OpenAI Codex CLI
OpenAI Codex CLI is a lightweight, open-source coding agent that runs in your terminal, enabling developers to translate natural language into code execution while providing ChatGPT-level reasoning with the ability to run code, manipulate files, and iterate under version control.
https://github.com/openai/codex?ref=aipure
Product Information
Updated:May 9, 2025
What is OpenAI Codex CLI
OpenAI Codex CLI is an experimental command-line tool designed for developers who primarily work in the terminal environment. Released by OpenAI, it serves as an AI pair programmer that integrates directly into developers' local workflow. Unlike its predecessor (the original Codex model from 2021 which was deprecated in March 2023), this new CLI tool focuses on providing practical coding assistance while maintaining security through sandboxed environments. The tool requires only an OpenAI API key to get started and can work with various OpenAI models, including o3 and o4-mini.
Key Features of OpenAI Codex CLI
OpenAI Codex CLI is a lightweight, open-source coding agent that runs directly in the terminal, combining ChatGPT-level reasoning with the ability to execute code, manipulate files, and iterate under version control. It allows developers to interact with code through natural language commands, supports multimodal input including screenshots and diagrams, and runs in a secure sandboxed environment with configurable levels of automation.
Secure Sandbox Execution: Runs commands in a network-disabled and directory-sandboxed environment with three configurable approval modes (Suggest, Auto Edit, Full Auto) for different levels of automation
Multimodal Input Support: Accepts various input formats including text commands, screenshots, and diagrams to implement features and understand code
Version Control Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Git for tracking changes, creating commits, and managing code modifications with built-in PR helpers
Project Memory & Documentation: Maintains context through global and project-specific instruction files, allowing customized behavior across different projects
Use Cases of OpenAI Codex CLI
Code Refactoring: Automatically refactors code components, such as converting class components to React Hooks, while maintaining functionality and running tests
Test Generation: Creates and executes unit tests for existing code, iterating until all tests pass successfully
Security Review: Analyzes codebases for vulnerabilities and generates detailed security review reports
Database Migration: Generates and executes SQL migrations based on natural language descriptions of desired changes
Pros
Zero setup required - works immediately with just an OpenAI API key
Fully open-source with active community development
Strong security model with sandboxed execution
Flexible approval modes for different levels of automation
Cons
Experimental technology still under development with potential bugs
Not directly supported on Windows (requires WSL2)
Does not support organizations with Zero Data Retention (ZDR) enabled
Requires Node.js 22 or newer
How to Use OpenAI Codex CLI
Install Codex CLI globally: Run 'npm install -g @openai/codex' in your terminal to install the package globally
Set up OpenAI API key: Export your OpenAI API key as an environment variable by running: 'export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"'. For permanent setup, add this line to your shell config file (e.g. ~/.zshrc)
Basic Usage - Interactive Mode: Simply type 'codex' in your terminal to start the interactive REPL mode where you can have a conversation with Codex
Basic Usage - Direct Prompt: Run 'codex "your prompt here"' to give Codex a specific task, like 'codex "explain this codebase to me"'
Configure Approval Mode: Use --approval-mode flag to set how much autonomy Codex has: 'suggest' (default, requires approval for all changes), 'auto-edit' (can edit files but needs approval for commands), or 'full-auto' (can run commands and edit files)
Set Up Custom Instructions: Create ~/.codex/instructions.md file to add your personal global guidance for how Codex should behave
Project-Specific Setup: Create codex.md in your project root directory to add project-specific instructions that will be shared with other developers
Run in Non-Interactive Mode: Use the -q or --quiet flag for CI/CD pipelines or automated scripts: 'codex -q "your task"'
Change AI Model: Use --model flag or set in config to change the AI model: 'codex --model o4-mini "your prompt"'
Get Help: Run 'codex --help' to see all available commands and options
OpenAI Codex CLI FAQs
Codex CLI is a lightweight coding agent that runs in your terminal. It's built for developers who want ChatGPT-level reasoning plus the ability to run code, manipulate files, and iterate – all under version control. It's essentially chat-driven development that understands and executes your repository.
OpenAI Codex CLI Video
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