Codex CLI
The OpenAI terminal coding agent. It reads a repository, plans a change and runs commands in a sandbox, and by default asks your approval before anything touches the real filesystem.
Tested on GPT-5 ·
CLI · Included with a ChatGPT Plus/Pro plan or an API account
Codex CLI runs locally and asks before it executes anything outside its sandbox. That matters most for a tool that can run arbitrary shell commands for you. The approval prompts feel slow on the first run and fade into background noise once you trust the pattern of requests.
It is tied closely to OpenAI models. Choose it if your API usage already lives there, and look elsewhere if you want to switch providers per task.
Notes from the author
Run it in a container or a throwaway VM for anything you would not want a mistake to touch, even with approvals on. The sandbox lowers the risk and never removes it.
For information only, not professional advice. You use it at your own risk and we are not liable for any loss or damage. See the disclaimer.
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