explaingit

awagoner2019/gpt-codex-custom

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

★ 2JavaScriptAudience · generalComplexity · 4/5Setup · hard

TLDR

An unofficial UI customization layer for the Windows ChatGPT and Codex desktop app that adds chat history, editing, and token usage features.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((gpt codex custom))
    What it does
      Redesigns ChatGPT desktop UI
      Adds chat sidebar and history
      Shows token usage
    Tech stack
      JavaScript
      PowerShell
      Node.js
    Use cases
      Customize ChatGPT desktop interface
      Track token and context usage
      Edit sent messages
    Audience
      ChatGPT desktop app users
      Windows power users
      Developers extending the UI

Code map

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Add a chat history sidebar and message editing to the Windows ChatGPT and Codex desktop app.

USE CASE 2

See real time token usage for input, output, and thinking while chatting.

USE CASE 3

Build custom UI modules on top of the maintained customization codebase.

What is it built with?

JavaScriptNode.jsPowerShell

How does it compare?

awagoner2019/gpt-codex-custom3imed-jaberi/cryptography-si-isamm3imed-jaberi/koa-isomorphic-router
Stars222
LanguageJavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript
Last pushed—2021-09-252021-02-06
Maintenance—DormantDormant
Setup difficultyhardeasyeasy
Complexity4/51/52/5
Audiencegeneralresearcherdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1h+

Requires Windows 10/11, Node.js, PowerShell.NET Framework, and the official ChatGPT/Codex app installed.

No license is stated in the README, and it does not redistribute OpenAI's own software.

In plain English

This project is an unofficial add-on that redesigns the look and feel of the combined ChatGPT and Codex desktop app on Windows. It does not include or redistribute any of OpenAI's own software. Instead, when you run the setup, it works with the official ChatGPT app already installed on your Windows account, or automatically downloads and verifies Microsoft's official signed installer if it is missing, then builds a separate, private working copy that this project customizes. The original installed app itself is never modified or touched. The customization adds a proper Chat section alongside the existing Work and Codex modes, along with a sidebar similar to ChatGPT's website, showing chat history, search, saved projects, and pinned or recent conversations, with options to rename, pin, archive, or delete each chat. It also adds the ability to edit a message you already sent, a smoother full screen viewer for AI generated images, and a side panel showing how many tokens are being used for input, output, and thinking, which is useful for understanding cost and context limits. There is also a small pinboard feature and a custom desktop launcher with a Start Menu shortcut. Because OpenAI's terms do not allow this project to redistribute a modified copy of its official app, every release only ships the customization code itself, not the underlying app. Each user's computer downloads the real ChatGPT app directly from Microsoft, and this project only builds its custom interface layer on top of that private copy. Setup requires Windows 10 or 11, Node.js, PowerShell, and enough free disk space, since it keeps its own separate copy of the app on your machine. The project also includes a source updater with checksum verification and rollback support, and a full guide for developers who want to modify the interface further, covering the internal architecture and testing steps. This is aimed at ChatGPT desktop app users on Windows who want a more customized interface, and at developers who want to build on top of the existing customization code.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Walk me through the fresh setup steps to install this ChatGPT desktop customization on Windows.
Prompt 2
Explain how this project avoids redistributing OpenAI's official app while still customizing it.
Prompt 3
Show me how to modify a UI module under the custom folder and rebuild the project.
Prompt 4
What Windows requirements do I need before running the setup script for this project?

Frequently asked questions

What is gpt-codex-custom?

An unofficial UI customization layer for the Windows ChatGPT and Codex desktop app that adds chat history, editing, and token usage features.

What language is gpt-codex-custom written in?

Mainly JavaScript. The stack also includes JavaScript, Node.js, PowerShell.

What license does gpt-codex-custom use?

No license is stated in the README, and it does not redistribute OpenAI's own software.

How hard is gpt-codex-custom to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated hard, with roughly 1h+ to a first successful run.

Who is gpt-codex-custom for?

Mainly general.

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