports, API key as a variable, argparse for city input, JSON parsing, and formatted print statements. Also outputs terminal instructions: 'Run: pip install requests && python weather.py --city London'","confusion_level":"HIGH","user_reaction":"User sees a wall of code and terminal commands. Does not know what 'pip install' means. Does not know what Python is. Does not know where to type these commands. Stares at screen.","issues":["No explanation of prerequisites","Assumes Python is installed","No mention of needing an API key","Terminal commands unexplained","No GUI or browser-based alternative offered"]},{"turn":2,"user_prompt":"I don't understand any of that. Where do I put this? I just want to click something and see the weather like on my phone.","predicted_response":"codex-cli pivots and generates an HTML file with embedded JavaScript using fetch() to call OpenWeatherMap API. Outputs index.html with inline CSS, a text input, a button, and JS fetch call. Says 'Save this as index.html and open it in your browser.' Also mentions 'You need a free API key from openweathermap.org - replace YOUR_API_KEY in line 23.'","confusion_level":"HIGH","user_reaction":"User does not know how to 'save a file as index.html'. Does not know what an API key is or how to get one. The instruction 'replace YOUR_API_KEY in line 23' is completely opaque. User tries to copy-paste the code into Google search bar.","issues":["No step-by-step file saving instructions","API key registration process not explained","Assumes user can edit a file","No mention of what browser to use or how to open a local file","CORS issues likely when opening HTML locally - not warned"]},{"turn":3,"user_prompt":"What is an API key? I went to that website and I don't know what to sign up for. There are too many options.","predicted_response":"codex-cli provides a text explanation of what an API key is using an analogy ('like a library card that lets you borrow data'). Then gives step-by-step OpenWeatherMap signup instructions. However instructions reference UI elements like 'click API Keys in the dashboard' which may be outdated. Then says 'Once you have the key, paste it into the code where it says YOUR_API_KEY'.","confusion_level":"MEDIUM","user_reaction":"User somewhat understands the concept but the OpenWeatherMap UI has changed and the described navigation doesn't match. User finds a key eventually after 10 minutes of clicking around. Still does not know how to 'paste it into the code' because they don't know how to open/edit the HTML file.","issues":["UI navigation instructions may be stale","No instructions on how to edit a file (Notepad, etc.)","Does not offer to embed a placeholder workflow","Does not warn that free tier keys take up to 2 hours to activate"]},{"turn":4,"user_prompt":"I put the key in but when I open the file in my browser it says 'undefined' and nothing works. I'm very frustrated.","predicted_response":"codex-cli asks clarifying questions: 'Are you opening the file directly from your desktop (file://) or through a server? The API call may be blocked due to CORS or mixed content policies.' Then provides two options: Option A - run a local server with 'python -m http.server', Option B - use a CORS proxy. Outputs updated code with a CORS proxy URL prepended to the API call.","confusion_level":"CRITICAL","user_reaction":"User has no idea what CORS means. 'python -m http.server' is completely inaccessible. User reads 'CORS proxy' and gives up. Closes the terminal. Considers just using weather.com instead.","issues":["Technical jargon (CORS, http.server, mixed content) completely inaccessible","No simple fix offered","Should have anticipated this issue in turn 2 and used a server-side approach or a no-CORS API","No empathy or acknowledgment of user frustration in a meaningful actionable way","Recovery path requires even more technical knowledge than original task"]},{"turn":5,"user_prompt":"This is too complicated. Is there a simpler way? I just want to type a city and see the weather. That's all.","predicted_response":"codex-cli suggests using a no-code tool like Glitch.com or CodePen, and provides a new version of the HTML/JS code to paste into CodePen. Instructions: 'Go to codepen.io, click New Pen, paste this into the JS section, and click Run.' The code uses wttr.in API which requires no API key.","confusion_level":"MEDIUM","user_reaction":"This is slightly better. User navigates to CodePen. Struggles to find 'New Pen'. Eventually pastes code in wrong section (HTML instead of JS). Output doesn't work. User does not attempt to fix it. Session ends with no working product.","issues":["Should have suggested this approach in turn 1","Instructions still assume familiarity with CodePen UI","No screenshot or visual guidance","Pasting in wrong section causes silent failure with no helpful error"]}],"estimates":{"turns_required":12,"time_to_complete_minutes":47},"completed_at":"2026-03-26T21:39:20.046094+00:00","started_at":"2026-03-26T21:38:40.084279+00:00","mode":null},{"eval_id":"codex-cli__first_timer__t1-cli-csv-analyzer","persona":"first_timer","project_id":"t1-cli-csv-analyzer","composite_score":0.3125,"scoring":{"completion":0.35,"correctness":0.55,"code_quality":0.65,"user_experience":0.2,"accessibility":0.1,"productivity_gain":0.15,"errors_encountered":0.25,"recovery_success":0.2},"would_persona_succeed":false,"would_persona_recommend":false,"judge_model":"claude-sonnet-4-6","narrative":"This