Codex CLI adds a full-screen workspace for parallel agents

OpenAI has refreshed Codex CLI, its open-source coding agent for the terminal, with an interface built for long-running and concurrent work. The release pins prompt input to the bottom, loads older session history on demand, tracks parallel agents in one view, connects conversation forks to Git worktrees, and adds two-way voice. Developers who keep Codex open beside an editor now have a workspace for supervising several tasks from one terminal.

The prompt stays put

The full-screen terminal user interface separates the session transcript, composer, status information, hints, and keyboard shortcuts into dedicated regions. The composer remains fixed at the bottom while the transcript scrolls, allowing developers to inspect earlier output and enter the next prompt without jumping through the session.

Older messages load as the user scrolls beyond the terminal’s normal scrollback limit. Long diffs and tool output can be collapsed, while Mermaid diagrams and LaTeX render inside the terminal. Themes are available through /theme.

Parallel agents share one screen

The new /agents view lists concurrent tasks, shows their progress, and lets the user switch between them without opening additional terminal windows. It gives subagent workflows a central place for monitoring runs, checking results, and redirecting work.

Inside a Git repository, /fork now pairs a copy of the current conversation with a managed worktree. A worktree is a separate checkout that shares the repository’s underlying Git data, allowing each fork to edit files independently. Developers can test competing implementations while keeping their working directories and diffs separate.

Earlier Codex CLI releases already supported conversation forks through /fork and the codex fork subcommand. Linking forks to managed worktrees extends that model to the filesystem. The separation reduces accidental overlap, although developers still need to review, merge, and resolve conflicts between successful branches.

Voice joins the prompt loop

The /voice command starts a spoken conversation with Codex, including speech input and audio responses. The release notes say voice conversations are enabled by default, with F8 as a toggle and /voice providing the settings picker.

OpenAI also bundles the required audio runtimes for Linux and Windows, reducing platform setup. Voice is suited to high-level instructions, follow-up questions, and status checks, while the transcript and agent output remain available for precise inspection.

A broader toolbox behind the interface

• /usage displays activity and usage information within the session.
• /theme switches among the new terminal themes.
• Collapsible sections reduce the space consumed by large diffs and verbose tool output.
• Inline Mermaid and LaTeX rendering presents diagrams and formulas without a separate viewer.
• Dedicated status, hint, and shortcut regions keep controls visible during long runs.

Built for long-running repository work

The redesign builds on several existing Codex CLI capabilities:

• AGENTS.md files provide repository-specific instructions and project context.
• Configuration profiles preserve settings for different projects or workflows.
• codex exec runs non-interactive tasks from scripts and automation.
• The sandbox restricts command, file, and network access according to configured permissions and approval rules.

These features fit developers who keep an agent attached to a repository, delegate several tasks, and review changes before committing them. One-off questions gain little from the additional interface, and teams adopting parallel agents need clear branch, test, and review practices. The richer interface also occupies more terminal space than the earlier chat-style loop.

Upgrade in one command

The update ships through the existing npm package. Install Codex CLI or upgrade a global installation with:

npm install -g @openai/codex@latest

Authentication supports a ChatGPT account or an API key. ChatGPT access follows the account’s plan and usage limits, while API-key sessions are charged to the associated API project under current pricing. The /usage command provides in-session visibility into activity.

Codex CLI remains open source under the Apache 2.0 license. Its source code, issue tracker, and release history are available in the GitHub repository.

The terminal becomes a control plane

Combining agent monitoring, worktree-backed forks, reviewable output, and voice control makes the terminal a primary surface for coordinating coding agents. The design assumes that developers will run several tasks concurrently and move among planning, execution, and review within the same session.

That model can increase throughput, but it also moves the bottleneck toward verification. Developers remain responsible for inspecting diffs, running tests, managing permissions, and deciding which branch should reach the codebase. The refreshed CLI makes parallel work easier to organize while keeping those decisions visible in the repository and terminal.