Add pet support to the Codex IDE extension for VS Code
Resolved 💬 0 comments Opened Aug 5, 2026 by jacksongithub0425 Closed Aug 5, 2026
Feature request
Please add pet support to the Codex IDE extension for VS Code.
Codex CLI already supports pets through /pets and /pet, while the IDE extension currently has no pet picker or pet overlay. Bringing the same feature to VS Code would make long-running Codex tasks easier and more enjoyable to monitor without leaving the editor.
Suggested behavior
- Add a pet picker in the Codex IDE extension settings or command palette.
- Show a small animated pet inside the Codex panel or status area.
- Reflect the existing activity states: Running, Needs input, Ready, and Blocked.
- Support built-in pets and compatible custom pets.
- If possible, sync the selected custom pet with the user's ChatGPT/Codex account instead of requiring a separate installation.
- Include an option to disable the pet and respect reduced-motion settings.
Why this would be useful
VS Code users often keep Codex running while reviewing or editing other files. A compact visual status indicator would make it easier to notice when Codex needs input or has completed a task, while adding some personality consistent with the desktop app and CLI experience.
Official Pets documentation currently notes that the IDE extension does not provide a pet picker or floating overlay:
https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/pets