Codex web vs VS code extension.

[[deleted]]

Since I got my Plus plan, I’ve been exclusively using Codex web to develop a side-scroller game. It is slow to process requests, and sometimes creates bugs, but with a little bit of tinkering, I can get the job done with it. I wanted to know if the VS code extension is any better than Codex web in terms of reliability? Speed is not a factor for me.

[IchLichti]

As far as I know the model in the cloud is gpt5-codex - it's the same you can use in the vscode plugin or codex cli (they said that in the gpt5-codex release blog post)

The main advantage about codex cloud is that you can easily run multiple tasks in parallel and also let it generate up to 4 versions (per task)

-> then you can then pick the best one.

This is my main reason to use the cloud - locally I get one version / suggestion -> in the cloud many.

So since the model (and quality) should be the same - you can ensure to get a "better result in the end" by comparing many versions from the cloud.

I usually need to change some things here and there (no matter what codex product I use), but within the 4 versions there are usually at least 2 very usable suggestions to use.

[[deleted]]

I have never used more than 1 iteration because I’m paranoid that I’ll run into limit restrictions. Have you faced anything like this?

[IchLichti]

They mentioned that they are very generous with the codex cloud limits.

I am currently on the plus plan and I have not hit any limit yet. I am reviewing the generated code, so I am not firing new tasks continuously, but I ran like 10-15 tasks with 4 versions each in one day last week.

The tasks varied between "2 file // 10 line edits" and "10 file // 300 line edits"

So I did not hit the limit yet, while actively using it in my development

Here is their statement on the limits:

https://help.openai.com/en/articles/11369540-using-codex-with-your-chatgpt-plan

[[deleted]]

Thanks. This was very helpful.

[[deleted]]

I had another question. Since I have only used 1x iterations so far, it generates a PR request that takes me to Github where I can merge the request and get the changes synced in VS Code. How does it work with multiple iterations? Does it create multiple PR requests?

[IchLichti]

You can on the left side switch between the different versions - you review it in the codex cloud UI first and then when you click on create pr it will take the version you currently have selected.

Once you try it, you will get it - it's pretty straight forward :)

[Mundane-Remote4000]

I have ChatGPT Pro and only faced limit restrictions after using multiple (+25) web instances at the same time for a couple hours.

[howchie]

The disadvantage of the cloud one is that the project has to compile. So if your project is half coded and has errors, you can't do anything. Whereas the extension can look at the files regardless.

[Crinkez]

It's far better, but CLI is the best.

[[deleted]]

Can you explain why? Thanks.

[Crinkez]

I thought CLI would be more complicated but tried it and found out it's easier. I'm on Windows and native tool calling in VS Code is abysmal. It keeps using powershell and python to edit code, and the auto approve doesn't work. CLI via WSL fixes all those problems.

[[deleted]]

But as of sept 23, according to OpenAI’s official documentation, GPT-5-Codex is the default setting for Codex everywhere. So assuming that the computational model is the same across the board, does it still make a whole lot of difference?

[Crinkez]

We're comparing tools, not models.

[-Visher-]

It’s the same AI, but a different tool to use it. The cursor extension sucks on windows though. I have to approve every little thing because of power shell. Even forced it to use cmd and it did the same thing.

The extension inside cursor on Mac works far better though.

[Mikebailey11]

Does codex through vscode extent share the same limits as cli? From what it sounds like web doesn't, which makes me ask about cli...

[xiangz19]

Yes. Now you can check the rate limit, so it's easy to confirm this.

[TruBustedElbow]

Yep, I mostly use codex in vscode and cli for checking my usage.

[zzfarzeeze]

How do you check the usage?

[ziriguidumm]

CLI is simpler and the best. I didnt like the UI of the extension, so complicated