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CC GUI is not a shell around one model. The provider picker under the input box decides which runtime handles this request.

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Compare them

Gemini may appear in UI copy, but a standalone runtime is not shipped yet. This documentation does not cover Gemini.
For detection and PATH troubleshooting, see Detect and install.

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How to choose

  • You want the full permission dialogs, plan mode, MCP, and Skills: use Claude Code
  • You want the OpenAI / Codex ecosystem: use Codex
  • You already use Grok, Kimi, OpenCode, or Pi in a terminal: switch to that engine. The extension only detects and chats. It does not install for you
You can switch providers in the same workspace. History is isolated by runtime, so an old Grok session does not mix into Claude. The local history index currently covers Claude / Codex / Grok only. Kimi / OpenCode / Pi can chat, but History does not list those sessions. See Sessions, tabs, and history.

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Check these before you switch

  1. Node.js 20+ is filled in. See Prepare your environment
  2. The Claude / Codex SDK is installed
  3. A CLI provider shows as installed in Settings → Provider management → CLI
  4. The current provider has an enabled set of credentials
If an SDK is missing, the chat area says so and offers Go to install.

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Where to configure

Every provider lives in Settings → Provider management, on three subpages:
  • Claude Code: official direct, third-party presets, local settings.json, CLI login
  • Codex: official direct, local ~/.codex/, custom models and environment variables
  • CLI: detect Grok / Kimi / OpenCode / Pi and show install commands

Claude Code

API keys, local config, and subscription login.

Codex

~/.codex/ and sandbox.

Kimi

Local kimi.

Grok

Local grok.

OpenCode

Local opencode.

Pi

Local pi.

Detect and install

Detect again, PATH, and troubleshooting.

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Beta notice

Some capabilities are still marked Beta. If you hit a problem, send reproduction steps to GitHub Issues, or go to Contribute.