OpenAI Codex CLI: Lightweight coding agent that runs in your terminal

Isn't this similar to https://aider.chat/docs/usage/copypaste.html

Just checked to see how it works. It seems that it does all that you are describing. The difference is in the way that it provides the files - it doesn't use xml format.

If you wish you could /add * to add all your files.

Also deducing from this mode it seems that any file that you add to aider chat with /add has its full contents added to the chat context.

But hey I might be wrong. Did a limited test with 3 files in project.

that’s correct. aider doesn’t RAG on files which is good. I don’t use it because 1) UI is so slow and clunky 2) using gemini 2.5 via api in this way (huge context window) is expensive but also heavily rate limited at this point. No such issue when used via aistudio ui.

You could use aider copy-paste with aistudio ui or any other web chat. You could use gemini-2.0-flash for the aider model that will apply the changes. But I understand your first point.

I also understand having build your own tool to fit your own workflow. And being able to easily mold it to what you need.

yup exactly. as weird workflows emerge it’s nicer to have your own weird tooling around this until we all converge to one optimal way.