Codex becomes agent platform
OpenAI’s Codex just added a plugin system that turns it from a code-completion tool into shareable, agent-like workflows that can automate multi-step developer tasks—and Handshake is running a Codex Creator Challenge for students to build with it. This makes Codex usable for end-to-end flows like linting, testing, deployment, and issue-to-PR automation, not just inline code suggestions. (ghacks.net) (edtechinnovationhub.com)
OpenAI added plugin support to Codex on March 25, 2026, introducing “installable bundles” that can package skills, app integrations, and MCP server configuration for reusable workflows. The plugin capability is available across the Codex app, the IDE extensions, and the Codex CLI, with Codex CLI v0.117.0 published in late March 2026 to support the feature. Initial integrations listed by OpenAI and early reports include Slack, Figma, Notion, Gmail and Google Workspace, plus Cloudflare and Google Drive as example endpoints Codex plugins can connect to. (neowin.net; awesomeagents.ai) OpenAI’s rollout is curated at launch—five curated plugins are highlighted and public self-serve plugin publishing is slated to arrive “soon” rather than at initial release. (awesomeagents.ai; neowin.net) Handshake and OpenAI launched the Codex Creator Challenge on March 24, 2026, offering eligible U.S./Canada university students $100 in Codex credits, with submissions due April 30, 2026 and a virtual showcase and winners announced May 20, 2026. Prizes for the challenge include up to $10,000 in OpenAI API credits and a year of ChatGPT Plus for winners, finalists will have three-minute live presentations, and Handshake will surface submitted projects on student Handshake profiles for employer discovery.
