OpenAI Codex CLI vs Devin Desktop — Feature Comparison
Quick answer: OpenAI Codex CLI supports 16 of 18 tracked features; Devin Desktop supports 18 of 18. Matrix last updated August 26, 2026.
Verdict: Codex CLI vs Devin Desktop
Devin Desktop is the better choice for most developers, though OpenAI Codex CLI is the stronger pick for terminal-centric and automation-heavy workflows. Devin Desktop achieves full coverage of all 18 tracked features, including JetBrains IDE integration that Codex CLI lacks, making it the more complete option for developers who work across multiple editors and IDEs. Its release cadence — 18 releases in the last 90-day window — is somewhat lower than Codex CLI's 29, but the gap is modest and both tools are actively maintained with substantial total release histories. Codex CLI's higher release frequency suggests a faster-moving iteration cycle, which can be an advantage if you want the latest capabilities quickly but may introduce more churn in a production workflow. The single missing feature for Codex CLI is JetBrains support, which is a decisive factor if your team standardizes on IntelliJ, PyCharm, GoLand, or similar IDEs — in that scenario Devin Desktop wins outright. Conversely, Codex CLI's terminal-native design and rapid cadence make it a natural fit for engineers who prefer command-line driven development, CI pipeline integration, or scripting-heavy environments where a GUI editor is not part of the picture. Neither tool is objectively superior in every dimension; the decision hinges on your editor ecosystem and preferred interaction model more than raw feature counts.
Choose OpenAI Codex CLI if: Choose OpenAI Codex CLI if you live primarily in the terminal, favor a fast-iterating tool with a high release cadence, or need to integrate AI coding assistance into CLI-driven workflows and CI pipelines.
Choose Devin Desktop if: Choose Devin Desktop if you want the broadest IDE support — especially JetBrains — or prefer a full-featured GUI-based experience with complete coverage across all tracked capabilities.
Key differences
- Feature coverage: Devin Desktop supports all 18 tracked features; Codex CLI supports 17, missing JetBrains IDE integration
- Release cadence: Codex CLI shipped roughly 60% more releases in the trailing 90-day window, indicating a faster iteration pace
- Workflow fit: Codex CLI is terminal-native and pipeline-friendly; Devin Desktop targets IDE and GUI-centric development
- Editor ecosystem: Devin Desktop covers JetBrains IDEs, making it the only option for teams standardized on IntelliJ-family tools
- Total release history: both tools have deep tracked histories (142 vs 130 releases), signaling sustained, long-term development on each
At a glance
| Tool | Latest version | Release date | Releases tracked |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI Codex CLI | rust-v0.149.1 | August 24, 2026 | 147 |
| Devin Desktop | v3.8.20 | August 21, 2026 | 133 |
Core Editing
Multi-file editing, streaming, undo capabilities
| Feature | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-file Editing — Edit multiple files in a single operation | — | ✓ since 1.0.2 |
| Streaming Output — Real-time streaming of AI responses | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 3.8.20 |
| Undo/Redo — Ability to undo and redo changes | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 3.7.16 |
| Diff View — Visual comparison of changes | ✓ since rust-v0.149.1 | ✓ since 3.7.16 |
Terminal Integration
Shell and command execution support
| Feature | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Command Execution — Run shell commands | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 3.8.20 |
| Shell Integration — Integration with user shell environment | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 1.13.3 |
| Background Tasks — Run tasks in background | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 3.6.21 |
MCP Support
Model Context Protocol server and client capabilities
| Feature | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| MCP Client — Connect to MCP servers | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 3.8.20 |
| MCP Server — Expose as MCP server | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 3.7.25 |
| Custom Tools — Define and use custom tools | ✓ since rust-v0.147.0 | ✓ since 3.7.16 |
IDE Integrations
VS Code, JetBrains, and other editor support
| Feature | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| VS Code — Visual Studio Code integration | ✓ since rust-v0.136.0 | ✓ since 3.6.21 |
| JetBrains — IntelliJ/WebStorm integration | — | ✓ since 1.11.0 |
| Vim/Neovim — Vim or Neovim integration | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 1.12.31 |
| Web UI — Browser-based interface | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 3.7.16 |
Agentic Features
Planning, tool use, and autonomous capabilities
| Feature | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Mode — Plan before executing changes | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 3.8.20 |
| Autonomous Mode — Extended autonomous operation | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 3.7.16 |
| Task Decomposition — Break complex tasks into steps | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 2.2.17 |
| Context Management — Manage context across conversations | ✓ since rust-v0.149.0 | ✓ since 3.6.21 |
Feature timeline: who shipped first
First release where Codex CLI and Devin Desktop each shipped a notable feature, and which tool led.
| Feature | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop | Who led |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Slash Commands | August 20, 2025 | May 6, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 106d ahead |
| Subagents / Parallel Agents | January 25, 2026 | October 16, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 102d ahead |
| MCP Support | July 23, 2025 | February 13, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 160d ahead |
| Sandboxing / Permission Modes | August 7, 2025 | June 16, 2026 | Codex CLI first, 312d ahead |
| Planning Mode | January 25, 2026 | June 10, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 230d ahead |
| Hooks | May 8, 2026 | December 10, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 150d ahead |
| Skills / Plugins | December 10, 2025 | January 12, 2026 | Codex CLI first, 32d ahead |
| Project Memory Files | February 12, 2026 | December 11, 2024 | Devin Desktop first, 429d ahead |
| Extended Thinking | July 9, 2025 | February 25, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 134d ahead |
| Voice Input | February 25, 2026 | July 17, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 224d ahead |
| Background Tasks | — | April 15, 2026 | only Devin Desktop |
| Image / Vision Input | December 2, 2025 | November 27, 2024 | Devin Desktop first, 371d ahead |
| Headless / Non-interactive Mode | July 19, 2025 | April 28, 2026 | Codex CLI first, 283d ahead |
| Web Search / Fetch | June 9, 2026 | January 17, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 509d ahead |
| Git / PR Integration | May 7, 2026 | April 2, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 401d ahead |
| Checkpoints / Rewind | December 15, 2025 | — | only Codex CLI |
| Todo / Task List | May 21, 2026 | — | only Codex CLI |
| JetBrains Support | — | November 13, 2024 | only Devin Desktop |
Release velocity
Havoptic tracks 147 Codex CLI releases and 133 Devin Desktop releases. See release frequency charts for side-by-side velocity analysis, or browse the OpenAI Codex CLI changelog and Devin Desktop changelog.
Data source
Feature data is maintained in feature-matrix.json under a CC-BY-4.0 license. Release data comes from releases.json. Both are updated daily. See the methodology page for details on sourcing and human review.