## Summary
This PR refactors the Codex CLI authentication flow so that
**non-OpenAI** providers (for example **azure**, or any future addition)
can supply their API key through a dedicated environment variable
without triggering the OpenAI login flow.
Key behaviours introduced:
* When `provider !== "openai"` the CLI consults `src/utils/providers.ts`
to locate the correct environment variable (`AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY`,
`GEMINI_API_KEY`, and so on) before considering any interactive login.
* Credit redemption (`--free`) and PKCE login now run **only** when the
provider is OpenAI, eliminating unwanted browser prompts for Azure and
others.
* User-facing error messages are revamped to guide Azure users to
**[https://ai.azure.com/](https://ai.azure.com)** and show the exact
variable name they must set.
* All code paths still export `OPENAI_API_KEY` so legacy scripts
continue to operate unchanged.
---
## Example `config.json`
```jsonc
{
"model": "codex-mini",
"provider": "azure",
"providers": {
"azure": {
"name": "AzureOpenAI",
"baseURL": "https://ai-<project-name>.openai.azure.com/openai",
"envKey": "AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY"
}
},
"history": {
"maxSize": 1000,
"saveHistory": true,
"sensitivePatterns": []
}
}
```
With this file in `~/.codex/config.json`, a single command line is
enough:
```bash
export AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY="<your-key>"
codex "Hello from Azure"
```
No browser window opens, and the CLI works in entirely non-interactive
mode.
---
## Rationale
The new flow enables Codex to run **asynchronously** in sandboxed
environments such as GitHub Actions pipelines. By passing `--provider
azure` (or setting it in `config.json`) and exporting the correct key,
CI/CD jobs can invoke Codex without any ChatGPT-style login or PKCE
round-trip. This unlocks fully automated testing and deployment
scenarios.
---
## What’s changed
| File | Type | Description |
| ------------------------ | ------------------- |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| `codex-cli/src/cli.tsx` | **feat / refactor** | +43 / -20 lines.
Imports `providers`, adds early provider-specific key lookup, gates
`--free` redemption, rewrites help text. |
| `src/utils/providers.ts` | **chore** | Now consumed by CLI for env-var
discovery. |
---
## How to test
```bash
# Azure example
export AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY="<your-key>"
codex --provider azure "Automated run in CI"
# OpenAI example (unchanged behaviour)
codex --provider openai --login "Standard OpenAI flow"
```
Expected outcomes:
* Azure and other provider paths are non-interactive when provider flag
is passed.
* The CLI always sets `OPENAI_API_KEY` for backward compatibility.
---
## Checklist
* [x] Logic behind provider-specific env-var lookup added.
* [x] Redundant OpenAI login steps removed for other providers.
* [x] Unit tests cover new branches.
* [x] README and sample config updated.
* [x] CI passes on all supported Node versions.
---
**Related work**
* #92
* #769
* #1321
I have read the CLA Document and I hereby sign the CLA.
5aafe190e2