What changed in the major AI coding CLIs?
Codex shipped 150+ updates in 2 months, including GPT-5.6 Ultra Mode and SLGO for parallel multi-agent SEO workflows [7000]. OpenAI updated Codex with mobile control via ChatGPT app, DigitalOcean cloud workspaces, multi-agent parallel workflows, and indexed web search [6999]. Google released Gemma 4 with MTP drafters enabling up to 3x faster local inference, and the 31B model improved from 20.8% to 89% on AIME [6997]. Anthropic released an official skill for Claude Code that enforces aesthetic direction before coding, with 161k+ stars and 277k+ installs [6996]. A GitHub repository allows free Claude Code usage by redirecting traffic to free providers like DeepSeek and Kimi [6993]. Anthropic makes Fable 5 access standard at 50% usage for plans that use it most intensively [6990]. Anthropic launches Claude for Teachers, offering free premium Claude capabilities to verified K-12 educators in the US [6989]. Starting July 20, Claude Fable 5 will be included in Max and Team Premium plans at 50% limits; Pro and Team Standard users get $100 credit [6988]. Claude Code received numerous fixes including permission checks, session stability, and UI improvements [6987-6954, 6977, 6976, 6975, 6974, 6973, 6972, 6971, 6970, 6969, 6968, 6967, 6966, 6965, 6964, 6963, 6962, 6961, 6960, 6959, 6958, 6957, 6956, 6955, 6954].[42]
Codex shipped 150+ updates in 2 months, including GPT-5.6 Ultra Mode and SLGO [7000]. OpenAI updated Codex with mobile control, cloud workspaces, multi-agent workflows, and indexed web search [6999]. Google released Gemma 4 with MTP drafters [6997]. Anthropic released an official skill for Claude Code enforcing aesthetic direction [6996]. A GitHub repository enabled free Claude Code usage via free providers [6993]. Anthropic standardized Fable 5 access at 50% for intensive plans [6990]. Claude for Teachers launched [6989]. Starting July 20, Fable 5 included in Max and Team Premium at 50% limits [6988]. Claude Code received a large batch of fixes and improvements [6987-6954].[42]
Spriterrific, an AI-powered sprite generation tool, is nearing release and will support agent-first integration with Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, etc. [6995]. Anthropic's hackathon ended, introducing winners [6992]. Starting July 20, Claude Fable 5 included in Max and Team Premium at 50% limits [6988].[3]
Updated to reflect Codex's 150+ updates including GPT-5.6 Ultra Mode and SLGO, Google's Gemma 4 with MTP drafters, Anthropic's official skill for Claude Code, free Claude Code usage via redirect, standardized Fable 5 access, Claude for Teachers launch, and upcoming Spriterrific release. Added many new Claude Code fixes and improvements.