## Why
The previous `codex-tools` migration steps moved the shared schema
models, local-host specs, collaboration specs, and related adapters out
of `codex-core`, but `core/src/tools/spec.rs` still contained a grab bag
of pure utility tool builders. Those specs do not need session state or
handler logic; they only describe wire shapes for tools that
`codex-core` already knows how to execute.
Moving that remaining low-coupling layer into `codex-tools` keeps the
migration moving in meaningful chunks and trims another large block of
passive tool-spec construction out of `codex-core` without touching the
runtime-coupled handlers.
## What changed
- extended `codex-tools` to own the pure spec builders for:
- code-mode `exec` / `wait`
- `js_repl` / `js_repl_reset`
- MCP resource tools `list_mcp_resources`,
`list_mcp_resource_templates`, and `read_mcp_resource`
- utility tools `list_dir` and `test_sync_tool`
- split those builders across small module files with sibling
`*_tests.rs` coverage, keeping `src/lib.rs` exports-only
- rewired `core/src/tools/spec.rs` to call the extracted builders and
deleted the duplicated core-local implementations
- moved the direct JS REPL grammar seam test out of
`core/src/tools/spec_tests.rs` so it now lives with the extracted
implementation in `codex-tools`
- updated `codex-rs/tools/README.md` so the documented crate boundary
matches the new utility-spec surface
## Test plan
- `CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/tmp/codex-tools-utility-specs cargo test -p
codex-tools`
- `CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/tmp/codex-core-utility-specs cargo test -p
codex-core --lib tools::spec::`
- `just fix -p codex-tools -p codex-core`
- `just argument-comment-lint`
## References
- #15923
- #15928
- #15944
- #15953
- #16031
- #16047
- #16129
- #16132
- #16138
- #16141
## Why
The recent `codex-tools` migration steps have moved shared tool models
and low-coupling spec helpers out of `codex-core`, but
`core/src/tools/spec.rs` still owned a large block of pure
collaboration-tool spec construction. Those builders do not need session
state or runtime behavior; they only need a small amount of core-owned
configuration injected at the seam.
Moving that cohesive slice into `codex-tools` makes the crate boundary
more honest and removes a substantial amount of passive tool-spec logic
from `codex-core` without trying to move the runtime-coupled multi-agent
handlers at the same time.
## What changed
- added `agent_tool.rs`, `request_user_input_tool.rs`, and
`agent_job_tool.rs` to `codex-tools`, with sibling `*_tests.rs` coverage
and an exports-only `lib.rs`
- moved the pure `ToolSpec` builders for:
- collaboration tools such as `spawn_agent`, `send_input`,
`send_message`, `assign_task`, `resume_agent`, `wait_agent`,
`list_agents`, and `close_agent`
- `request_user_input`
- agent-job specs `spawn_agents_on_csv` and `report_agent_job_result`
- rewired `core/src/tools/spec.rs` to call the extracted builders while
still supplying the core-owned inputs, such as spawn-agent role
descriptions and wait timeout bounds
- updated the `core/src/tools/spec.rs` seam tests to build expected
collaboration specs through `codex-tools`
- updated `codex-rs/tools/README.md` so the crate documentation reflects
the broader collaboration-tool boundary
## Test plan
- `CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/tmp/codex-tools-collab-specs cargo test -p
codex-tools`
- `CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/tmp/codex-core-collab-specs cargo test -p
codex-core --lib tools::spec::`
- `just fix -p codex-tools -p codex-core`
- `just argument-comment-lint`
## References
- #15923
- #15928
- #15944
- #15953
- #16031
- #16047
- #16129
- #16132
- #16138
## Why
`core/src/tools/spec.rs` still bundled a set of pure local-host tool
builders with the orchestration that actually decides when those tools
are exposed and which handlers back them. That made `codex-core`
responsible for JSON/tool-shape construction that does not depend on
session state, and it kept the `codex-tools` migration from taking a
meaningfully larger bite out of `spec.rs`.
This PR moves that reusable spec-building layer into `codex-tools` while
leaving feature gating, handler registration, and runtime-coupled
descriptions in `codex-core`.
