OpenAI agrees to buy Astral, maker of Ruff and uv for Python

In short: OpenAI says it will acquire Astral and will keep supporting Astral’s open-source Python tools after the deal closes.

What happened

OpenAI, the company behind Codex, announced on March 18, 2026 that it has agreed to buy Astral. Astral is a startup known for building popular open-source tools for Python, a widely used programming language.

Astral’s tools include uv, which helps developers manage the extra code libraries their projects rely on (like keeping a pantry list of ingredients a recipe needs). It also includes Ruff, which checks code for common mistakes and keeps formatting consistent (like a spellchecker and style guide for code). Another tool, ty, helps spot “type” issues, meaning it checks that different parts of a program are using the right kinds of values, such as numbers versus text (a basic sanity check).

OpenAI said it plans to weave these tools into Codex so Codex can help with more steps of making software, including planning work, changing code, testing it, and keeping it running over time. Astral’s team is expected to join OpenAI’s Codex group after the deal closes.

Until then, OpenAI and Astral will operate separately. The purchase still needs regulatory approval and other standard closing steps.

Why it matters

For people who write software, this could mean Codex becomes more useful for everyday work, not just writing snippets. OpenAI also said it will continue supporting Astral’s open-source projects, which matters because many companies and hobbyists depend on these free tools. OpenAI reported Codex has more than 2 million weekly active users, with usage up 5x since early 2026.

Source: Arstechnica