Codex Desktop App & ChatGPT Super App Guide
OpenAI evolved Codex from a terminal tool to a native desktop app, then on April 6, 2026 unified ChatGPT, Codex, and Atlas browser into one Super App. GPT-5.5 launched simultaneously.
Evolution: CLI to Super App
In two years, OpenAI evolved Codex from a command-line tool to a fully capable super-app platform.
2024
Codex CLI
Command-line coding assistant
2026 Q1
Codex Desktop
macOS/Windows desktop app, parallel agents
2026-04-06
ChatGPT Super App
Tri-product unified super app
Codex Desktop App Features
The native desktop app released in Q1 2026 brings a quantum leap over CLI.
Parallel Agent Management
Visual interface to manage multiple Codex Agent instances simultaneously, each handling different tasks with a clear task queue overview.
Real-time Visual Monitoring
Watch agent execution status, file changes, and command output in real time without switching terminals — dramatically improves debugging efficiency.
Local Model Acceleration
Local small models (GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark) for quick tasks, cloud large models for complex reasoning — automatic intelligent routing.
ChatGPT Super App
On April 6, 2026, OpenAI merged its three product lines into the most powerful AI super-app ever built.
ChatGPT
Conversation & creation hub
Codex
Coding & agent execution engine
Atlas
Browser automation & information gathering
Cross-modal Task Orchestration
Complete 'search → analyze → code → deploy' pipelines in one conversation without switching tools.
Unified Plugin Ecosystem
ChatGPT plugins, Codex tools, and Atlas extensions unified in a single marketplace with third-party developer submissions.
Multimodal Input/Output
Text, images, code, and web content processed uniformly — GPT-5.5 natively supports multimodal reasoning and generation.
Full Desktop Experience
Native macOS and Windows apps with system-level integration: hotkey activation, clipboard monitoring, push notifications.
New Model Lineup
Three new models launched alongside Codex Desktop and Super App in 2026, each with distinct strengths.
GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark
Coding SpecialistHighest SWE-bench score, optimized for code generation, debugging, and refactoring with lower latency than GPT-5.4.
GPT-5.4
Flagship CodingFlagship model integrating GPT-5.3-Codex coding expertise — balanced reasoning and programming capabilities.
GPT-5.5
Super App DedicatedOptimized for ChatGPT Super App multimodal scenarios, natively supporting Chat + Code + Browse tri-modal tasks.
Using via QCode.cc
QCode.cc supports both Claude and OpenAI Codex APIs — one account accesses both platforms' full model lineup.
Codex CLI Configuration
# Codex CLI 国内使用配置
export OPENAI_BASE_URL=https://api.qcode.cc/openai
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your-qcode-api-key
# 验证连接
codex --version
codex "写一个快速排序算法"Supported Features
Access Both Claude & Codex via QCode.cc
One account, stable access to both Anthropic Claude and OpenAI Codex full model lineups, direct connection within China.
April 2026 Major Update: Codex Super App + Computer Use
On April 16 OpenAI added to Codex Desktop: Computer Use (Mac background see/click/type across any app), 90+ plugins (skills + integrations + MCP), GitHub PR review with comments, multiple terminal tabs, SSH to remote devbox (alpha), rich previews (PDF/spreadsheet/slides), in-app browser, threaded chats, scheduled follow-ups. Codex officially evolves from 'coding assistant' to 'general desktop work agent' (Super App vision).
Read the Codex Computer Use guide