feat(tui): redesign session picker (#20065)

## Why

The resume/fork picker is becoming the main way users recover previous
work, but the old fixed table made sessions hard to scan once thread
names, branches, working directories, and timestamps all mattered. This
redesign makes the picker denser by default, easier to search, and safer
to inspect before resuming or forking.

<table>
<tr>
<td>
<img width="1660" height="1103" alt="CleanShot 2026-05-03 at 12 34 10"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/313ede1d-1da4-4863-acd2-56b3e27e9703"
/>
</td>
<td>
<img width="1662" height="1100" alt="CleanShot 2026-05-03 at 12 34 15"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/cfde7d5c-bab0-4994-a807-254e53f344ea"
/>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<img width="1664" height="1107" alt="CleanShot 2026-05-03 at 12 39 22"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/e1ee58ca-4dc5-4a35-ae0f-47562da3974c"
/>
</td>
<td>
<img width="1662" height="1100" alt="CleanShot 2026-05-03 at 12 35 09"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9c888072-eedf-4f45-985c-0c14df28bcc7"
/>
</td>
</tr>
</table>

## What Changed

- Replaces the old session table with responsive session rows that
prioritize the session name or preview, then show timestamp, cwd, and
branch metadata.
- Makes dense view the default while keeping comfortable view available
through `Ctrl+O`.
- Persists the picker view preference in `[tui].session_picker_view`,
including active profile-scoped config.
- Adds sort/filter controls for updated time, created time, cwd, and all
sessions.
- Expands search matching across session name, preview, thread id,
branch, and cwd.
- Makes `Esc` safer in search mode: it clears an active query before
starting a new session.
- Adds lazy transcript inspection:
  - `Space` expands recent transcript context inline.
  - `Ctrl+T` opens a transcript overlay.
  - raw reasoning visibility follows `show_raw_agent_reasoning`.
- Keeps remote cwd filtering server-side for remote app-server sessions
so local path normalization does not incorrectly hide remote results.
- Updates snapshots and config schema for the new picker states and
config option.

## How to Test

1. Start Codex in a repo with several saved sessions.
2. Press `Ctrl+R` / resume picker entry point.
3. Confirm the picker opens in dense mode and shows session name or
preview, timestamp, cwd, and branch metadata.
4. Press `Ctrl+O` and confirm it switches between dense and comfortable
views.
5. Restart Codex and confirm the selected view persists.
6. Type a query that matches a branch, cwd, thread id, or session name;
confirm matching sessions appear.
7. Press `Esc` while the query is non-empty and confirm it clears search
instead of starting a new session.
8. Select a session and press `Space`; confirm recent transcript context
expands inline.
9. Press `Ctrl+T`; confirm the transcript overlay opens and respects
raw-reasoning visibility settings.

Targeted tests:
- `cargo test -p codex-tui resume_picker --no-fail-fast`
- `cargo test -p codex-core
runtime_config_resolves_session_picker_view_default_and_override`
- `cargo test -p codex-core profile_tui_rejects_unsupported_settings`
- `cargo check -p codex-thread-manager-sample`
- `cargo insta pending-snapshots`

