OpenAI debuts Codex CLI, an open source coding tool for terminals

23/05/2025

OpenAI debuts Codex CLI, an open source coding tool for terminals | TechCrunch

===============
OpenAI debuts Codex CLI, an open source coding tool for terminals | TechCrunch

===============
[Skip to content](https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/16/openai-debuts-codex-cli-an-open-source-coding-tool-for-terminals/#wp–skip-link–target)

[![Image 1](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/tc-lockup.svg)TechCrunch Desktop Logo](https://techcrunch.com/)[![Image 2](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/tc-logo-mobile.svg)TechCrunch Mobile Logo](https://techcrunch.com/)

* [Latest](https://techcrunch.com/latest/)
* [Startups](https://techcrunch.com/category/startups/)
* [Venture](https://techcrunch.com/category/venture/)
* [Apple](https://techcrunch.com/tag/apple/)
* [Security](https://techcrunch.com/category/security/)
* [AI](https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/)
* [Apps](https://techcrunch.com/category/apps/)
* [Google I/O 2025](https://techcrunch.com/storyline/google-i-o-2025-live-coverage-gemini-android-16-updates-and-more/)

* [Events](https://techcrunch.com/events/)
* [Podcasts](https://techcrunch.com/podcasts/)
* [Newsletters](https://techcrunch.com/newsletters/)

Submit

Site Search Toggle

Mega Menu Toggle

### Topics

[Latest](https://techcrunch.com/latest/)

[AI](https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/)

[Amazon](https://techcrunch.com/tag/amazon/)

[Apps](https://techcrunch.com/category/apps/)

[Biotech & Health](https://techcrunch.com/category/biotech-health/)

[Climate](https://techcrunch.com/category/climate/)

[Cloud Computing](https://techcrunch.com/tag/cloud-computing/)

[Commerce](https://techcrunch.com/category/commerce/)

[Crypto](https://techcrunch.com/category/cryptocurrency/)

[Enterprise](https://techcrunch.com/category/enterprise/)

[EVs](https://techcrunch.com/tag/evs/)

[Fintech](https://techcrunch.com/category/fintech/)

[Fundraising](https://techcrunch.com/category/fundraising/)

[Gadgets](https://techcrunch.com/category/gadgets/)

[Gaming](https://techcrunch.com/category/gaming/)

[Google](https://techcrunch.com/tag/google/)

[Government & Policy](https://techcrunch.com/category/government-policy/)

[Hardware](https://techcrunch.com/category/hardware/)

[Instagram](https://techcrunch.com/tag/instagram/)

[Layoffs](https://techcrunch.com/tag/layoffs/)

[Media & Entertainment](https://techcrunch.com/category/media-entertainment/)

[Meta](https://techcrunch.com/tag/meta/)

[Microsoft](https://techcrunch.com/tag/microsoft/)

[Privacy](https://techcrunch.com/category/privacy/)

[Robotics](https://techcrunch.com/category/robotics/)

[Security](https://techcrunch.com/category/security/)

[Social](https://techcrunch.com/category/social/)

[Space](https://techcrunch.com/category/space/)

[Startups](https://techcrunch.com/category/startups/)

[TikTok](https://techcrunch.com/tag/tiktok/)

[Transportation](https://techcrunch.com/category/transportation/)

[Venture](https://techcrunch.com/category/venture/)

### More from TechCrunch

[Events](https://techcrunch.com/events/)

[Startup Battlefield](https://techcrunch.com/startup-battlefield/)

[StrictlyVC](https://strictlyvc.com/)

[Newsletters](https://techcrunch.com/newsletters/)

[Podcasts](https://techcrunch.com/podcasts/)

[Videos](https://techcrunch.com/video/)

[Partner Content](https://techcrunch.com/sponsored/)

[TechCrunch Brand Studio](https://techcrunch.com/brand-studio/)

[Crunchboard](https://www.crunchboard.com/)

[Contact Us](https://techcrunch.com/contact-us/)

![Image 3: Binary code and OpenAI logo](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2021258442.jpg?w=1024)

**Image Credits:**Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto / Getty Images

[AI](https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/)

