Using GPT-5 codex to improve my website in an hour, not days

Preview collage showing the old portfolio design on the left and the new design with improved visuals on the right

Back in March I gave my portfolio a proper update. At the time I was happy with it, but about half a year later I looked at it again and realized I still didn’t like what I saw. It didn’t feel like me. It wasn’t visual enough and it just didn’t represent the work I’ve been doing.

Normally that realization would have meant days of effort. Looking up how to change things, testing out snippets, trying not to break anything in the process. But this time it took me about an hour.

# Why Time Matters

For me, time is the most important resource. I care about my portfolio and I want it to look good, but I don’t want to spend days fiddling with research and debugging. I’d rather spend that time writing about this stuff (hello 👋), creating and working on the projects that actually matter to me, or simply trying out new hobbies like padel, golf, or bouldering. I’m still figuring out which one I’d like to continue with.

So when it comes to something like a portfolio site, I want the fastest possible path to a result that looks right and feels like mine. That’s where GPT-5 Codex came in.

# Qoder and GPT-5 Codex

Over the past few months I’ve tried different tools like Claude Code, Cursor, and VS Code with Roocode. They each showed me how much AI-assisted coding has improved, but Qoder paired with GPT-5 Codex has been on another level.

What makes Qoder stand out is how transparent it is. It doesn’t just hand you a block of updated code. It shows you exactly what’s changed, line by line. What’s removed, what’s added, what’s updated. That makes it easy to follow along and actually understand the changes. With Claude Code inside VS Code, for example, the edits often felt hidden and harder to follow. With Qoder I could see exactly what was happening and keep control over my site.

# From Days to an Hour

Instead of wasting time on endless research, I just prompted:

  • “Let’s change the project cards to include a photo, using flexbox.”
  • “Let’s get rid of the photo on the front page and have a text in the center that follows H1.”

GPT-5 Codex took those prompts and turned them into exactly what I had in mind. I could iterate quickly, like a conversation, until it felt right. The whole process was clear, fast, and surprisingly enjoyable.

Screenshot comparison of the old project card design on the left versus the new project card with added visuals on the right

What once took me days now happened in about an hour. And I still had time left in the day to exercise, watch a movie, and move on with life.

# Why This Is a Big Deal

For me, the value is simple: I can shape my portfolio without losing days to trial and error. I still care about the look and feel, but I don’t have to burn time on the technical grind of figuring out how to make it happen.

If you’re not experimenting with tools like Qoder and GPT-5 Codex yet, especially for smaller projects like personal websites, you’re really missing out. They give you speed, clarity, and freedom, which is exactly what matters when time is the most valuable thing you have.

# Old vs. New

Here’s another look at how the update changed the overall hero section of the site.

Screenshot comparison showing the old hero section with photo on the left and the new hero section with bold centered H1 text on the right

This is just the beginning. If GPT-5 Codex can shrink something that used to take me days into a one-hour task, the way we approach creative projects online is about to change completely.