codex-rs/core/src/config/config_tests.rs

@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ use codex_config::types::NotificationCondition;
 use codex_config::types::NotificationMethod;
 use codex_config::types::Notifications;
 use codex_config::types::SandboxWorkspaceWrite;
+use codex_config::types::SessionPickerViewMode;
 use codex_config::types::SkillsConfig;
 use codex_config::types::ToolSuggestDisabledTool;
 use codex_config::types::ToolSuggestDiscoverableType;
@@ -556,6 +557,7 @@ fn config_toml_deserializes_model_availability_nux() {
             status_line_use_colors: true,
             terminal_title: None,
             theme: None,
+            session_picker_view: None,
             keymap: TuiKeymap::default(),
             model_availability_nux: ModelAvailabilityNuxConfig {
                 shown_count: HashMap::from([
@@ -2156,6 +2158,31 @@ fn tui_theme_defaults_to_none() {
     assert_eq!(parsed.tui.as_ref().and_then(|t| t.theme.as_deref()), None);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn tui_session_picker_view_deserializes_from_toml() {
+    let cfg = r#"
+[tui]
+session_picker_view = "dense"
+"#;
+    let parsed = toml::from_str::<ConfigToml>(cfg).expect("TOML deserialization should succeed");
+    assert_eq!(
+        parsed.tui.as_ref().and_then(|t| t.session_picker_view),
+        Some(SessionPickerViewMode::Dense),
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn tui_session_picker_view_defaults_to_none() {
+    let cfg = r#"
+[tui]
+"#;
+    let parsed = toml::from_str::<ConfigToml>(cfg).expect("TOML deserialization should succeed");
+    assert_eq!(
+        parsed.tui.as_ref().and_then(|t| t.session_picker_view),
+        None,
+    );
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn tui_config_missing_notifications_field_defaults_to_enabled() {
     let cfg = r#"
@@ -2179,6 +2206,7 @@ fn tui_config_missing_notifications_field_defaults_to_enabled() {
             status_line_use_colors: true,
             terminal_title: None,
             theme: None,
+            session_picker_view: None,
             keymap: TuiKeymap::default(),
             model_availability_nux: ModelAvailabilityNuxConfig::default(),
             terminal_resize_reflow_max_rows: None,
@@ -2244,6 +2272,78 @@ async fn runtime_config_resolves_terminal_resize_reflow_defaults_and_overrides()
     );
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn profile_tui_rejects_unsupported_settings() {
+    let err = toml::from_str::<ConfigToml>(
+        r#"profile = "work"
+
+[profiles.work.tui]
+theme = "dark"
+"#,
+    )
+    .expect_err("profile TUI config should only accept supported fields");
+
+    assert!(err.to_string().contains("unknown field"));
+    assert!(err.to_string().contains("theme"));
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn runtime_config_resolves_session_picker_view_default_and_override() {
+    let cfg = Config::load_from_base_config_with_overrides(
+        ConfigToml::default(),
+        ConfigOverrides::default(),
+        tempdir().expect("tempdir").abs(),
+    )
+    .await
+    .expect("load default config");
+
+    assert_eq!(cfg.tui_session_picker_view, SessionPickerViewMode::Dense);
+
+    let cfg = Config::load_from_base_config_with_overrides(
+        ConfigToml {
+            tui: Some(Tui {
+                session_picker_view: Some(SessionPickerViewMode::Comfortable),
+                ..Default::default()
+            }),
+            ..Default::default()
+        },
+        ConfigOverrides::default(),
+        tempdir().expect("tempdir").abs(),
+    )
+    .await
+    .expect("load root override config");
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        cfg.tui_session_picker_view,
+        SessionPickerViewMode::Comfortable
+    );
+
+    let cfg_toml = toml::from_str::<ConfigToml>(
+        r#"profile = "work"
+
+[tui]
+session_picker_view = "dense"
+
+[profiles.work.tui]
+session_picker_view = "comfortable"
+"#,
+    )
+    .expect("parse profile scoped tui config");
+
+    let cfg = Config::load_from_base_config_with_overrides(
+        cfg_toml,
+        ConfigOverrides::default(),
+        tempdir().expect("tempdir").abs(),
+    )
+    .await
+    .expect("load profile override config");
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        cfg.tui_session_picker_view,
+        SessionPickerViewMode::Comfortable
+    );
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_sandbox_config_parsing() {
     let sandbox_full_access = r#"
@@ -6511,6 +6611,7 @@ async fn test_precedence_fixture_with_o3_profile() -> std::io::Result<()> {
             tui_status_line_use_colors: true,
             tui_terminal_title: None,
             tui_theme: None,
+            tui_session_picker_view: SessionPickerViewMode::Dense,
             otel: OtelConfig::default(),
         },
         o3_profile_config
@@ -6714,6 +6815,7 @@ async fn test_precedence_fixture_with_gpt3_profile() -> std::io::Result<()> {
         tui_status_line_use_colors: true,
         tui_terminal_title: None,
         tui_theme: None,
+        tui_session_picker_view: SessionPickerViewMode::Dense,
         otel: OtelConfig::default(),
     };
 
@@ -6871,6 +6973,7 @@ async fn test_precedence_fixture_with_zdr_profile() -> std::io::Result<()> {
         tui_status_line_use_colors: true,
         tui_terminal_title: None,
         tui_theme: None,
+        tui_session_picker_view: SessionPickerViewMode::Dense,
         otel: OtelConfig::default(),
     };
 
@@ -7013,6 +7116,7 @@ async fn test_precedence_fixture_with_gpt5_profile() -> std::io::Result<()> {
         tui_status_line_use_colors: true,
         tui_terminal_title: None,
         tui_theme: None,
+        tui_session_picker_view: SessionPickerViewMode::Dense,
         otel: OtelConfig::default(),
     };
 

codex-rs/core/src/config/edit.rs

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use crate::path_utils::write_atomically;
 use anyhow::Context;
 use codex_config::CONFIG_TOML_FILE;
 use codex_config::types::McpServerConfig;
+use codex_config::types::SessionPickerViewMode;
 use codex_config::types::ToolSuggestDisabledTool;
 use codex_features::FEATURES;
 use codex_protocol::config_types::Personality;
@@ -91,6 +92,14 @@ pub fn syntax_theme_edit(name: &str) -> ConfigEdit {
     }
 }
 