[](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftechcrunch.com%2F2025%2F04%2F16%2Fopenai-debuts-codex-cli-an-open-source-coding-tool-for-terminals%2F)[](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftechcrunch.com%2F2025%2F04%2F16%2Fopenai-debuts-codex-cli-an-open-source-coding-tool-for-terminals%2F&text=OpenAI+debuts+Codex+CLI%2C+an+open+source+coding+tool+for+terminals&via=techcrunch)[](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftechcrunch.com%2F2025%2F04%2F16%2Fopenai-debuts-codex-cli-an-open-source-coding-tool-for-terminals%2F&title=OpenAI+debuts+Codex+CLI%2C+an+open+source+coding+tool+for+terminals&summary=In+a+bid+to+inject+AI+into+more+of+the+programming+process%2C+OpenAI+is+launching+Codex+CLI%2C+a+coding+%E2%80%9Cagent%E2%80%9D+designed+to+run+locally+from+terminal+software.+Announced+on+Wednesday+alongside+OpenAI%E2%80%99s+newest+AI+models%2C+o3+and+o4-mini%2C+Codex+CLI+links+OpenAI%E2%80%99s+models+with+local+code+and+computing+tasks%2C+OpenAI+says.+Via+Codex+CLI%2C+OpenAI%E2%80%99s+%5B%E2%80%A6%5D&mini=1&source=TechCrunch)[](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftechcrunch.com%2F2025%2F04%2F16%2Fopenai-debuts-codex-cli-an-open-source-coding-tool-for-terminals%2F&title=OpenAI+debuts+Codex+CLI%2C+an+open+source+coding+tool+for+terminals)[](mailto:?subject=OpenAI+debuts+Codex+CLI%2C+an+open+source+coding+tool+for+terminals&body=Article%3A+https%3A%2F%2Ftechcrunch.com%2F2025%2F04%2F16%2Fopenai-debuts-codex-cli-an-open-source-coding-tool-for-terminals%2F)[](https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/16/openai-debuts-codex-cli-an-open-source-coding-tool-for-terminals/)

OpenAI debuts Codex CLI, an open source coding tool for terminals
=================================================================

[Kyle Wiggers](https://techcrunch.com/author/kyle-wiggers/)

10:00 AM PDT · April 16, 2025

In a bid to inject AI into more of the programming process, OpenAI is launching [Codex CLI](http://github.com/openai/codex), a coding “agent” designed to run locally from terminal software.

Announced on Wednesday alongside OpenAI’s newest AI models, o3 and o4-mini, Codex CLI links OpenAI’s models with local code and computing tasks, OpenAI says. Via Codex CLI, OpenAI’s models can write and edit code on a desktop and take certain actions, like moving files.

Codex CLI appears to be a small step in the direction of OpenAI’s broader agentic coding vision. Recently, the company’s CFO, Sarah Friar, [described](https://x.com/btibor91/status/1911035936940429631) what she called the “agentic software engineer,” a set of tools OpenAI intends to build that can take a project description for an app and effectively create it and even quality assurance test it.

Codex CLI won’t go that far. But it _will_ integrate OpenAI’s models, eventually including o3 and o4-mini, with the clients that process code and computer commands, otherwise known as command-line interfaces.

It’s also open source, OpenAI says.

“[Codex CLI is] a lightweight, open source coding agent that runs locally in your terminal,” an OpenAI spokesperson told TechCrunch via email. “The goal [is to] give users a minimal, transparent interface to link models directly with [code and tasks].”

In a blog post provided to TechCrunch, OpenAI added, “You can get the benefits of multimodal reasoning from the command line by passing screenshots or low fidelity sketches to the model, combined with access to your code locally [via Codex CLI].”

Techcrunch event

### Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI

#### Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just $292 for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking.

### Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI

#### Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last.

Berkeley, CA|June 5

[REGISTER NOW](https://techcrunch.com/events/tc-sessions-ai/?promo=tc_inline_exhibit&utm_campaign=tcsessionsai2025&utm_content=exhibit&utm_medium=ad&utm_source=tc)

To spur use of Codex CLI, OpenAI plans to [dole out $1 million in API grants](https://openai.com/form/codex-open-source-fund/) to eligible software development projects. The company says it’ll award $25,000 blocks of API credits to the projects chosen.

AI coding tools come with risks, of course. [Many](https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/23/ai_developer_devin_poor_reviews/)[studies](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/debug-gym-an-environment-for-ai-coding-tools-to-learn-how-to-debug-code-like-programmers/)have[shown](https://www.techrepublic.com/article/ai-generated-code-outages/)that code-generating models frequently fail to fix security vulnerabilities and bugs, and even introduce them. It’s best to keep that in mind before giving AI access to sensitive files or projects — must less entire systems.

Topics

[AI](https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/), [open source](https://techcrunch.com/tag/open-source/), [OpenAI](https://techcrunch.com/tag/openai/)

![Image 4: Kyle Wiggers](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kyle-Wiggers.jpg?w=150)

Kyle Wiggers

AI Editor

[](https://twitter.com/Kyle_L_Wiggers)[](https://bsky.app/profile/kylelwiggers.bsky.social)[](https://techhub.social/@kylelwiggers)[](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-lee-wiggers/)

Kyle Wiggers is TechCrunch’s AI Editor. His writing has appeared in VentureBeat and Digital Trends, as well as a range of gadget blogs including Android Police, Android Authority, Droid-Life, and XDA-Developers. He lives in Manhattan with his partner, a music therapist.

[View Bio](https://techcrunch.com/author/kyle-wiggers/)

![Image 5: Event Logo](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/techcrunch-sessions-ai-small-logo.jpg)

June 5, 2025

Berkeley, California

LIMITED TIME: Save $300+ on your ticket, plus an additional 50% on a second for a full immersive day of AI! Hear from AI pioneers from Google DeepMind, OpenAI, Anthropic, and more on the main stage and in breakouts, and network like never before.