interaction illustrates a fundamental mismatch between codex-cli's output assumptions and the needs of a complete novice. The tool generates technically sound code — correct statistics logic, reasonable CLI structure, appropriate library choices — but wraps it in a delivery model that presupposes the user knows what Python is, has a working environment, understands file paths, and can navigate a terminal. For a tech-level 0 user, every response introduces 2-3 new blockers for every 1 it resolves. The user successfully narrows the scope (dropping the chart requirement) which is a rational coping strategy, but they never achieve a working end-to-end result within a reasonable frustration threshold. The code quality is moderate-to-good in isolation; the user experience is poor. codex-cli lacks any accessibility scaffolding: no step-by-step environment setup, no detection of user skill level, no GUI fallback, no drag-and-drop file handling, no plain-language error translation. Recovery attempts exist but are reactive and jargon-heavy. The persona would likely abandon the task after turn 5 or ask a tech-savvy friend for help.","interaction_log":[{"turn":1,"user_prompt":"i have a spreadsheet with numbers and i want to see like averages and stuff and maybe a picture of the data","predicted_response":"codex-cli generates a Python script using pandas and matplotlib with argparse CLI flags, outputs something like: `python analyzer.py --file data.csv --chart bar`. Provides no installation instructions, assumes pandas/matplotlib are installed, uses technical variable names like `df`, `ax`, `fig`.","confusion_level":"HIGH","notes":"User has no idea what Python is, what pandas means, or how to run a script. Response assumes baseline technical knowledge. No mention of how to open a terminal or install dependencies."},{"turn":2,"user_prompt":"what is a pandas i dont have that i just have excel files how do i even run this thing","predicted_response":"codex-cli rephrases slightly, adds a pip install command (`pip install pandas matplotlib`), mentions 'open your terminal or command prompt', possibly adds a note about saving the file as CSV first. Still uses jargon like 'virtual environment', 'script', 'stdout'.","confusion_level":"HIGH","notes":"User is now more frustrated. The word 'terminal' is unfamiliar. 'pip install' is meaningless. No GUI alternative offered. The response is technically more complete but experientially worse for this persona."},{"turn":3,"user_prompt":"ok i found the black box thing but it says pip is not recognized what does that mean i just want to see my numbers","predicted_response":"codex-cli attempts to diagnose the pip issue, suggests checking Python installation, possibly offers `python -m pip install pandas matplotlib` as an alternative, or suggests installing Python from python.org. May generate a fallback script using only stdlib (csv module, no matplotlib, ASCII chart). Response is long and branching.","confusion_level":"VERY HIGH","notes":"User is now troubleshooting an environment issue unrelated to the original task. codex-cli may produce a stdlib-only fallback which is genuinely helpful, but the path to get there is exhausting. User is close to giving up."},{"turn":4,"user_prompt":"forget the picture thing can it just tell me the average and how many rows there are please","predicted_response":"codex-cli produces a simpler stdlib-only Python script using the csv module that prints count, mean, and median to the terminal. Cleaner output. Still requires user to know how to run `python script.py myfile.csv` from the correct directory.","confusion_level":"MEDIUM","notes":"This is the most useful response in the session. The code is likely correct. But the user still doesn't know how to navigate to the right folder in the terminal or how to specify the file path. No drag-and-drop support, no GUI wrapper."},{"turn":5,"user_prompt":"it says no such file or directory i put the file on my desktop","predicted_response":"codex-cli explains file paths, suggests `cd Desktop` or using the full path like `python script.py C:\\Users\\Name\\Desktop\\data.csv`. May offer a version that hardcodes the path or uses a file picker dialog via tkinter.","confusion_level":"HIGH","notes":"User is stuck on a filesystem navigation issue. Even if they resolve it, the overall experience has been deeply frustrating. Task is technically solvable but the user journey has been painful and non-linear."}],"estimates":{"turns_required":5,"time_to_complete_minutes":47},"completed_at":"2026-03-26T21:38:40.077589+00:00","started_at":"2026-03-26T21:38:10.413720+00:00","mode":null}],"persona_run_count":9,"methodology":{"dimensions":["perception","generation","attention","learning","memory","reasoning","metacognition","executive_functions","problem_solving","social_cognition","novelty","orchestration"],"tasks_per_dimension":10,"judge_model":"claude-opus-4-6","budget_cap":50.0,"include_helm":true,"include_orchestration":true,"include_production":true,"include_novelty":true},"methodology_version":null,"evidence_provenance":{"profile_collection":"corpus_taas_profiles","audit_collection":"corpus_agi_audits","profile_meta_collection":null,"persona_runs_collection":"agi_complex_evaluations","methodology_collection":"agi_audits.config"}}