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

Resolved 💬 2 comments Opened Sep 19, 2025 by JeffSkynird Closed Jan 10, 2026

What version of the VS Code extension are you using?

0.4.12

Which IDE are you using?

VS Code

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
``

  1. Open EXAMPLE_BUG with the Codex extension.
  2. In the file search box, type @file_hidden.txtNo results (unexpected).
  3. Type @.bug/file_hidden.txtNo results (unexpected).
  4. Type @. → a list appears that includes .bug/file_hidden.txt (only visible after starting with a dot).
  5. Type @visible_folder/file_showing.txtFound (control check; expected).
  6. Type @file_in_root.txtFound (control check; expected).

<img width="432" height="274" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/bc1fed23-d57e-4862-b153-5f64e12f7fb5" />
<img width="432" height="274" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d879dbcc-6c7f-4d4e-af3b-9a6d564f0649" />
<img width="432" height="274" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d2778452-157b-4538-9313-0e246a6be422" />

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.txtNo results (the file .bug/file_hidden.txt is not surfaced).
  • @.bug/file_hidden.txtNo 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.txtFound (works for non-hidden directories).
  • @file_in_root.txtFound (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 CLI version codex-cli 0.36.0

<img width="686" height="322" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/16f02240-8787-4918-a0cc-540b22188288" />

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