## What changed
- added `codex-rs/tools/src/local_tool.rs` for the pure builders for
`exec_command`, `write_stdin`, `shell`, `shell_command`, and
`request_permissions`
- added `codex-rs/tools/src/view_image.rs` for the `view_image` tool
spec and output schema so the extracted modules stay right-sized
- rewired `codex-rs/core/src/tools/spec.rs` to call those extracted
builders instead of constructing these specs inline
- kept the `request_permissions` description source in `codex-core`,
with `codex-tools` taking the description as input so the crate boundary
does not grow a dependency on handler/runtime code
- moved the direct constructor coverage for this slice from
`codex-rs/core/src/tools/spec_tests.rs` into
`codex-rs/tools/src/local_tool_tests.rs` and
`codex-rs/tools/src/view_image_tests.rs`
- updated `codex-rs/tools/README.md` to reflect that `codex-tools` now
owns this local-host spec layer
## Test plan
- `CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/tmp/codex-tools-local-host cargo test -p
codex-tools`
- `CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/tmp/codex-core-local-tools cargo test -p codex-core
--lib tools::spec::`
- `just argument-comment-lint`
## References
- #15923
- #15928
- #15944
- #15953
- #16031
- #16047
- #16129
- #16132
## Why
The longer-term `codex-tools` migration is to move pure tool-definition
and tool-spec plumbing out of `codex-core` while leaving session- and
runtime-coupled orchestration behind.
The remaining code-mode adapter layer in
`core/src/tools/code_mode_description.rs` was a good next extraction
seam because it only transformed `ToolSpec` values for code mode and
already delegated the low-level description rendering to
`codex-code-mode`.
## What Changed
- added `codex-rs/tools/src/code_mode.rs` with
`augment_tool_spec_for_code_mode()` and
`tool_spec_to_code_mode_tool_definition()`
- added focused unit coverage in `codex-rs/tools/src/code_mode_tests.rs`
- rewired `core/src/tools/spec.rs` and `core/src/tools/code_mode/mod.rs`
to use the extracted adapters from `codex-tools`
- removed the old `core/src/tools/code_mode_description.rs` shim and its
test file from `codex-core`
- added the `codex-code-mode` dependency to `codex-tools`, updated
`Cargo.lock`, and refreshed the `codex-tools` README to reflect the
expanded boundary
## Test Plan
- `cargo test -p codex-tools`
- `CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/tmp/codex-core-code-mode-adapters cargo test -p
codex-core --lib tools::spec::`
- `CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/tmp/codex-core-code-mode-adapters cargo test -p
codex-core --lib tools::code_mode::`
- `just bazel-lock-update`
- `just bazel-lock-check`
- `just argument-comment-lint`
## References
- #15923
- #15928
- #15944
- #15953
- #16031
- #16047
- #16129
## Why
This continues the `codex-tools` migration by moving another passive
tool-spec layer out of `codex-core`.
After `ToolSpec` moved into `codex-tools`, `codex-core` still owned
`ConfiguredToolSpec` and `create_tools_json_for_responses_api()`. Both
are data-model and serialization helpers rather than runtime
orchestration, so keeping them in `core/src/tools/registry.rs` and
`core/src/tools/spec.rs` left passive tool-definition code coupled to
`codex-core` longer than necessary.
## What changed
- moved `ConfiguredToolSpec` into `codex-rs/tools/src/tool_spec.rs`
- moved `create_tools_json_for_responses_api()` into
`codex-rs/tools/src/tool_spec.rs`
- re-exported the new surface from `codex-rs/tools/src/lib.rs`, which
remains exports-only
- updated `core/src/client.rs`, `core/src/tools/registry.rs`, and
`core/src/tools/router.rs` to consume the extracted types and serializer
from `codex-tools`
- moved the tool-list serialization test into
`codex-rs/tools/src/tool_spec_tests.rs`
- added focused unit coverage for `ConfiguredToolSpec::name()`
- simplified `core/src/tools/spec_tests.rs` to use the extracted
`ConfiguredToolSpec::name()` directly and removed the now-redundant
local `tool_name()` helper
- updated `codex-rs/tools/README.md` so the crate boundary reflects the
newly extracted tool-spec wrapper and serialization helper
## Test plan
- `cargo test -p codex-tools`
- `CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/tmp/codex-core-configured-spec cargo test -p
codex-core --lib tools::spec::`
- `CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/tmp/codex-core-configured-spec cargo test -p
codex-core --lib client::`
- `just fix -p codex-tools -p codex-core`
- `just argument-comment-lint`
## References
- #15923
- #15928
- #15944
- #15953
- #16031
- #16047
## Why
This continues the `codex-tools` migration by moving another passive
tool-definition layer out of `codex-core`.
After `ResponsesApiTool` and the lower-level schema adapters moved into
`codex-tools`, `core/src/client_common.rs` was still owning `ToolSpec`
and the web-search request wire types even though they are serialized
data models rather than runtime orchestration. Keeping those types in
`codex-core` makes the crate boundary look smaller than it really is and
leaves non-runtime tool-shape code coupled to core.
