Codex Account Switcher

You know the ritual:

1. "Oops, wrong account."
2. Logout.
3. Login.
4. Reload.
5. Lose your flow.
6. Mutter things unfit for documentation.

This extension exists because that loop is cursed.

Now you click one status bar item, pick your account, and keep coding like the main character.

Demo

Observe the cursed loop being defeated:

The Vibe

• Before: account-switching side quest every time usage limits, context, or account boundaries get in your way.
• After: one click, one switch, one restart/reload path, back to shipping.
• This is not just a QoL tweak. This is anti-friction technology.

What It Actually Does

• Adds a status bar switcher:
  • $(account) <ActiveAccount> when configured
  • $(tools) Setup when not configured
• Lets you:
  • switch accounts
  • add account snapshots
  • delete account entries
  • open settings fast
• On switch, it:
  • validates snapshot JSON
  • optionally backs up active auth.json
  • swaps snapshot -> active auth.json
  • updates activeAccount
  • restarts extension host (default) or reloads window

Why Restart/Reload Is Needed

Because running tools cache auth state. Swapping files alone does not force live processes to re-read credentials.

Default behavior uses extension host restart (reloadTarget = extensionHost) because it is usually less disruptive than full window reload.

Commands

• codexAccountSwitcher.switchAccount
• codexAccountSwitcher.addAccount
• codexAccountSwitcher.deleteAccount
• codexAccountSwitcher.editAccounts
• codexAccountSwitcher.reloadWindow
• codexAccountSwitcher.exportActiveAuth

Settings

Everything lives under codexAccountSwitcher.*.

• codexHome (string, default "")
• accounts (array of { name, authFile, enabled })
• activeAccount (string)
• confirmBeforeSwitch (boolean, default false)
• backupActiveAuth (boolean, default true)
• ensureFileBasedCreds (boolean, default false)
• reloadTarget ("extensionHost" | "window", default "extensionHost")
• statusBarSide ("right" | "left", default "right")

Example:

{
  "codexAccountSwitcher.accounts": [
    {
      "name": "Personal",
      "authFile": "${codexHome}/auth.personal.json",
      "enabled": true
    },
    {
      "name": "Work",
      "authFile": "${codexHome}/auth.work.json",
      "enabled": true
    }
  ],
  "codexAccountSwitcher.activeAccount": "Personal",
  "codexAccountSwitcher.reloadTarget": "extensionHost"
}

Setup (Fast)

If status bar shows setup mode:

1. click status bar item
2. create/check codexHome
3. add account snapshot
4. switch like a legend

Security (Not Optional)

~/.codex/auth.json and account snapshot files contain sensitive tokens.

• treat them like passwords
• do not commit them
• do not share them
• extension does not log token contents

Power User Notes

• Yes, snapshots can carry account-specific Codex behavior/preferences.
• Yes, that means switching back can restore that account's usual "mode".
• If Codex uses OS keychain auth instead of file-based auth, file swapping may not behave as expected.

Development

• npm run compile
• npm test
• npm run test:integration
• npm run package

Manual release checklist is in TESTING.md.

From "why is this still manual" to "best thing since sliced bread". Next stop: Mars operations, probably.