FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Install, run, branch — answered short.

Install

Can I run it through the Codex desktop app?

No — it runs through the Codex CLI. If the CLI is missing, ima2-gen prompts you to install it on first run, then opens a login window. Approve and you are good to go.

How do I install ima2-gen?

Open Terminal (macOS / Linux) or PowerShell (Windows). Install globally with npm install -g ima2-gen, then run ima2 serve. Open http://localhost:3333 in your browser.

npm install -g ima2-gen

ima2 serve

What is npm? Is there a one-click install?

npm is the Node.js package manager. If you do not have it, use the installer for your OS — it helps set up Node when needed, installs ima2-gen, and starts the server.

macOS

curl -fsSL https://lidge-jun.github.io/ima2-gen/install-mac.sh | bash

Windows PowerShell

irm https://lidge-jun.github.io/ima2-gen/install-windows.ps1 | iex

Does it work on Windows / PowerShell?

Yes. Windows 10+ with PowerShell 5.1 or PowerShell 7 are supported. The public installer script is served from GitHub Pages and prints every command before running it.

Usage

When should I use Node mode?

When you want to compare several directions from a result you like. Vary the prompt, framing, or palette per node while the original frame stays put. Children survive a page refresh — they recover by request ID.

How many images can I generate at once?

Up to eight in parallel from a single Classic run. Node mode runs each child node as its own request, so you can fan out as many branches as your quota allows.

Can I attach reference images?

Up to five references per prompt. Drag, drop, or paste them into the composer. Large files are compressed before upload, so you do not have to pre-process them.

How does a Style sheet work?

Save medium, composition, mood, palette, and negative cues into a sheet, then attach the sheet to any prompt. Style sheets persist across sessions, so you can reuse the same visual direction tomorrow.

Tech

Do I need an OpenAI API key?

Not for image generation. ima2-gen uses your local Codex/ChatGPT login. An API key may still be detected for auxiliary tooling, but the generation path uses your login session by design.

Where do my images live?

Locally. Generated images and session logs live in your user-data folder. Inspect, sync, version — your call. Image files are not uploaded to a separate remote store.

What data leaves my machine?

The generation request goes to OpenAI to actually create the image. The result file and the session log stay on your disk. There is no separate ima2-gen analytics or remote store.

Does it work offline?

Generation needs the OpenAI API, so an internet connection is required for that step. Browsing the local gallery, organizing sessions, and editing style sheets all work offline.

Is it open source?

Yes. ima2-gen is MIT licensed. The code lives on GitHub.

github.com/lidge-jun/ima2-gen