Choose native or enhanced mode.
A native Codex theme changes surface, text, accent and semantic colors. Copy the string from the builder, open Codex Settings, choose the theme import action and paste. This path uses the app’s theme data format and needs no Dream Skin engine.
An enhanced theme adds an image, panel transparency, dimming, blur and decorative layout treatment. It needs the open-source engine described below.
Inspect the exact source you will run.
Open commit 568469a, read the platform README and locate both install and restore entry points. Confirm that the scripts bind CDP to loopback, leave the official install directory alone and do not change an API key or model-provider URL.
The button above opens a new local task with the repository and a review-first prompt. The prompt is placed in the composer; you still decide whether to send it and whether to approve any command.
Use the documented platform entry.
macOS
From the repository’s macos directory, use Install Codex Dream Skin.command. The project documents support for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Windows
Follow windows/SKILL.md. The documented sequence uses install-dream-skin.ps1 followed by start-dream-skin.ps1.
Do not copy commands from a theme author’s package. Packages are data only; installation logic belongs to the reviewed engine.
Apply a package you understand.
Open the .dreamskin file as a ZIP archive if you want to inspect it. A builder export contains manifest.json, theme.json, background.webp, preview.webp, LICENSE.txt and signature.json. Reject a package containing scripts, executables, arbitrary CSS or extra files.
Test the surfaces and practice recovery.
Open Home, a long task and a Diff. Check text readability, composer controls, scrolling and window focus. Then run the documented restore action once, even if the theme works. A recovery path is only useful after you have verified it.
Quit the engine before running untrusted local applications. If Codex updates and the interface looks wrong, restore stock, check the compatibility page and wait for a verified engine update.