Title: Feature Request: “What’s New” Notification & Model Usage Guidance (CLI v0.89.0+)
Summary: I am requesting the addition of a “What’s New” notification or changelog summary upon successfully updating the Codex CLI. Additionally, I request clearer inline documentation or guidance regarding model selection, specifically distinguishing between base models (e.g., gpt-5.2) and their Codex-optimized variants (e.g., gpt-5.2-codex).
Problem Description: Upon updating to version 0.89.0, I noticed the default model switched to gpt-5.2-codex, while gpt-5.2 remains an option.
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Lack of Visibility: There was no indication that an update occurred or what features changed.
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Ambiguity: It is unclear when a user should prefer the “codex” variant over the standard model. Users are left guessing whether the “codex” version is simply a quantized/faster version or if it has specific behavioral tuning (e.g., agentic capabilities vs. reasoning depth).
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Discovery: There is no easy way to find this information within the tool (e.g., no
codex changelogcommand) or on the standard developer portals.
Proposed Solution:
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Post-Update Summary: When the CLI runs for the first time after an update, display a brief generic box or notification:
Codex CLI updated to v0.89.0 New:
/permissionscommand,/skillUI. Default model is nowgpt-5.2-codex. Runcodex models infofor details. -
Model Descriptions: Add a short description field in the model picker or a
codex models --helpcommand that explains the intended use case for each.-
Example:
gpt-5.2-codex: Optimized for agentic coding, long-running tasks, and tool use. Best for implementation. -
Example:
gpt-5.2: High-reasoning generic model. Best for planning and architectural decisions.
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Impact: This would significantly reduce confusion for developers, prevent the misuse of “thinking” models for simple tasks (and vice versa), and ensure users are actually adopting the new features shipped in releases.