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feat: support OPENAI_REASONING_EFFORT environment variable #2793

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feat: support OPENAI_REASONING_EFFORT environment variable #2793

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@majiayu000 majiayu000 commented Dec 17, 2025

Summary

  • Add support for OPENAI_REASONING_EFFORT environment variable

Fixes

Closes #2686

Usage

export OPENAI_REASONING_EFFORT=low
from openai import OpenAI
from openai.lib import get_default_reasoning

client = OpenAI()
response = client.responses.create(
    model="gpt-5",
    input="Hello",
    reasoning=get_default_reasoning(),  # uses env var
)

Features

  • get_reasoning_effort_from_env(): Read effort from env var
  • get_default_reasoning(): Build Reasoning config with env var support
  • Valid values: none, minimal, low, medium, high, xhigh
  • Warns on invalid values (does not break)

Changes

  • src/openai/lib/_reasoning.py (new)
  • src/openai/lib/__init__.py
  • tests/lib/test_reasoning.py (new)

@majiayu000
feat: support OPENAI_REASONING_EFFORT environment variable
8262478 
Fixes openai#2686

Added utilities for configuring reasoning effort via environment variable:
- get_reasoning_effort_from_env(): Read effort from OPENAI_REASONING_EFFORT
- get_default_reasoning(): Build Reasoning config with env var support

Valid values: none, minimal, low, medium, high, xhigh

Precedence:
1. Explicit effort parameter
2. OPENAI_REASONING_EFFORT env var
3. SDK default (None)

Example:
    export OPENAI_REASONING_EFFORT=low

    from openai.lib import get_default_reasoning
    reasoning = get_default_reasoning()  # {'effort': 'low'}
@majiayu000 majiayu000 requested a review from a team as a code owner December 17, 2025 16:19
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Allow setting reasoning effort via environment variable

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@majiayu000