## What changed
- moved `ToolSpec`, `ResponsesApiWebSearchFilters`, and
`ResponsesApiWebSearchUserLocation` into
`codex-rs/tools/src/tool_spec.rs`
- added focused unit tests in `codex-rs/tools/src/tool_spec_tests.rs`
for:
- `ToolSpec::name()`
- web-search config conversions
- `ToolSpec` serialization for `web_search` and `tool_search`
- kept `codex-rs/tools/src/lib.rs` exports-only by re-exporting the new
module from `lib.rs`
- reduced `core/src/client_common.rs` to a compatibility shim that
re-exports the extracted tool-spec types for current core call sites
- updated `core/src/tools/spec_tests.rs` to consume the extracted
web-search types directly from `codex-tools`
- updated `codex-rs/tools/README.md` so the crate contract reflects that
`codex-tools` now owns the passive tool-spec request models in addition
to the lower-level Responses API structs
## Test plan
- `cargo test -p codex-tools`
- `cargo test -p codex-core --lib tools::spec::`
- `cargo test -p codex-core --lib client_common::`
- `just fix -p codex-tools -p codex-core`
- `just argument-comment-lint`
## References
- #15923
- #15928
- #15944
- #15953
- #16031
## Why
The previous extraction steps moved shared tool-schema parsing into
`codex-tools`, but `codex-core` still owned the generic Responses API
tool models and the last adapter layer that turned parsed tool
definitions into `ResponsesApiTool` values.
That left `core/src/tools/spec.rs` and `core/src/client_common.rs`
holding a chunk of tool-shaping code that does not need session state,
runtime plumbing, or any other `codex-core`-specific dependency. As a
result, `codex-tools` owned the parsed tool definition, but `codex-core`
still owned the generic wire model that those definitions are converted
into.
This change moves that boundary one step further. `codex-tools` now owns
the reusable Responses/tool wire structs and the shared conversion
helpers for dynamic tools, MCP tools, and deferred MCP aliases.
`codex-core` continues to own `ToolSpec` orchestration and the remaining
web-search-specific request shapes.
## What changed
- added `tools/src/responses_api.rs` to own `ResponsesApiTool`,
`FreeformTool`, `ToolSearchOutputTool`, namespace output types, and the
shared `ToolDefinition -> ResponsesApiTool` adapter helpers
- added `tools/src/responses_api_tests.rs` for deferred-loading
behavior, adapter coverage, and namespace serialization coverage
- rewired `core/src/tools/spec.rs` to use the extracted dynamic/MCP
adapter helpers instead of defining those conversions locally
- rewired `core/src/tools/handlers/tool_search.rs` to use the extracted
deferred MCP adapter and namespace output types directly
- slimmed `core/src/client_common.rs` so it now keeps `ToolSpec` and the
web-search-specific wire types, while reusing the extracted tool models
from `codex-tools`
- moved the extracted seam tests out of `core` and updated
`codex-rs/tools/README.md` plus `tools/src/lib.rs` to reflect the
expanded `codex-tools` boundary
## Test plan
- `cargo test -p codex-tools`
- `cargo test -p codex-core --lib tools::spec::`
- `cargo test -p codex-core --lib tools::handlers::tool_search::`
- `just fix -p codex-tools -p codex-core`
- `just argument-comment-lint`
## References
- [#15923](https://github.com/openai/codex/pull/15923) `codex-tools:
extract shared tool schema parsing`
- [#15928](https://github.com/openai/codex/pull/15928) `codex-tools:
extract MCP schema adapters`
- [#15944](https://github.com/openai/codex/pull/15944) `codex-tools:
extract dynamic tool adapters`
- [#15953](https://github.com/openai/codex/pull/15953) `codex-tools:
introduce named tool definitions`
## Why
This continues the `codex-tools` migration by moving one more piece of
generic tool-definition bookkeeping out of `codex-core`.
The earlier extraction steps moved shared schema parsing into
`codex-tools`, but `core/src/tools/spec.rs` still had to supply tool
names separately and perform ad hoc rewrites for deferred MCP aliases.
That meant the crate boundary was still awkward: the parsed shape coming
back from `codex-tools` was missing part of the definition that
`codex-core` ultimately needs to assemble a `ResponsesApiTool`.
This change introduces a named `ToolDefinition` in `codex-tools` so both
MCP tools and dynamic tools cross the crate boundary in the same
reusable model. `codex-core` still owns the final `ResponsesApiTool`
assembly, but less of the generic tool-definition shaping logic stays
behind in `core`.
