Codex CLI for i686 Linux

This repository provides an unofficial, community-maintained build of OpenAI Codex CLI for 32-bit x86 Linux. It targets Debian-based distributions running on i686 hardware.

The upstream project does not publish an i686 binary. This fork adds the target-specific compatibility changes, packaging scripts, and release assets needed to install Codex on supported 32-bit x86 systems.

Install

Run this as the user who will use Codex; root privileges are not required:

curl -fsSL \
  https://github.com/andy5090/codex-for-i686-linux/releases/download/i686-latest/install-codex-i686.sh \
  | sh

The installer downloads the statically linked i686 package, verifies its SHA-256 checksum, and installs it under:

• executable: ~/.local/bin/codex
• release files: ~/.local/share/codex-i686/releases/<build-id>

Make sure ~/.local/bin is in PATH, then sign in and start Codex:

codex login --device-auth
codex

To update an existing installation to the latest i686 release:

codex-i686-update

The update command downloads the current i686-latest installer, verifies the package checksum through that installer, installs the new build alongside the previous release, and switches ~/.local/bin/codex to the new build.

If you prefer to inspect the installer before running it:

curl -fLO \
  https://github.com/andy5090/codex-for-i686-linux/releases/download/i686-latest/install-codex-i686.sh
less install-codex-i686.sh
sh install-codex-i686.sh

Platform support

• Debian-based 32-bit x86 Linux (i386 through i686)
• SSE2-capable processor
• Tested on antiX Linux running on real i686 hardware
• statically linked musl binaries for Codex, ripgrep, and bubblewrap
• per-user installation without replacing distribution packages

JavaScript Code Mode is unavailable because rusty_v8 does not publish a 32-bit Linux host binary. When a model requests CodeModeOnly, this build falls back to direct tools so shell execution, file editing, and normal Codex workflows remain available.

You may see a warning that Code Mode is unavailable and direct tools are being used. That warning is expected. A warning that Code Mode "will fail closed" usually means an older build is still being executed.

Test shell execution

codex exec -m gpt-5.6-sol --skip-git-repo-check \
  "Use the shell to run uname -m and pwd, then show the results."

If the shell tool is available but bubblewrap fails, repeat the test only in a trusted directory with sandboxing disabled:

codex exec -m gpt-5.6-sol \
  --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox \
  "Use the shell to run uname -m and pwd, then show the results."

If only the second command works, report the bubblewrap error and the output of uname -a; that is a kernel sandbox compatibility issue rather than a Code Mode issue.

Codex Apps MCP

codex_apps is a remote HTTPS MCP service and is independent of the i686 binary format. If it is not needed, it can be disabled in ~/.codex/config.toml:

[features]
apps = false

For connection failures, include the complete MCP client for codex_apps failed to start: ... message in a bug report.

Build locally

The native macOS cross-build path uses Zig:

./scripts/i686-linux/build-package-zig.sh

A Docker or Podman build path is also available:

./scripts/i686-linux/build-package.sh

Packages and checksum files are written to dist/. The scripts assign dirty local builds a source-state build ID so installing a rebuilt package does not silently reuse an older release directory.

Upstream and support status

This is not an official OpenAI distribution. General Codex documentation and non-i686 development happen in openai/codex. Changes in this repository focus on maintaining the i686 Linux build and may need adjustment as upstream evolves.

The project remains licensed under the Apache-2.0 License, with the upstream notices retained in NOTICE.