Codex Performance Patch For Intel Mac

A small, reversible performance patch for Intel macOS systems running Codex with AMD or NVIDIA graphics.

This project does not modify the signed Codex application bundle. It adjusts local Codex desktop preferences, installs a low-impact launcher, creates a macOS app shortcut by default, and can install an optional GitHub CLI wrapper that reduces repeated gh pr list load.

Prerequisites

• macOS on Intel (x86_64)
• AMD or NVIDIA GPU
• Codex already installed
• GitHub CLI (gh) only if you want the optional gh pr list wrapper

Apple Silicon and Intel-only integrated graphics are not supported in this v1 profile.

What The Patch Changes

The balanced Intel GPU profile updates ~/.codex/config.toml under [desktop]:

ambient-suggestions-enabled = false
animations = false
show_tooltips = false
terminal_resize_reflow_max_rows = 800

The installer also copies a launcher to ~/.local/bin/codex-low-impact and creates a Finder, Spotlight, and Dock-friendly app shortcut at ~/Applications/Codex Low Impact.app. Both launch Codex with lower-impact Electron GPU flags.

codex-low-impact

You can also open:

~/Applications/Codex Low Impact.app

The optional gh wrapper is installed at ~/.local/share/codex-performance-patch/bin/gh. It only caches and lowers priority for gh pr list; all other gh commands are passed to the real GitHub CLI unchanged.

Install

Review the dry run first:

./install.sh --dry-run

Run the safe interactive installer:

./install.sh

Install without prompts:

./install.sh --yes

Install with the optional gh pr list wrapper:

./install.sh --enable-gh-wrapper

Use a nonstandard Codex app path:

./install.sh --codex-app "/Applications/Codex.app"

Skip the macOS app shortcut and install only the CLI launcher:

./install.sh --disable-app-shortcut

Uninstall

Remove installed launcher, app shortcut, and wrapper files:

./uninstall.sh

Restore the latest saved Codex config backup while uninstalling:

./uninstall.sh --restore-latest-backup

Backups are stored under:

~/.codex/backups/codex-performance-patch/

Safety Model

• The installer creates timestamped backups before changing Codex config.
• The installer does not edit /Applications/Codex.app or any signed application bundle.
• The macOS app shortcut is generated under ~/Applications and delegates to the installed low-impact launcher.
• Shell profile changes are prompted before they are written.
• The optional gh wrapper is opt-in.
• The uninstaller removes this project’s installed files only.

Troubleshooting

If codex-low-impact is not found, either open a new terminal or run the installed launcher directly:

~/.local/bin/codex-low-impact

If the optional gh wrapper is installed but not active, make sure this directory appears before the real GitHub CLI in PATH:

~/.local/share/codex-performance-patch/bin

To check Codex after installing:

codex doctor --summary --ascii

Development

Run local checks:

scripts/test.sh
scripts/privacy-check.sh

The test script uses a temporary HOME fixture and does not touch your real Codex config.