build your first app with codex
you've made it — hell yeah welcome.
this is aisha and talha. we'll be walking you through this — you won't need to know how to code. it doesn't make you smarter, it just helps you actually build something.
today, you're going to make an app from scratch and put it on the internet. you don't need to know how to code. you just need to be able to describe what you want.
what is this?
this is the starter repo for it's for people, by the people — a hands-on build flow where you create a real app with openai codex, an ai that writes code with you.
you can start from scratch, choose web or mobile, and ship something real. this repo comes pre-configured with structure, ui setup, styling, animations, and codex-ready skills so you can focus on your idea instead of setup.
you need a laptop, a chatgpt account, and an idea. if you don't have an idea yet, the agent will help you pick one.
who this is for
seriously, anyone. but especially:
the makesomething philosophy
here's the thing: the best way to learn is by building. not by watching tutorials, not by reading docs. by making something real, pulling it out of thin air, and seeing what happens.
that's what we're here to do. build fast, ship it, and figure stuff out along the way. you'll pick up everything you need as you go.
your goal today: finish something. not make it perfect. not even make it good. just ship something you can share.
done is better than perfect.
what you need to know
honestly? not much.
- how to use a computer (open apps, navigate folders, that kind of thing)
- how to type commands into a terminal (we'll show you this)
- how to describe what you want clearly
- how to push through and figure stuff out along the way
if you've never opened a terminal before, that's totally fine. we're going to walk through everything step by step.
what you'll get
when you finish this build, here's what happens:
a physical card you can hold
not just a digital badge. an actual card you can hold. proof you built something.
access to alumni channels
less noise, more signal. where the real conversations happen.
but honestly, the real reward is what you'll build and the confidence you'll gain that you can make things. you're going to make something from nothing and put it live on the internet today.
why ship fast matters
here's what we've learned from building a bunch of stuff: the thing that kills most projects is overthinking.
people spend weeks planning the perfect app, designing the perfect features, waiting for the perfect time to launch — and then they never ship anything.
the people who actually build cool stuff? they make something fast, cut loose, and improve it based on what people actually want.
that's what you're going to do today: build something small, ship it, and see what happens.
done is better than perfect.
okay, let's go
that's it. you know what this is and why we're here.
we're going to get your computer set up. you'll paste one command into the terminal and codex will do the rest. then you'll build your first app and ship it to the internet.
let's make something.
let's get you set up
one-time setup. takes about 5 minutes.
this is the only setup you'll ever have to do. once it's done, it's done — you can build as many apps as you want from here. just paste one command and it runs everything for you.
optional: terminal crash course
what even is a terminal?
a terminal is just a text-based way to talk to your computer. instead of clicking buttons, you type commands. that's it. it's not scary, just different.
you only need to know three things:
- pwd — shows where you are (like checking which folder you're in)
- ls (mac) / dir (windows) — lists files in the current folder
- cd foldername — move into a folder · cd .. — go back up
when the setup script runs npm install, think of it as telling the app to download its ingredients. that's literally all it's doing.
step 1: open your terminal
windows: press the Windows key, search for PowerShell, and open it. if you see a blue window, you're in.
mac: press ⌘ + space, type Terminal, and hit enter. a white or black window will open.
if you've never done this before, that's ok. just follow the steps above — it takes 10 seconds.
step 2: run the setup script
copy the command below for your system, paste it into the terminal, and press enter. run it and wait — it takes about a minute.
irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/muhtalhakhan/its-for-people-by-the-people/main/scripts/setup-windows.ps1 | iex
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/muhtalhakhan/its-for-people-by-the-people/main/scripts/setup-unix.sh | bash
what's the script actually doing?
| step | what it does |
|---|---|
| sets up git | version control — tracks every change you make |
| installs node | javascript runtime — lets your app run |
| clones the project | copies the starter files onto your computer |
| installs packages | downloads all the tools your app needs |
| starts dev server | runs your app locally so you can see it |
| verifies the setup | checks that everything works before you build |
here's where it gets interesting
as built, a codex integration that actually works. the folder that lands on your Desktop is pre-wired for codex — open it in chatgpt and everything is already configured. the skills, the commands, the milestones. you don't have to set anything up.
what you can build from this setup:
| type | stack | ships to |
|---|---|---|
| web app | next.js + tailwind + heroui | vercel (free) |
| mobile app | flutter | android / ios build |
you're all set
- project folder created on your Desktop
- all packages installed
- codex skills loaded and ready
- dev server verified and running
here's the build button: now you can move on to the fun bit.
