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OpenAI is buying Pierre, the small team behind the code review tools inside Codex
OpenAI has agreed to acquire Pierre Computer Company, maker of the Code Storage Git service and the open-source Trees, Diffs and Highlights libraries already used in the Codex app. Terms weren't disclosed, the deal still needs regulatory approval, and Pierre's open-source projects will stay open.
OpenAI has agreed to acquire Pierre Computer Company, the startup behind the Code Storage Git service and a set of open-source developer tools[1]. If you've browsed files or reviewed a change in the Codex app, you've already used Pierre's work: its Trees and Diffs libraries power both[1]. Financial terms weren't disclosed[2].
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What Pierre built
Trees lets developers move quickly through a project's files, and Diffs shows what changed, both built to stay fast across large volumes of code[1]. Diffs has an Edit mode so a reviewer can fix a line right where they spot the problem, and Pierre recently released Highlights, a syntax highlighter that keeps up as a developer types or an agent streams code[1].
Code Storage is the commercial piece: an API for apps to store code and track its history with Git[1]. According to Pierre's figures reported by DevOps.com, it supports repositories as large as 32TB, ships SDKs for Python, Go and TypeScript, and integrates with GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket[3].
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The plan for Codex
OpenAI says that once the deal closes, it wants to "advance the future of source control across the industry" and have Codex "connect the code a company ships with the decisions its people make"[1]. Code Storage customers can keep using the service while its features move into Codex, and Pierre's open-source projects will stay open source with continued contributions from OpenAI[1]. Closing still depends on customary conditions, including regulatory approvals[1].
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Why it matters
The deal lands days after OpenAI revealed Pando, its in-house Git backend for engineers and coding agents[2]. Axios framed the two moves together as OpenAI joining the companies challenging Microsoft's GitHub as agents take on more coding work[2]. With a scaled backend of its own and now a team that designs Git APIs and review tools, OpenAI is assembling more of the source-control stack around Codex rather than relying on someone else's.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
01What is OpenAI buying?
Pierre Computer Company, the startup behind Code Storage, a service that lets apps store code and track its history using Git, plus open-source developer libraries called Trees, Diffs and Highlights.
02Is Pierre's technology already in Codex?
Yes. OpenAI says the file browser and change review in the Codex app already use Pierre's Trees and Diffs libraries.
03How much is OpenAI paying?
Financial terms weren't disclosed. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and the two companies stay independent until it closes.
04What happens to Pierre's open-source projects and Code Storage customers?
OpenAI says the open-source projects will remain open source and it will keep contributing to them. Code Storage customers can keep using the service after closing while OpenAI brings its features into Codex.
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