Codex suggests incorrect upgrade command: `npm install -g codex` instead of `npm install -g @openai/codex`
Bug Description
When asking Codex how to upgrade itself, it provides an incorrect npm package name, causing users to accidentally install a completely different (and ancient) package.
## Steps to Reproduce
- Ask Codex: "How do I upgrade Codex?"
- Codex asks for the path via
command -v codex - After providing the path (
/home/user/.nvm/versions/node/v22.x.x/bin/codex), Codex recommends:
```bash
npm install -g codex # ❌ WRONG
- User runs the command → fails with errors
- Codex then suggests backing up the old binary and retrying the same wrong command
- User gives up and asks Claude Code, which immediately provides the correct command and successfully upgrades Codex 😅
Expected Behavior
Codex should recommend the correct command:
npm install -g @openai/codex # ✅ CORRECT
What Actually Happens
The command npm install -g codex attempts to install https://www.npmjs.com/package/codex - a completely different package from 2012 (a documentation generator) that:
- Requires Node.js 0.4.x - 0.7.x (ancient!)
- Has tons of deprecated dependencies
- Fails with EEXIST error because the real Codex binary already exists
Error Output
npm warn EBADENGINE Unsupported engine {
npm warn EBADENGINE package: 'connect@1.8.7',
npm warn EBADENGINE required: { node: '>= 0.4.1 < 0.7.0' },
npm warn EBADENGINE current: { node: 'v22.21.1', npm: '11.7.0' }
npm warn EBADENGINE }
npm warn deprecated jade@0.26.3: Jade has been renamed to pug...
npm warn deprecated connect@1.8.7: connect 1.x series is deprecated
npm error code EEXIST
npm error path /home/user/.nvm/versions/node/v22.21.1/bin/codex
npm error EEXIST: file already exists
The Irony
Codex couldn't upgrade itself. Claude Code did it in one try with npm update -g @openai/codex.
Environment
- Codex CLI version: 0.80.0 → 0.86.0 (after Claude Code fixed it)
- Node.js: v22.21.1
- npm: 11.7.0
- OS: Ubuntu (WSL2)
Suggested Fix
Update Codex's response logic to always use the scoped package name @openai/codex when suggesting installation or upgrade commands.
┌──────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ Incorrect │ Correct │
├──────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ npm install -g codex │ npm install -g @openai/codex │
├──────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ npm update -g codex │ npm update -g @openai/codex │
└──────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
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