+/// Produces a config edit that sets `[tui].session_picker_view = "<mode>"`.
+pub fn session_picker_view_edit(mode: SessionPickerViewMode) -> ConfigEdit {
+    ConfigEdit::SetPath {
+        segments: vec!["tui".to_string(), "session_picker_view".to_string()],
+        value: value(mode.to_string()),
+    }
+}
+
 /// Produces a config edit that sets `[tui].status_line` to an explicit ordered list.
 ///
 /// The array is written even when it is empty so "hide the status line" stays
@@ -1316,6 +1325,25 @@ impl ConfigEditsBuilder {
         self
     }
 
+    pub fn set_session_picker_view(mut self, mode: SessionPickerViewMode) -> Self {
+        let segments = if let Some(profile) = self.profile.as_ref() {
+            vec![
+                "profiles".to_string(),
+                profile.clone(),
+                "tui".to_string(),
+                "session_picker_view".to_string(),
+            ]
+        } else {
+            vec!["tui".to_string(), "session_picker_view".to_string()]
+        };
+
+        self.edits.push(ConfigEdit::SetPath {
+            segments,
+            value: value(mode.to_string()),
+        });
+        self
+    }
+
     pub fn with_edits<I>(mut self, edits: I) -> Self
     where
         I: IntoIterator<Item = ConfigEdit>,

codex-rs/core/src/config/edit_tests.rs

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ use super::*;
 use codex_config::types::AppToolApproval;
 use codex_config::types::McpServerToolConfig;
 use codex_config::types::McpServerTransportConfig;
+use codex_config::types::SessionPickerViewMode;
 use codex_protocol::openai_models::ReasoningEffort;
 use pretty_assertions::assert_eq;
 #[cfg(unix)]
@@ -48,6 +49,41 @@ fn builder_with_edits_applies_custom_paths() {
     assert_eq!(contents, "enabled = true\n");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn session_picker_view_edit_writes_root_tui_setting() {
+    let tmp = tempdir().expect("tmpdir");
+    let codex_home = tmp.path();
+
+    ConfigEditsBuilder::new(codex_home)
+        .with_edits([session_picker_view_edit(SessionPickerViewMode::Dense)])
+        .apply_blocking()
+        .expect("persist");
+
+    let contents = std::fs::read_to_string(codex_home.join(CONFIG_TOML_FILE)).expect("read config");
+    let expected = r#"[tui]
+session_picker_view = "dense"
+"#;
+    assert_eq!(contents, expected);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn session_picker_view_builder_respects_active_profile() {
+    let tmp = tempdir().expect("tmpdir");
+    let codex_home = tmp.path();
+
+    ConfigEditsBuilder::new(codex_home)
+        .with_profile(Some("work"))
+        .set_session_picker_view(SessionPickerViewMode::Dense)
+        .apply_blocking()
+        .expect("persist");
+
+    let contents = std::fs::read_to_string(codex_home.join(CONFIG_TOML_FILE)).expect("read config");
+    let expected = r#"[profiles.work.tui]
+session_picker_view = "dense"
+"#;
+    assert_eq!(contents, expected);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn keymap_binding_edit_writes_root_action_binding() {
     let tmp = tempdir().expect("tmpdir");

codex-rs/core/src/config/mod.rs

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ use codex_config::types::OAuthCredentialsStoreMode;
 use codex_config::types::OtelConfig;
 use codex_config::types::OtelConfigToml;
 use codex_config::types::OtelExporterKind;
+use codex_config::types::SessionPickerViewMode;
 use codex_config::types::ToolSuggestConfig;
 use codex_config::types::ToolSuggestDisabledTool;
 use codex_config::types::ToolSuggestDiscoverable;
@@ -547,6 +548,9 @@ pub struct Config {
     /// Syntax highlighting theme override (kebab-case name).
     pub tui_theme: Option<String>,
 
+    /// Preferred layout for resume/fork session picker results.
+    pub tui_session_picker_view: SessionPickerViewMode,
+
     /// Terminal resize-reflow tuning knobs.
     pub terminal_resize_reflow: TerminalResizeReflowConfig,
 
@@ -3168,6 +3172,12 @@ impl Config {
                 .unwrap_or(true),
             tui_terminal_title: cfg.tui.as_ref().and_then(|t| t.terminal_title.clone()),
             tui_theme: cfg.tui.as_ref().and_then(|t| t.theme.clone()),
+            tui_session_picker_view: config_profile
+                .tui
+                .as_ref()
+                .and_then(|t| t.session_picker_view)
+                .or_else(|| cfg.tui.as_ref().and_then(|t| t.session_picker_view))
+                .unwrap_or_default(),
             terminal_resize_reflow,
             tui_keymap: cfg
                 .tui