## What changed
- replaced `ParsedToolDefinition` with a named `ToolDefinition` in
`codex-rs/tools/src/tool_definition.rs`
- added `codex-rs/tools/src/tool_definition_tests.rs` for `renamed()`
and `into_deferred()`
- updated `parse_dynamic_tool()` and `parse_mcp_tool()` to return
`ToolDefinition`
- simplified `codex-rs/core/src/tools/spec.rs` so it adapts
`ToolDefinition` into `ResponsesApiTool` instead of rewriting names and
deferred fields inline
- updated parser tests and `codex-rs/tools/README.md` to reflect the
named tool-definition model
## Test plan
- `cargo test -p codex-tools`
- `cargo test -p codex-core --lib tools::spec::`
## Why
`codex-tools` already owned the shared JSON schema parser and the MCP
tool schema adapter, but `core/src/tools/spec.rs` still parsed dynamic
tools directly.
That left the tool-schema boundary split in two different ways:
- MCP tools flowed through `codex-tools`, while dynamic tools were still
parsed in `codex-core`
- the extracted dynamic-tool path initially introduced a
dynamic-specific parsed shape even though `codex-tools` already had very
similar MCP adapter output
This change finishes that extraction boundary in one step. `codex-core`
still owns `ResponsesApiTool` assembly, but both MCP tools and dynamic
tools now enter that layer through `codex-tools` using the same parsed
tool-definition shape.
## What changed
- added `tools/src/dynamic_tool.rs` and sibling
`tools/src/dynamic_tool_tests.rs`
- introduced `parse_dynamic_tool()` in `codex-tools` and switched
`core/src/tools/spec.rs` to use it for dynamic tools
- added `tools/src/parsed_tool_definition.rs` so both MCP and dynamic
adapters return the same `ParsedToolDefinition`
- updated `core/src/tools/spec.rs` to build `ResponsesApiTool` through a
shared local adapter helper instead of separate MCP and dynamic assembly
paths
- expanded `core/src/tools/spec_tests.rs` so the dynamic-tool adapter
test asserts the full converted `ResponsesApiTool`, including
`defer_loading`
- updated `codex-rs/tools/README.md` to reflect the shared parsed
tool-definition boundary
## Test plan
- `cargo test -p codex-tools`
- `cargo test -p codex-core --lib tools::spec::`
---
[//]: # (BEGIN SAPLING FOOTER)
Stack created with [Sapling](https://sapling-scm.com). Best reviewed
with [ReviewStack](https://reviewstack.dev/openai/codex/pull/15944).
* #15953
* __->__ #15944
## Why
`codex-tools` already owns the shared tool input schema model and parser
from the first extraction step, but `core/src/tools/spec.rs` still owned
the MCP-specific adapter that normalizes `rmcp::model::Tool` schemas and
wraps `structuredContent` into the call result output schema.
Keeping that adapter in `codex-core` means the reusable MCP schema path
is still split across crates, and the unit tests for that logic stay
anchored in `codex-core` even though the runtime orchestration does not
need to move yet.
This change takes the next small step by moving the reusable MCP schema
adapter into `codex-tools` while leaving `ResponsesApiTool` assembly in
`codex-core`.
## What changed
- added `tools/src/mcp_tool.rs` and sibling
`tools/src/mcp_tool_tests.rs`
- introduced `ParsedMcpTool`, `parse_mcp_tool()`, and
`mcp_call_tool_result_output_schema()` in `codex-tools`
- updated `core/src/tools/spec.rs` to consume parsed MCP tool parts from
`codex-tools`
- removed the now-redundant MCP schema unit tests from
`core/src/tools/spec_tests.rs`
- expanded `codex-rs/tools/README.md` to describe this second migration
step
## Test plan
- `cargo test -p codex-tools`
- `cargo test -p codex-core --lib tools::spec::`
## Why
`parse_tool_input_schema` and the supporting `JsonSchema` model were
living in `core/src/tools/spec.rs`, but they already serve callers
outside `codex-core`.
Keeping that shared schema parsing logic inside `codex-core` makes the
crate boundary harder to reason about and works against the guidance in
`AGENTS.md` to avoid growing `codex-core` when reusable code can live
elsewhere.
This change takes the first extraction step by moving the schema parsing
primitive into its own crate while keeping the rest of the tool-spec
assembly in `codex-core`.
## What changed
- added a new `codex-tools` crate under `codex-rs/tools`
- moved the shared tool input schema model and sanitizer/parser into
`tools/src/json_schema.rs`
- kept `tools/src/lib.rs` exports-only, with the module-level unit tests
split into `json_schema_tests.rs`
- updated `codex-core` to use `codex-tools::JsonSchema` and re-export
`parse_tool_input_schema`
- updated `codex-app-server` dynamic tool validation to depend on
`codex-tools` directly instead of reaching through `codex-core`
- wired the new crate into the Cargo workspace and Bazel build graph
Michael Bolin ·