tui: fix approval dialog for large commands (#3087)

#### Summary
- Emit a “Proposed Command” history cell when an ExecApprovalRequest
arrives (parity with proposed patches).
- Simplify the approval dialog: show only the reason/instructions; move
the command preview into history.
- Make approval/abort decision history concise:
  - Single line snippet; if multiline, show first line + " ...".
  - Truncate to 80 graphemes with ellipsis for very long commands.

#### Details
- History
- Add `new_proposed_command` to render a header and indented command
preview.
  - Use shared `prefix_lines` helper for first/subsequent line prefixes.
- Approval UI
- `UserApprovalWidget` no longer renders the command in the modal; shows
optional `reason` text only.
  - Decision history renders an inline, dimmed snippet per rules above.
- Tests (snapshot-based)
  - Proposed/decision flow for short command.
  - Proposed multi-line + aborted decision snippet with “ ...”.
  - Very long one-line command -> truncated snippet with “…”.
  - Updated existing exec approval snapshots and test reasons.

<img width="1053" height="704" alt="Screenshot 2025-09-03 at 11 57
35 AM"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9ed4c316-9daf-4ac1-80ff-7ae1f481dd10"
/>

after approving:

<img width="1053" height="704" alt="Screenshot 2025-09-03 at 11 58
18 AM"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a44e243f-eb9d-42ea-87f4-171b3fb481e7"
/>

rejection:

<img width="1053" height="207" alt="Screenshot 2025-09-03 at 11 58
45 AM"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a022664b-ae0e-4b70-a388-509208707934"
/>

big command:


https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/2dd976e5-799f-4af7-9682-a046e66cc494

codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs

@@ -524,6 +524,8 @@ impl ChatWidget {
 
     pub(crate) fn handle_exec_approval_now(&mut self, id: String, ev: ExecApprovalRequestEvent) {
         self.flush_answer_stream_with_separator();
+        // Emit the proposed command into history (like proposed patches)
+        self.add_to_history(history_cell::new_proposed_command(&ev.command));
 
         let request = ApprovalRequest::Exec {
             id,

codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__approval_modal_exec.snap

@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@ assertion_line: 728
 expression: terminal.backend()
 ---
 "                                                                                "
-"? Codex wants to run echo hello world                                           "
+"this is a test reason such as one that would be produced by the model           "
-"                                                                                "
-"Model wants to run a command                                                    "
 "                                                                                "
 "▌Allow command?                                                                 "
 "▌ Yes   Always   No, provide feedback                                           "

codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__approval_modal_exec_no_reason.snap

@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ source: tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
 expression: terminal.backend()
 ---
 "                                                                                "
-"? Codex wants to run echo hello world                                           "
-"                                                                                "
 "▌Allow command?                                                                 "
 "▌ Yes   Always   No, provide feedback                                           "
 "▌ Approve and run the command                                                   "

codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__exec_approval_history_decision_aborted_long.snap

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+source: tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+expression: lines_to_single_string(&aborted_long)
+---
+✗ You canceled the request to run echo aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...

codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__exec_approval_history_decision_aborted_multiline.snap

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+source: tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+expression: lines_to_single_string(&aborted_multi)
+---
+✗ You canceled the request to run echo line1 ...
+

codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__exec_approval_history_decision_approved_short.snap

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+source: tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+expression: lines_to_single_string(&decision)
+---
+✔ You approved codex to run echo hello world this time
+

codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__exec_approval_history_proposed_multiline.snap

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+source: tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+expression: lines_to_single_string(&proposed_multi)
+---
+• Proposed Command
+  └ echo line1
+    echo line2

codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__exec_approval_history_proposed_short.snap

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+source: tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+expression: lines_to_single_string(&proposed)
+---
+• Proposed Command
+  └ echo hello world

codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__status_widget_and_approval_modal.snap

