OpenAI’s Codex is revolutionizing the way developers work in their favorite code editors. This powerful AI assistant now integrates directly with popular development environments like JetBrains IDEs and VS Code. The latest JetBrains integration will be available starting from version 2025.3, requiring the AI Assistant plugin. VS Code users can access Codex through the marketplace extension, which works with VS Code and compatible editors like Cursor and Windsurf.
Codex doesn’t just answer questions – it actively helps write code. Developers can choose between different interaction modes depending on their needs. Chat mode offers simple question-answer exchanges, while Agent mode allows Codex to reason through problems and suggest solutions. For more complex tasks, Agent (Full Access) mode gives Codex network access and the ability to run commands independently.
Codex evolves beyond basic Q&A to become a true coding companion, offering tailored interaction levels from simple chats to autonomous problem-solving.
The tool adapts to different workloads by offering adjustable reasoning levels. Users can select low, medium, or high reasoning effort based on whether they need quick responses or deeper analysis. Higher reasoning uses more tokens but produces more thorough results for complex problems. This automation significantly boosts productivity gains by freeing developers from repetitive coding tasks.
When facing large-scale tasks, Codex can delegate work to cloud environments. Developers monitor progress without leaving their IDE, then preview and apply changes locally. This feature maintains context whether working from the main branch or local changes.
Codex reads and writes code, finds bugs, generates documentation, and handles refactoring. It understands multiple input types including text, diagrams, and screenshots. Users can also drag Codex icon to the right sidebar for a more convenient workspace layout. Users can also enjoy free access for a limited time when using JetBrains AI with promotional credits that started January 22. The system remains aware of the repository context and previous commands, making it effective for building features and suggesting improvements.
Access options include ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Education, and Enterprise subscriptions. JetBrains users can connect through an AI subscription, ChatGPT account, or OpenAI API key. Unlike GitHub Copilot, Codex focuses on autonomous task completion rather than just code suggestions.
Through these integrations, Codex brings AI-powered development directly into the tools programmers already use every day.
References
- https://blog.jetbrains.com/ai/2026/01/codex-in-jetbrains-ides/
- https://developers.openai.com/codex/ide/
- https://developers.openai.com/codex/ide/features/
- https://milvus.io/ai-quick-reference/what-ides-or-editors-support-codex
- https://openai.com/index/introducing-codex/
- https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=openai.chatgpt
- https://uibakery.io/blog/codex-tool-overview
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd21Igx4HtA
