Install an AI coding agent, connect to your team's GitHub repo, and start building your first project task.
"The gap is not the model. It is whether you believe you can attempt hard things."
Prof. Matias Meirelles
Fall 2026 · SE 395-2
Lab 7Week 11 · Thursday · AI Lab
Today you connect an AI coding agent to your team's repo and start executing your project plan. No lecture. Just building.
Professor Matias is out sick today. This lab is fully self-guided. Work through each tab left to right.
$ symbol at the start of each line. That is the prompt. You type after it. Every command is written out for you. Just copy and paste.Both tools do the same thing: read your project files, write code, run commands, and push to GitHub. Each is available as a web app (easiest) and as a terminal CLI (more powerful). Pick based on your plan.
Requires Claude Pro — $20/mo
Web: claude.ai/code
CLI: terminal on your laptop
Also: desktop app, mobile
Requires ChatGPT Plus — $20/mo
Web: chatgpt.com/codex
CLI: terminal on your laptop
Also: IDE extensions, iOS
| Time | Tab | What You Do |
|---|---|---|
| 3:30 - 3:45 | Setup | Install tools (or open the web app) |
| 3:45 - 3:55 | GitHub | Log in and clone your team's repo |
| 3:55 - 4:10 | Warm-Up | Guided first task with the agent |
| 4:10 - 4:40 | Execute | Build your first real project task |
| 4:40 - 4:45 | Submit | Push and submit on Canvas |
You can use the web app (no install, works right now) or the CLI (runs in your terminal, more powerful). Pick one.
Go to claude.ai/code in your browser and sign in with your Claude Pro account.
Claude Code
Connect a GitHub repository to get started
Click Sign in with GitHub. Authorize Claude to access your repositories.
After connecting GitHub, you will see a repository selector. Choose your team's project repo.
Claude will clone this repo into a cloud environment. You can read files, make changes, and push branches.
Once the repo loads, you have a chat interface. Type what you want Claude to do. It can read your files, write code, run commands, and create commits. Skip to the Warm-Up tab.
Go to chatgpt.com/codex in your browser and sign in with your ChatGPT Plus account.
Codex
Your AI software engineering agent
Click Codex in the sidebar, then connect your GitHub account when prompted.
After connecting GitHub, select your team's project repo. Codex clones it into a cloud sandbox.
You have a task interface. Type what you want Codex to do. It reads files, writes code, runs tests, and opens pull requests. Skip to the Warm-Up tab.
✔ Signed in to your tool's web app
✔ Connected to GitHub
✔ Team repo selected
Skip the GitHub tab and go straight to Warm-Up.
Press Cmd + Space, type Terminal, press Enter.
Press Win + X, click Terminal or PowerShell.
This is what your terminal looks like. The $ is the prompt. You type after it.
First check if already installed:
See a version? Skip to Step 3. Otherwise:
Close and reopen terminal after installing.
Mac: Install Homebrew first: /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
Windows: Download directly from cli.github.com
Claude Code CLI
Install
Or via Homebrew: brew install --cask claude-code
Install (PowerShell)
Or via winget: winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
Verify
"xcode-select" popup — Click Install, wait 5-10 min, retry.
"permission denied" — Mac: try sudo bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh)"
Nothing works? Switch to the Web App path above. You can still complete the lab at claude.ai/code.
Codex CLI — requires Node.js 22+
Check Node first: node --version. Need v22+. If missing, install from nodejs.org (LTS).
Install
Or: brew install --cask codex
Install
Or: winget install OpenAI.Codex
Verify
Log In (opens your browser)
This opens your browser for ChatGPT OAuth. Log in, authorize, done. No API key needed.
"npm not found" — Install Node.js 22+ from nodejs.org first.
"permission denied" — Try: sudo npm install -g @openai/codex
Nothing works? Switch to the Web App path. Go to chatgpt.com/codex instead.
gh --version → shows version
claude --version → shows version
codex --version → shows version
All working? Go to the GitHub tab.
Answer the prompts:
It shows a code and opens your browser. Paste the code, click Authorize, done.
"already logged in" — Fine. Move on.
Browser did not open — Copy the URL from terminal into your browser manually.
Replace with your real name and Rollins email:
your-org/your-repo-name"not found" — Check the URL. Make sure you are added as collaborator (Settings → Collaborators).
"already exists" — Just cd YOUR-REPO-NAME.
No repo yet? One person creates it on github.com and adds teammates.
A guided task to learn how the tool works. About 15 minutes.
Claude Code
Web app: You should already be at claude.ai/code with your repo loaded. Type in the chat box.
CLI: Make sure you are in your repo folder, then run:
First time: opens your browser to sign in with your Claude Pro account. After that:
Codex
Web app: You should be at chatgpt.com/codex with your repo connected. Type in the task box.
CLI: Make sure you are in your repo folder, then run:
Type this (customize the brackets):
Type This
Create a README.md for this project. It is called [YOUR PROJECT NAME], a [one sentence] built for [partner name]. Include: Project Description, Team Members, Getting Started, Tech Stack. Keep it simple.
The agent shows you the file. Review it. Approve when it asks.
Type This
Add my name to team members: [Your Name] - [Your Role]. Add a "Project Status" section: "Week 11: Setting up development environment and starting first build tasks."
Type This
Commit these changes with the message "Add project README with team info and status" and push to GitHub.
| Command | What It Does |
|---|---|
/help | Show all commands |
/clear | Clear conversation |
Esc | Interrupt Claude |
Ctrl+D twice | Quit Claude Code |
| Press Enter | Approve action |
| Type n | Deny action |
| Command | What It Does |
|---|---|
/ | Show all commands |
/clear | Clear conversation |
Ctrl+C | Cancel operation |
/exit | Quit Codex |
| Press Enter | Approve action |
| Type n | Deny action |
"git push" rejected — Tell the agent: "Pull latest from GitHub then push."
Agent made a mistake — Tell it: "That is wrong. Change X to Y."
Agent crashed — Run claudecodex again. Files are saved.
Open your project plan from Lab 6. Pick the first task. You have about 30 minutes.
"Do not start by listing features. Give the agent a one-sentence description. Let it ask you questions."
| Good First Tasks (30 min) | Too Big |
|---|---|
| Create project folder structure | Build the whole app |
| Write the landing page HTML | Full website with login |
| Build one prompt template | All prompts for all features |
| Create sample test data | Full database |
Template
I am working on [PROJECT NAME] for [PARTNER]. It is [one sentence]. My first task: [paste task + acceptance criteria from your plan]. Ask me 3-5 clarifying questions before you start building.
Commit all changes with a clear message and push to GitHub.
Open your repo on github.com. Confirm your commits are visible.
If installs failed and the web app did not work either:
Full credit. We troubleshoot the install next class.