@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@ assertion_line: 921
 expression: terminal.backend()
 ---
 "                                                                                "
-"? Codex wants to run echo 'hello world'                                         "
+"this is a test reason such as one that would be produced by the model           "
-"                                                                                "
-"Codex wants to run a command                                                    "
 "                                                                                "
 "▌Allow command?                                                                 "
 "▌ Yes   Always   No, provide feedback                                           "

codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs

@@ -265,6 +265,104 @@ fn lines_to_single_string(lines: &[ratatui::text::Line<'static>]) -> String {
     s
 }
 
+// (removed experimental resize snapshot test)
+
+#[test]
+fn exec_approval_emits_proposed_command_and_decision_history() {
+    let (mut chat, mut rx, _op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual();
+
+    // Trigger an exec approval request with a short, single-line command
+    let ev = ExecApprovalRequestEvent {
+        call_id: "call-short".into(),
+        command: vec!["bash".into(), "-lc".into(), "echo hello world".into()],
+        cwd: std::env::current_dir().unwrap_or_else(|_| PathBuf::from(".")),
+        reason: Some(
+            "this is a test reason such as one that would be produced by the model".into(),
+        ),
+    };
+    chat.handle_codex_event(Event {
+        id: "sub-short".into(),
+        msg: EventMsg::ExecApprovalRequest(ev),
+    });
+
+    // Snapshot the Proposed Command cell emitted into history
+    let proposed = drain_insert_history(&mut rx)
+        .pop()
+        .expect("expected proposed command cell");
+    assert_snapshot!(
+        "exec_approval_history_proposed_short",
+        lines_to_single_string(&proposed)
+    );
+
+    // Approve via keyboard and verify a concise decision history line is added
+    chat.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('y'), KeyModifiers::NONE));
+    let decision = drain_insert_history(&mut rx)
+        .pop()
+        .expect("expected decision cell in history");
+    assert_snapshot!(
+        "exec_approval_history_decision_approved_short",
+        lines_to_single_string(&decision)
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn exec_approval_decision_truncates_multiline_and_long_commands() {
+    let (mut chat, mut rx, _op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual();
+
+    // Multiline command: should render proposed command fully in history with prefixes
+    let ev_multi = ExecApprovalRequestEvent {
+        call_id: "call-multi".into(),
+        command: vec!["bash".into(), "-lc".into(), "echo line1\necho line2".into()],
+        cwd: std::env::current_dir().unwrap_or_else(|_| PathBuf::from(".")),
+        reason: Some(
+            "this is a test reason such as one that would be produced by the model".into(),
+        ),
+    };
+    chat.handle_codex_event(Event {
+        id: "sub-multi".into(),
+        msg: EventMsg::ExecApprovalRequest(ev_multi),
+    });
+    let proposed_multi = drain_insert_history(&mut rx)
+        .pop()
+        .expect("expected proposed multiline command cell");
+    assert_snapshot!(
+        "exec_approval_history_proposed_multiline",
+        lines_to_single_string(&proposed_multi)
+    );
+
+    // Deny via keyboard; decision snippet should be single-line and elided with " ..."
+    chat.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('n'), KeyModifiers::NONE));
+    let aborted_multi = drain_insert_history(&mut rx)
+        .pop()
+        .expect("expected aborted decision cell (multiline)");
+    assert_snapshot!(
+        "exec_approval_history_decision_aborted_multiline",
+        lines_to_single_string(&aborted_multi)
+    );
+
+    // Very long single-line command: decision snippet should be truncated <= 80 chars with trailing ...
+    let long = format!("echo {}", "a".repeat(200));
+    let ev_long = ExecApprovalRequestEvent {
+        call_id: "call-long".into(),
+        command: vec!["bash".into(), "-lc".into(), long.clone()],
+        cwd: std::env::current_dir().unwrap_or_else(|_| PathBuf::from(".")),
+        reason: None,
+    };
+    chat.handle_codex_event(Event {
+        id: "sub-long".into(),
+        msg: EventMsg::ExecApprovalRequest(ev_long),
+    });
+    drain_insert_history(&mut rx); // proposed cell not needed for this assertion
+    chat.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('n'), KeyModifiers::NONE));
+    let aborted_long = drain_insert_history(&mut rx)
+        .pop()
+        .expect("expected aborted decision cell (long)");
+    assert_snapshot!(
+        "exec_approval_history_decision_aborted_long",
+        lines_to_single_string(&aborted_long)
+    );
+}
+
 // --- Small helpers to tersely drive exec begin/end and snapshot active cell ---
 fn begin_exec(chat: &mut ChatWidget, call_id: &str, raw_cmd: &str) {
     // Build the full command vec and parse it using core's parser,
@@ -714,7 +812,9 @@ fn approval_modal_exec_snapshot() {
         call_id: "call-approve-cmd".into(),
         command: vec!["bash".into(), "-lc".into(), "echo hello world".into()],
         cwd: std::env::current_dir().unwrap_or_else(|_| PathBuf::from(".")),
-        reason: Some("Model wants to run a command".into()),
+        reason: Some(
+            "this is a test reason such as one that would be produced by the model".into(),
+        ),
     };
     chat.handle_codex_event(Event {
         id: "sub-approve".into(),
@@ -907,7 +1007,9 @@ fn status_widget_and_approval_modal_snapshot() {
         call_id: "call-approve-exec".into(),
         command: vec!["echo".into(), "hello world".into()],
         cwd: std::path::PathBuf::from("/tmp"),
-        reason: Some("Codex wants to run a command".into()),
+        reason: Some(
+            "this is a test reason such as one that would be produced by the model".into(),
+        ),
     };
     chat.handle_codex_event(Event {
         id: "sub-approve-exec".into(),

