nikivdev/code · error

codex error: {}

Error message

codex error: {}

What it means

When the JSON-RPC response with the expected id arrives but contains an "error" member, the tool surfaces it as `codex error: <message>` via bail!. This propagates an application-level error from the codex app-server itself, distinct from transport failures.

Source

Thrown at src/commit.rs:4748

            Err(RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected) => bail!("codex app-server reader disconnected"),
        }
    }
}

/// Read lines until a JSON-RPC response with the expected id arrives.
fn codex_read_response(
    rx: &std::sync::mpsc::Receiver<CodexAppServerEvent>,
    expected_id: u64,
    deadline: std::time::Instant,
) -> Result<serde_json::Value> {
    loop {
        let msg = match codex_read_next_message(rx, deadline)? {
            CodexReadOutcome::Message(msg) => msg,
            CodexReadOutcome::TimedOut => bail!("codex app-server response timed out"),
        };
        if msg.get("id").and_then(|id| id.as_u64()) == Some(expected_id) {
            if let Some(err) = msg.get("error") {
                bail!(
                    "codex error: {}",
                    err.get("message")
                        .and_then(|m| m.as_str())
                        .unwrap_or("unknown error")
                );
            }
            return Ok(msg);
        }
    }
}

fn codex_read_response_with_notifications<F>(
    rx: &std::sync::mpsc::Receiver<CodexAppServerEvent>,
    expected_id: u64,
    deadline: std::time::Instant,
    mut on_notification: F,
) -> Result<serde_json::Value>
where

View on GitHub (pinned to a747e741ae)

Solutions

1. Read the message after `codex error:` — it states codex's own reason.
2. Fix authentication/config for codex if the message indicates auth problems.
3. Align codex and tool versions if the error indicates an unknown method or bad params.
4. Retry later if the error reflects rate limiting or upstream model unavailability.

match codex_review() {
    Err(e) if e.to_string().starts_with("codex error:") => {
        let reason = &e.to_string()["codex error:".len()..];
        eprintln!("codex rejected the request: {reason}");
    }
    other => other?,
}

When it happens

Trigger: Receiving a JSON-RPC response whose id matches the pending request and whose "error" object is populated (e.g. invalid request, auth failure, model error).

Common situations: Expired or missing codex credentials; unsupported method/params after a codex version change; rate limits or upstream model errors reported by codex.

Related errors

• codex app-server response timed out
• codex app-server error: {}
• fzf not found on PATH – install it to use fuzzy selection.
• connect is only supported for Codex sessions; use `f codex c
• runtime helpers are only supported for Codex sessions; use `

AI-assisted analysis of nikivdev/code@a747e741ae (2026-09-01). Data as JSON: /api/errors/96ee9af5ccc8fb90. Report an issue: GitHub.