Codex Manual

Choose a Surface

Codex has multiple entry points. Choose the one that matches your workflow.

SurfaceBest forUsers
CLILocal terminal workDevelopers comfortable with shells
AppDesktop UI, project threads, visual workflowGeneral users and developers
IDE ExtensionEditor-side helpVS Code, Cursor, Windsurf users
Web / CloudHosted tasks and PRsTeams and remote workflows

Start with the App if you want a visual experience. Use the CLI if you want direct control over directories, permissions, profiles, and commands.

CLI:

cd your-project
codex

App:

codex app

Use the IDE extension when you want Codex beside your editor. Use Web/Cloud when you want hosted work, PR generation, or parallel task execution.