If you have not unlocked anything yet, or don't know how to use the workbench, do the following:

- Play story campaign, till you meet/rescue Omicron. (If tech adept story you just do a few missions till you reach the command bridge).

-Talk to Omicron after bowing to his greatness.

- Click the tech upgrade or something tab 

- Spend your fate to unlock. Its tiered so in order to get some unlocks you have to unlock the previous one.

- Once unlocked go to forging. Select codes.

- Spend your moneyz and your lower tiered codes.

- Curse at Omicron because he overcharges.

- Find the code you crafted in your inventory and enjoy!