[REGISTER NOW](https://techcrunch.com/events/tc-sessions-ai/?utm_source=tc&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=tcsessionsai2025&utm_content=earlybirdbogo&promo=tceventssidebar_ebbogo&display=)

Most Popular
————

*
### [California prepares to sue feds after Senate revokes the state’s EV rule](https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/23/california-prepares-to-sue-feds-after-senate-revokes-the-states-ev-rule/)

* [Tim De Chant](https://techcrunch.com/author/tim-de-chant/)

*
### [At TechCrunch Sessions: AI, Artemis Seaford and Ion Stoica confront the ethical crisis — when AI crosses the line](https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/23/when-ai-crosses-the-line-artemis-seaford-and-ion-stoica-confront-the-ethical-crisis-at-techcrunch-sessions-ai/)

* [TechCrunch Events](https://techcrunch.com/author/techcrunch-events/)

*
### [X continues to suffer bugs following Thursday outage](https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/23/x-continues-to-suffer-bugs-following-thursday-outage/)

* [Kyle Wiggers](https://techcrunch.com/author/kyle-wiggers/)

*
### [Founders First: Iliana Quinonez of Google Cloud on AI agents, infrastructure, and democratization at TechCrunch Sessions: AI](https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/23/founders-first-iliana-quinonez-of-google-cloud-on-ai-agents-infrastructure-and-democratization-at-techcrunch-sessions-ai/)

* [TechCrunch Events](https://techcrunch.com/author/techcrunch-events/)

*
### [Tick tock: Just 3 days left to save up to $900 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 pass](https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/23/tick-tock-just-3-days-left-to-save-up-to-900-on-your-techcrunch-disrupt-2025-pass/)

* [TechCrunch Events](https://techcrunch.com/author/techcrunch-events/)

*
### [Apple could launch AI-powered smart glasses in 2026](https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/23/apple-could-launch-ai-powered-smart-glasses-in-2026/)

* [Dominic-Madori Davis](https://techcrunch.com/author/dominic-madori-davis/)

*
### [Trump threatens 25% tariffs on iPhones made outside the US](https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/23/trump-threatens-25-tariffs-on-iphones-made-outside-the-us/)

* [Dominic-Madori Davis](https://techcrunch.com/author/dominic-madori-davis/)

Loading the next article

Error loading the next article

[![Image 6: TechCrunch Logo](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/themes/tc-24/dist/svg/tc-logo.svg)](https://techcrunch.com/)
* [X](https://twitter.com/techcrunch)
* [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/techcrunch)
* [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/techcrunch)
* [Instagram](https://instagram.com/techcrunch)
* [youTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/techcrunch)
* [Mastodon](https://mstdn.social/@TechCrunch)
* [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@techcrunch)
* [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/techcrunch.com)

* [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/)
* [Staff](https://techcrunch.com/about-techcrunch/)
* [Contact Us](https://techcrunch.com/contact-us/)
* [Advertise](https://techcrunch.com/advertise/)
* [Crunchboard Jobs](https://www.crunchboard.com/)
* [Site Map](https://techcrunch.com/site-map/)

* [Terms of Service](https://techcrunch.com/terms-of-service/)
* [Privacy Policy](https://techcrunch.com/privacy-policy/)
* [RSS Terms of Use](https://techcrunch.com/rss-terms-of-use/)
* [Code of Conduct](https://techcrunch.com/code-of-conduct/)

* [Anthropic](https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/30/anthropic-suggests-tweaks-to-proposed-u-s-ai-chip-export-controls/)
* [OpenAI](https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/29/openai-explains-why-chatgpt-became-too-sycophantic/)
* [Duolingo](https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/30/duolingo-launches-148-courses-created-with-ai-after-sharing-plans-to-replace-contractors-with-ai/)
* [Wikipedia](https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/30/__trashed-4/)
* [Hugging Face](https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/28/hugging-face-releases-a-3d-printed-robotic-arm-starting-at-100/)
* [Tech Layoffs](https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/28/tech-layoffs-2024-list/)
* [ChatGPT](https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/28/chatgpt-everything-to-know-about-the-ai-chatbot/)

![Image 7](https://pixel.wp.com/g.gif?v=ext&blog=136296444&post=2994600&tz=-7&srv=techcrunch.com&hp=vip&j=1%3A14.6&host=techcrunch.com&ref=&fcp=808&rand=0.19661910502657154)

Some areas of this page may shift around if you resize the browser window. Be sure to check heading and document order.

AI Track Hub

AI Track Hub

OpenAI debuts Codex CLI, an open source coding tool for terminals

You May Also Like

Google is replacing Google Assistant with Gemini

OpenAI launches a data residency program in Asia

How much does ChatGPT cost? Everything you need to know about OpenAI’s pricing plans