codex-rs/tui/src/history_cell.rs

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ use crate::diff_render::create_diff_summary;
 use crate::exec_command::relativize_to_home;
 use crate::exec_command::strip_bash_lc_and_escape;
 use crate::markdown::append_markdown;
+use crate::render::line_utils::prefix_lines;
 use crate::slash_command::SlashCommand;
 use crate::text_formatting::format_and_truncate_tool_result;
 use base64::Engine;
@@ -1140,33 +1141,9 @@ impl HistoryCell for PlanUpdateCell {
                 .into_iter()
                 .map(|s| s.to_string().set_style(step_style).into())
                 .collect();
-            prefix_lines(step_text, &box_str.into(), &"  ".into())
+            prefix_lines(step_text, box_str.into(), "  ".into())
         };
 
-        fn prefix_lines(
-            lines: Vec<Line<'static>>,
-            initial_prefix: &Span<'static>,
-            subsequent_prefix: &Span<'static>,
-        ) -> Vec<Line<'static>> {
-            lines
-                .into_iter()
-                .enumerate()
-                .map(|(i, l)| {
-                    Line::from(
-                        [
-                            vec![if i == 0 {
-                                initial_prefix.clone()
-                            } else {
-                                subsequent_prefix.clone()
-                            }],
-                            l.spans,
-                        ]
-                        .concat(),
-                    )
-                })
-                .collect()
-        }
-
         let mut lines: Vec<Line<'static>> = vec![];
         lines.push(vec!["• ".into(), "Updated Plan".bold()].into());
 
@@ -1187,7 +1164,7 @@ impl HistoryCell for PlanUpdateCell {
                 indented_lines.extend(render_step(status, step));
             }
         }
-        lines.extend(prefix_lines(indented_lines, &"  └ ".into(), &"    ".into()));
+        lines.extend(prefix_lines(indented_lines, "  └ ".into(), "    ".into()));
 
         lines
     }
@@ -1231,6 +1208,26 @@ pub(crate) fn new_patch_apply_failure(stderr: String) -> PlainHistoryCell {
     PlainHistoryCell { lines }
 }
 
