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yushua0808-cpu/dragon-codex-boot

Community launcher that plays a custom startup animation for the Codex desktop app, then hands off to the live app window on Windows and macOS.

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21 days ago

What is it?

Dragon Codex Boot is an unofficial launcher for the Codex desktop client that plays a custom startup video before the app appears. On Windows, the animation's final screen is filled with a live DWM thumbnail of the real Codex window, which fades in as the animation ends, so the user can keep working once the video finishes. A separate macOS launcher, built in Swift, covers the same idea with a fade-out handoff and an optional login watcher that times the animation to the Codex window.

The Windows version is a C# WPF application configured through a JSON file that sets the wait point, transition timing and screen rectangle keyframes for a given video. It can also detect and replace existing Codex shortcuts with the launcher, backing up originals and providing a restore script. A bundled 1080p animation is included, and an import script lets users swap in their own MP4.

The project is MIT licensed and states that it is not affiliated with OpenAI. Timing and coordinates must be adjusted for any video other than the bundled one.

Key features

  • 01Plays a custom MP4 startup animation in a centered 1920 by 1080 window on Windows.
  • 02Hands off to the real Codex window using DWM live thumbnails on Windows.
  • 03Lets users skip playback with Esc.
  • 04Provides a macOS launcher with an optional login watcher and a standalone build.
  • 05Backs up and restores replaced shortcuts through a restore script.

Use cases

  • Personalizing the startup splash of the Codex desktop app with your own animation.
  • Trying out a custom intro video for a desktop app without modifying the app itself.
  • Studying how a WPF launcher uses DWM thumbnails to blend an animation into a live window.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Download the Windows zip from the Releases page and extract it to a permanent folder

  2. 2

    Double-click DragonCodexBoot.exe to play the animation and enter the Codex client

  3. 3

    To build from source, run the test and build script from the repository root

    powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\scripts\test.ps1

Things to know

  • Windows and macOS only, and it requires the installed Codex desktop app.
  • On first run it automatically replaces matching Start menu and desktop shortcuts, which you may need to restore manually.
  • Timing and screen coordinates in the config are tailored to the bundled video and must be adjusted for other videos.
  • The Windows version needs .NET Framework 4.8 and Windows media components to play the video.

In collections

Windows apps and utilitiesAI coding assistants & agentsOpen-source Mac appsDesktop GUI apps & toolkits

Topics

#windows#macos#wpf#swift#startup-animation#desktop-app#launcher#codex

FAQ

What is dragon-codex-boot?
Community launcher that plays a custom startup animation for the Codex desktop app, then hands off to the live app window on Windows and macOS. Dragon Codex Boot is an unofficial launcher for the Codex desktop client that plays a custom startup video before the app appears. On Windows, the animation's final screen is filled with a live DWM thumbnail of the real Codex window, which fades in as the animation ends, so the user can keep working once the video finishes. A separate macOS launcher, built in Swift, covers the same idea with a fade-out handoff and an optional login watcher that times the animation to the Codex window.
Is dragon-codex-boot free to use? What license does it have?
dragon-codex-boot is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is dragon-codex-boot still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to dragon-codex-boot was on Oct 17, 2026.
What can I use dragon-codex-boot for?
Personalizing the startup splash of the Codex desktop app with your own animation. Trying out a custom intro video for a desktop app without modifying the app itself. Studying how a WPF launcher uses DWM thumbnails to blend an animation into a live window.
How do I install dragon-codex-boot?
Download the Windows zip from the Releases page and extract it to a permanent folder Double-click DragonCodexBoot.exe to play the animation and enter the Codex client To build from source, run the test and build script from the repository root: powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\scripts\test.ps1
Where can I get dragon-codex-boot?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/yushua0808-cpu/dragon-codex-boot

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