Keep these in mind, before and after
These principles let you enjoy cloud power while holding the line on security, cost, and data.
Never put keys in code
Keep all keys in environment variables — never hard-coded, never committed. The prompts already enforce this for Codex; you just safeguard your own keys.
Validate in demo mode before real data
The prompts have Codex provide a local demo / mock mode. Verify the flow with sample data first, then switch to real keys and data.
Add one module at a time
Don’t add several capabilities at once. Integrate and verify module by module — easier to debug and roll back.
Decide what belongs in the cloud
Be careful with sensitive data (IDs, raw passwords). Mask where possible and be clear on what lives in the cloud vs. locally.
Watch cost, set limits
AI calls, storage, and push can incur fees. Understand pricing before launch and set usage caps to avoid surprise bills.
Always have a network fallback
For users in mainland China, network jitter is inevitable. The prompts already require timeouts and graceful fallback so nothing crashes offline.