+/// Create a new history cell for a proposed command approval.
+/// Renders a header and the command preview similar to how proposed patches
+/// show a header and summary.
+pub(crate) fn new_proposed_command(command: &[String]) -> PlainHistoryCell {
+    let cmd = strip_bash_lc_and_escape(command);
+
+    let mut lines: Vec<Line<'static>> = Vec::new();
+    lines.push(Line::from(vec!["• ".into(), "Proposed Command".bold()]));
+
+    let cmd_lines: Vec<Line<'static>> = cmd
+        .lines()
+        .map(|part| Line::from(part.to_string()))
+        .collect();
+    let initial_prefix: Span<'static> = "  └ ".dim();
+    let subsequent_prefix: Span<'static> = "    ".into();
+    lines.extend(prefix_lines(cmd_lines, initial_prefix, subsequent_prefix));
+
+    PlainHistoryCell { lines }
+}
+
 pub(crate) fn new_reasoning_block(
     full_reasoning_buffer: String,
     config: &Config,

codex-rs/tui/src/render/line_utils.rs

@@ -34,3 +34,26 @@ pub fn is_blank_line_spaces_only(line: &Line<'_>) -> bool {
         .iter()
         .all(|s| s.content.is_empty() || s.content.chars().all(|c| c == ' '))
 }
+
+/// Prefix each line with `initial_prefix` for the first line and
+/// `subsequent_prefix` for following lines. Returns a new Vec of owned lines.
+pub fn prefix_lines(
+    lines: Vec<Line<'static>>,
+    initial_prefix: Span<'static>,
+    subsequent_prefix: Span<'static>,
+) -> Vec<Line<'static>> {
+    lines
+        .into_iter()
+        .enumerate()
+        .map(|(i, l)| {
+            let mut spans = Vec::with_capacity(l.spans.len() + 1);
+            spans.push(if i == 0 {
+                initial_prefix.clone()
+            } else {
+                subsequent_prefix.clone()
+            });
+            spans.extend(l.spans);
+            Line::from(spans)
+        })
+        .collect()
+}

codex-rs/tui/src/user_approval_widget.rs

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ use crate::app_event::AppEvent;
 use crate::app_event_sender::AppEventSender;
 use crate::exec_command::strip_bash_lc_and_escape;
 use crate::history_cell;
+use crate::text_formatting::truncate_text;
 
 /// Request coming from the agent that needs user approval.
 pub(crate) enum ApprovalRequest {
@@ -110,45 +111,11 @@ pub(crate) struct UserApprovalWidget {
     done: bool,
 }
 
-fn to_command_display<'a>(
-    first_line: Vec<Span<'a>>,
-    cmd: String,
-    last_line: Vec<Span<'a>>,
-) -> Vec<Line<'a>> {
-    let command_lines: Vec<Span> = cmd.lines().map(|line| line.to_string().dim()).collect();
-
-    let mut lines: Vec<Line<'a>> = vec![];
-
-    let mut first_line = first_line.clone();
-    if command_lines.len() == 1 {
-        first_line.push(command_lines[0].clone());
-        first_line.extend(last_line);
-    } else {
-        for line in command_lines {
-            lines.push(vec!["    ".into(), line].into());
-        }
-        let last_line = last_line.clone();
-        lines.push(Line::from(last_line));
-    }
-    lines.insert(0, Line::from(first_line));
-
-    lines
-}
-
 impl UserApprovalWidget {
     pub(crate) fn new(approval_request: ApprovalRequest, app_event_tx: AppEventSender) -> Self {
         let confirmation_prompt = match &approval_request {
-            ApprovalRequest::Exec {
+            ApprovalRequest::Exec { reason, .. } => {
-                command, reason, ..
+                let mut contents: Vec<Line> = vec![];
-            } => {
-                let cmd = strip_bash_lc_and_escape(command);
-                let mut contents: Vec<Line> = to_command_display(
-                    vec!["? ".fg(Color::Cyan), "Codex wants to run ".bold()],
-                    cmd,
-                    vec![],
-                );
-
-                contents.push(Line::from(""));
                 if let Some(reason) = reason {
                     contents.push(Line::from(reason.clone().italic()));
                     contents.push(Line::from(""));
@@ -258,62 +225,61 @@ impl UserApprovalWidget {
     fn send_decision_with_feedback(&mut self, decision: ReviewDecision, feedback: String) {
         match &self.approval_request {
             ApprovalRequest::Exec { command, .. } => {
-                let cmd = strip_bash_lc_and_escape(command);
+                let full_cmd = strip_bash_lc_and_escape(command);
-                // TODO: move this rendering into history_cell.
+                // Construct a concise, single-line summary of the command:
-                let mut lines: Vec<Line<'static>> = vec![];
+                // - If multi-line, take the first line and append " ...".
+                // - Truncate to 80 graphemes.
+                let mut snippet = match full_cmd.split_once('\n') {
+                    Some((first, _)) => format!("{first} ..."),
+                    None => full_cmd.clone(),
+                };
+                // Enforce the 80 character length limit.
+                snippet = truncate_text(&snippet, 80);
 
