[VS Code extension] Support opening Codex sessions as full editor tabs

[guanjen375]

What variant of Codex are you using?

IDE Extension

What feature would you like to see?

Feature request

Please add support for opening Codex sessions as normal VS Code editor tabs, similar to how Claude Code works in VS Code.

Current behavior

In the VS Code extension, Codex appears constrained to a side chat / webview-style area or a split editor layout.

Even after using VS Code layout commands such as:

• Close editor group
• Maximize editor group
• Reset editor layout
• Zen Mode
• Full screen mode

Codex still does not provide the same full central editor workspace experience as Claude Code.

Expected behavior

Please add a command such as:

• Codex: Open Session in Editor Area
• Codex: Open Chat as Editor Tab
• Codex: Move Session to Editor Tab

The Codex session should behave like a normal VS Code editor tab:

• It can occupy the main editor area
• It can be moved between editor groups
• It can be maximized
• It works naturally with Zen Mode
• It can be used as the primary coding-agent workspace

Why this matters

For long coding-agent sessions, the current layout is much less comfortable than Claude Code.

Claude Code can occupy the main editor area as a normal tab, which makes it easier to:

• Read long responses
• Review diffs
• Compare code
• Use the agent as the main coding workspace
• Work for long periods without feeling constrained by the side-panel layout

This UI difference makes users less likely to use Codex in VS Code, even if the model itself is useful.

Environment

• IDE: VS Code
• OS: Windows
• Codex extension version: [fill in version]
• Screenshot: attached

Additional information

No response

[21Luck21]

how can we bring this up? :D

[guanjen375]

Thanks! I think the main issue is that Codex currently does not feel like a first-class VS Code editor surface.

A possible way to bring this up internally would be to frame it as a VS Code UX parity request:

Request: Add a command like Codex: Open Session in Editor Area / Open Codex as Editor Tab.

Why: Claude Code can occupy the main editor area as a normal tab, while Codex feels constrained to a side-panel / webview-style layout. For long coding-agent sessions, this makes Codex harder to use as the primary workspace.

Expected UX:

• Codex session can open as a normal VS Code editor tab
• It can be moved between editor groups
• It works with Maximize Editor Group and Zen Mode
• It can occupy the central editor area without feeling like a sidebar/chat panel

I think this would make Codex much more usable for people who want to work with it for long coding sessions inside VS Code.