Codex extension in VSCode: Search with @ does not find files inside dot-directories unless query starts with "@."

[JeffSkynird]

What version of Codex is running?

codex-cli 0.36.0

Which model were you using?

gpt5-codex medium

What platform is your computer?

Linux 6.14.0-29-generic x86_64 x86_64

What steps can reproduce the bug?

1. Create a minimal workspace:

   EXAMPLE_BUG/
   ├─ .bug/
   │  └─ file_hidden.txt
   ├─ visible_folder/
   │  └─ file_showing.txt
   └─ file_in_root.txt
   

2. Open EXAMPLE_BUG with the Codex extension.

3. In the file search box, type @file_hidden.txt → No results (unexpected).

4. Type @.bug/file_hidden.txt → No results (unexpected).

5. Type @. → a list appears that includes .bug/file_hidden.txt (only visible after starting with a dot).

6. Type @visible_folder/file_showing.txt → Found (control check; expected).

7. Type @file_in_root.txt → Found (control check; expected).

What is the expected behavior?

• Typing @file_hidden.txt should return .bug/file_hidden.txt based on filename match, even if its parent folder starts with a dot.
• Typing an explicit path like @.bug/file_hidden.txt should return that exact file.
• Results under dot-directories should not require the query to start with @.; starting with @. should be optional, not mandatory.
• (If there’s a hidden-files setting) honoring it consistently: when hidden files are included, both name and path queries must surface matches inside dot-directories.
• Ranking/format should be identical to non-hidden files (no special penalty or exclusion).

What do you see instead?

• @file_hidden.txt → No results (the file .bug/file_hidden.txt is not surfaced).
• @.bug/file_hidden.txt → No results (explicit path inside a dot-directory is ignored).
• @. → A list appears and does include .bug/file_hidden.txt (only visible after starting the query with a dot).
• @visible_folder/file_showing.txt → Found (works for non-hidden directories).
• @file_in_root.txt → Found (works for files in root).

So: files under dot-directories are excluded from both filename and explicit path queries unless the search string begins with @.. Reproducible 100%.

Additional information

• CLI WORKS: I tested the same workspace using the Codex CLI and the search works as expected there (@file_hidden.txt returns .bug/file_hidden.txt). The issue reproduces only in the VS Code extension UI. So it seems extension-specific rather than a backend/search-core issue.

I'm using the last extension version: 0.4.12

[JeffSkynird]

Closed to move to vscode extension issue type -> #3897