First App.
Your learning space A little progress, every day
CHAPTER 06Lesson 22 of 36

Pick up where you left off

You can stop for the day and return without starting from scratch.

In Codex4 min read & do
By the end of this lesson

Keep a clear handover and understand your Codex allowance.

Let’s do this

  1. 1
    In Codex

    Leave a short stopping note

    Ask Codex to summarise what works, what failed, the last checkpoint and the next small task. Keep it in the same conversation. Save the app files before closing the laptop.

  2. 2
    In Codex

    Return to the same project

    Open the same folder and conversation next time. Ask Codex to inspect the current files and compare them with the stopping note. The saved code is the result; the chat helps explain how you got there.

  3. 3
    In Codex

    Check usage before buying more

    Open the account’s usage view or official usage dashboard. The available allowance and reset time depend on your plan and model. Do not assume every message uses the same amount.

    Open the usage dashboard (opens a new tab)
  4. 4
    In Codex

    Choose the smallest sensible next task

    If you reach a limit, keep your files and wait for the shown reset. A lighter available model can help with a simple focused change. Extra credits are optional; avoid buying them just because one large request ran out.

OpenAI’s setup guide showing the menu for choosing Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app.View larger
Screenshot of OpenAI’s official setup guide, captured 7 September 2026. The guide’s interactive illustration shows where to choose Codex.Screenshot source (opens a new tab)

A message for Codex

Summarise where we are with my first iPhone app: what works, what is still broken, the last working checkpoint, checks already run and the next single task. Keep it short and plain. When we resume, inspect the actual project before changing it. Do not buy credits, change plans or start a large background task without asking.

Make this message fit your idea.

What you should see

You can close the session knowing where your app files are and what you will do next. You know where to check the allowance and reset time.

If you get stuck

Go at your own pace. There is no test to pass.

Checked 7 September 2026. Screens can change; the official guides below have the latest steps.

Codex plans and limitsProjects in Codex