build your first app
type $start to begin
$start
run this in the codex chat to kick off the build flow.
the thing that $start does for you: it asks what you want to build, locks in your idea as a one-liner, and starts writing the first screen. follow along with the steps in the codex chat — keep it on screen. it's remarkable to watch.
the build cycle
this is the loop you'll repeat the whole time you're building.
describe what you want
type it like you'd tell a friend. plain english. one thing at a time.
see what's building
watch it run. it'll change things and show you what it made.
review what you made
does it look right? if not, just describe what needs to change.
repeat
the loop builds your app. track the brave point — do it again. repeat, refine.
ideas for what to build
we've got a list of ideas in case you need inspiration:
- a to-do list app — classic to build, surprisingly fun and useful
- a journaling app — create a habit tracker, daily notes, track over time
- a quote display — curated quotes you love, great for your phone
- a countdown timer — birthdays, events, anything you're looking forward to
- a daily prompt generator — random writing prompts, inspiration, ideas
- a custom bookmarks page — all your links in one place, like your own homepage
- a mood tracker — log how you feel each day, see patterns over time
- a recipe card app — save your favourite recipes in a beautiful layout
pick anything that feels interesting. simpler is better for your first one.
what good prompts look like
codex builds exactly what you describe. be specific and you'll get something good.
make it yours
once the basic app is running, here's how to make it feel like you built it:
- "make the background dark with white text"
- "add a button in the center that plays a nice lo-fi sound in the app"
- "add categories so i can organize things like work, personal, and ideas"
- "make the messages pop out into a new row when i tap them"
- "add an animated gradient when i select a row"
- "fix the whole thing. keep going until it works"
just tell codex what you want and it'll handle the rest. if it breaks something, type $fixit. if you're stuck, type $imlost.
things to know
- it won't work perfectly the first time. that's normal. keep going.
- be specific about what you want. vague prompts = vague results.
- get prompts from stuff you like. describe an app you use and like.
- keep iterating. every round gets better. the loop is the point.
- keep going until you love it. you're in charge of when it's done.
- done is better than perfect. ship it, then improve it.
you built something. that's huge.
you just went from idea to app. that means you can build anything you can describe. the only thing that changes is how specific you get with your prompts.
ship it to the world
you built something. now let's put it on the internet so anyone can see it.
this is the moment where it goes from "a thing on your computer" to "a thing on the internet with a real URL you can send to anyone."
deploy with one skill
in codex, type:
$deploy
this launches a service called vercel to put your app on the internet. vercel is what a lot of real companies use to host their websites — it's fast, free for small projects, and handles all the complicated stuff for you.
when it's done, you'll get a URL that looks something like your-app-name.vercel.app — open it in your browser.
that's your app, live on the internet.
claim your domain
the URL you get is free for 24 hours by default. after that, it'll expire unless you claim it.
after the deploy finishes, codex will give you a link to vercel. go to that link and create a free vercel account to claim your domain. once you do that, your app stays live permanently.
claiming your domain is free. you just need to sign up for a vercel account — it takes about 30 seconds, and the URL is yours to keep forever.
this is a huge moment — celebrate it
you just deployed your first app. you went from nothing to something live on the internet. this is not like the other checkboxes — this is special.
be proud of this. most people never get here. you built something from scratch and put it on the internet for the world to see. that's not nothing — that's everything.
- post a screenshot or image of your app in action
- record a quick video showing off your app (max 30 seconds)
- write what you made and how you feel — let the internet know
what's next?
stick around — you're just getting started.
keep building. go back to codex and keep adding to your app. the first build section has ideas for how to make it better — new features, design changes, whatever you want. every time you make a change, just run $deploy again to update the live version.
you now know how to use the terminal, work with an ai to build apps, and deploy things to the internet. these are real skills. you're not "learning to code" anymore.
the only limit is your imagination. go build something cool.
share what you shipped
bonus: go deeper
you've built and shipped your first app. that's already more than most people ever do.
but if you want to keep going, here's some cool stuff to explore.
ready to go further?
you've got the basics down. now it's time to push past what this covered and build something even bigger.
here's what people go on to build:
- add a database to store real data
- make their app multiplayer so multiple people can use it at once
- integrate ai into their projects
- connect to apis and pull in data from other services
- and whatever else you can think of
this is where you go from "i built an app" to "i'm actually building real stuff." ask questions, share what you're working on, and learn from everyone else who's doing the same thing.
the course ends here, but your building doesn't have to.
you finished the whole thing.
you're officially part of the alumni now. we'll reach out about your card and alumni access soon.
in the meantime — share this moment. you earned it.