-                // Result line based on decision.
+                let mut result_spans: Vec<Span<'static>> = Vec::new();
                 match decision {
                     ReviewDecision::Approved => {
-                        lines.extend(to_command_display(
+                        result_spans.extend(vec![
-                            vec![
+                            "✔ ".fg(Color::Green),
-                                "✔ ".fg(Color::Green),
+                            "You ".into(),
-                                "You ".into(),
+                            "approved".bold(),
-                                "approved".bold(),
+                            " codex to run ".into(),
-                                " codex to run ".into(),
+                            snippet.clone().dim(),
-                            ],
+                            " this time".bold(),
-                            cmd,
+                        ]);
-                            vec![" this time".bold()],
-                        ));
                     }
                     ReviewDecision::ApprovedForSession => {
-                        lines.extend(to_command_display(
+                        result_spans.extend(vec![
-                            vec![
+                            "✔ ".fg(Color::Green),
-                                "✔ ".fg(Color::Green),
+                            "You ".into(),
-                                "You ".into(),
+                            "approved".bold(),
-                                "approved".bold(),
+                            " codex to run ".into(),
-                                " codex to run ".into(),
+                            snippet.clone().dim(),
-                            ],
+                            " every time this session".bold(),
-                            cmd,
+                        ]);
-                            vec![" every time this session".bold()],
-                        ));
                     }
                     ReviewDecision::Denied => {
-                        lines.extend(to_command_display(
+                        result_spans.extend(vec![
-                            vec![
+                            "✗ ".fg(Color::Red),
-                                "✗ ".fg(Color::Red),
+                            "You ".into(),
-                                "You ".into(),
+                            "did not approve".bold(),
-                                "did not approve".bold(),
+                            " codex to run ".into(),
-                                " codex to run ".into(),
+                            snippet.clone().dim(),
-                            ],
+                        ]);
-                            cmd,
-                            vec![],
-                        ));
                     }
                     ReviewDecision::Abort => {
-                        lines.extend(to_command_display(
+                        result_spans.extend(vec![
-                            vec![
+                            "✗ ".fg(Color::Red),
-                                "✗ ".fg(Color::Red),
+                            "You ".into(),
-                                "You ".into(),
+                            "canceled".bold(),
-                                "canceled".bold(),
+                            " the request to run ".into(),
-                                " the request to run ".into(),
+                            snippet.clone().dim(),
-                            ],
+                        ]);
-                            cmd,
-                            vec![],
-                        ));
                     }
                 }
 
+                let mut lines: Vec<Line<'static>> = vec![Line::from(result_spans)];
+
                 if !feedback.trim().is_empty() {
                     lines.push(Line::from("feedback:"));
                     for l in feedback.lines() {