Engineering Practice

Getting Started with Codex in VS Code on Ubuntu

Install the official Codex IDE extension on Ubuntu, sign in with ChatGPT, and start a first chat with project context.

Anthony OgundipeRevision 2
#Codex#Ubuntu
Disclosure: Setup steps follow OpenAI’s public Codex IDE documentation, Help Center plan guidance, and the VS Code Marketplace listing for openai.chatgpt. No proprietary screenshots or unverified outcomes are claimed.

Scope and sources

This guide summarizes publicly documented steps for using OpenAI’s Codex IDE extension with Visual Studio Code on Ubuntu. Primary references:

No screenshots, timing claims, or unverified repository outcomes are included here.

Prerequisites

  • An Ubuntu desktop or laptop with network access
  • Visual Studio Code installed (or a compatible fork that supports the Marketplace extension)
  • A ChatGPT account you can sign in with. OpenAI’s Help Center states Codex is included across ChatGPT plans (including Free and Go), with usage limits that vary by plan. The Marketplace listing may emphasize Plus, Pro, Business, Edu, and Enterprise—treat the Help Center as the entitlement source of truth and re-check before relying on a specific tier. An API key path may also exist with separate billing; prefer the documented ChatGPT sign-in flow unless you already manage API credits.

Linux is a supported platform for the Codex IDE extension according to OpenAI’s public materials. Windows remains experimental in those same materials; this article focuses on Ubuntu only.

Install the Codex extension

  1. Open VS Code on Ubuntu.
  2. Open the Extensions view.
  3. Search for Codex by OpenAI, or install by id: openai.chatgpt.
  4. Alternatively, from a terminal with the code CLI available:
code --install-extension openai.chatgpt
  1. Reload the window if VS Code prompts you to.

Sign in and open Codex

  1. Open the Codex sidebar from the activity bar, or run Codex: Open Codex Sidebar from the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P).
  2. Sign in with your ChatGPT account when prompted, following the extension’s UI.
  3. Open a real project folder (File → Open Folder…) so Codex can use workspace context.

Start a careful first chat

Keep the first task small and reversible:

  1. Create a Git commit or stash before asking for edits.
  2. Ask Codex to explain a file you already have open, or to propose a focused change.
  3. Review the suggested diff in the editor before accepting changes.
  4. Prefer Agent modes that request approval for network or out-of-workspace access unless you deliberately choose a broader mode and understand the risk.

Official docs emphasize using open files and selections as context, reviewing edits beside the code, and creating checkpoints before and after larger tasks.

Optional: Codex CLI on Linux

If you also want the terminal agent, OpenAI documents a Linux install path for Codex CLI (for example via the published install script or package managers listed in the Codex GitHub repository). The IDE extension and CLI are related but not identical workflows—confirm which surface you intend to use before debugging “missing” features.

Limitations (honest)

  • Plan entitlements and rate limits change; verify against OpenAI’s current Help Center rather than this article alone.
  • Extension UI labels can change between releases; if a command name differs, search the Command Palette for Codex.
  • This article does not claim measured productivity gains, passing test suites, or a specific repository demo.

References

  1. Codex IDE extension documentation
  2. VS Code Marketplace: openai.chatgpt
  3. Using Codex with your ChatGPT plan (OpenAI Help Center)
  4. Codex open-source repository

Report a problem

Flag inaccurate, harmful, or rights-related issues with “Getting Started with Codex in VS Code on Ubuntu”. Abuse of reporting may be limited.

Canonical URL: https://devtrivo.com/journal/getting-started-with-codex-in-vs-code-on-ubuntu