Codex Ubuntu Wrapper

Build a working Linux .deb for Codex from the official Windows MSIX.

This project does not try to force the Windows desktop app to run unchanged on Linux. Instead, it uses the official Codex assets and packages them with a native Linux Electron runtime and a small wrapper app. The result is a stable desktop launcher that opens Codex in its own window and behaves like a normal Linux app.

Highlights

• Builds a native .deb named codex-desktop-native
• Uses local pinned build dependencies from this repo
• Preserves official Codex branding and bundled assets from the MSIX
• Launches with Linux-safe runtime flags for sandbox and GPU issues
• Includes a one-command rebuild and reinstall helper

How It Works

The Windows MSIX contains useful resources, but the original desktop bundle is not a clean drop-in for Linux. In practice, the direct-port approach ran into native module and Electron runtime issues.

This repo takes the more reliable route:

• extract the official Codex MSIX
• reuse its assets and bundled resources
• package them with Linux Electron
• ship a minimal wrapper that opens https://chatgpt.com/codex

That keeps the desktop experience simple and dependable.

Project Files

• build-codex-native-deb.sh: main build script
• rebuild-install.sh: rebuild and reinstall helper
• OpenAI.Codex_26.313.5234.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0.Msix: source payload

Requirements

System tools:

• file
• dpkg-deb
• python3
• node
• npm

Project dependencies:

cd /home/johnohhh1/Codex-ubuntu
npm install

This installs the local build dependencies used by the project, including Electron and asar.

Quick Start

cd /home/johnohhh1/Codex-ubuntu
npm install
./rebuild-install.sh
codex-desktop-native

Manual Build

cd /home/johnohhh1/Codex-ubuntu
./build-codex-native-deb.sh --clean no

The generated package is written to dist/.

Rebuild And Install Helper

cd /home/johnohhh1/Codex-ubuntu
./rebuild-install.sh

This helper:

• rebuilds the package
• installs the newest generated .deb
• leaves the build tree in place for inspection

Runtime Notes

• The launcher uses --no-sandbox --disable-setuid-sandbox.
• GPU is disabled by default because Electron GPU startup was crashing in this environment.
• The package preinst script removes stale app.asar.unpacked leftovers during upgrades.
• You can override the wrapper URL with CODEX_WEB_URL.

Output

Expected package path:

/home/johnohhh1/Codex-ubuntu/dist/codex-desktop-native_26.313.5234.0_amd64.deb

Roadmap

• add a version bump helper for newer MSIX drops
• add optional Wayland/X11 launch toggles