replace /prompts with a rotating placeholder (#2314)

codex-rs/Cargo.lock

@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "once_cell",
  "path-clean",
  "pretty_assertions",
- "rand 0.8.5",
+ "rand 0.9.2",
  "ratatui",
  "ratatui-image",
  "regex-lite",

codex-rs/tui/Cargo.toml

@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ tui-markdown = "0.3.3"
 unicode-segmentation = "1.12.0"
 unicode-width = "0.1"
 uuid = "1"
+rand = "0.9"
 
 [target.'cfg(unix)'.dependencies]
 libc = "0.2"
@@ -84,5 +85,5 @@ libc = "0.2"
 chrono = { version = "0.4", features = ["serde"] }
 insta = "1.43.1"
 pretty_assertions = "1"
-rand = "0.8"
+rand = "0.9"
 vt100 = "0.16.2"

codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs

@@ -416,11 +416,6 @@ impl App<'_> {
                             widget.add_status_output();
                         }
                     }
-                    SlashCommand::Prompts => {
-                        if let AppState::Chat { widget } = &mut self.app_state {
-                            widget.add_prompts_output();
-                        }
-                    }
                     #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
                     SlashCommand::TestApproval => {
                         use codex_core::protocol::EventMsg;

codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/approval_modal_view.rs

@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ mod tests {
             app_event_tx: AppEventSender::new(tx_raw2),
             has_input_focus: true,
             enhanced_keys_supported: false,
+            placeholder_text: "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string(),
         });
         assert_eq!(CancellationEvent::Handled, view.on_ctrl_c(&mut pane));
         assert!(view.queue.is_empty());

codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs

@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ use crate::bottom_pane::textarea::TextAreaState;
 use codex_file_search::FileMatch;
 use std::cell::RefCell;
 
-const BASE_PLACEHOLDER_TEXT: &str = "Ask Codex to do anything";
 /// If the pasted content exceeds this number of characters, replace it with a
 /// placeholder in the UI.
 const LARGE_PASTE_CHAR_THRESHOLD: usize = 1000;
@@ -61,6 +60,7 @@ pub(crate) struct ChatComposer {
     pending_pastes: Vec<(String, String)>,
     token_usage_info: Option<TokenUsageInfo>,
     has_focus: bool,
+    placeholder_text: String,
 }
 
 /// Popup state – at most one can be visible at any time.
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ impl ChatComposer {
         has_input_focus: bool,
         app_event_tx: AppEventSender,
         enhanced_keys_supported: bool,
+        placeholder_text: String,
     ) -> Self {
         let use_shift_enter_hint = enhanced_keys_supported;
 
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ impl ChatComposer {
             pending_pastes: Vec::new(),
             token_usage_info: None,
             has_focus: has_input_focus,
+            placeholder_text,
         }
     }
 
@@ -712,7 +714,7 @@ impl WidgetRef for &ChatComposer {
         let mut state = self.textarea_state.borrow_mut();
         StatefulWidgetRef::render_ref(&(&self.textarea), textarea_rect, buf, &mut state);
         if self.textarea.text().is_empty() {
-            Line::from(BASE_PLACEHOLDER_TEXT)
+            Line::from(self.placeholder_text.as_str())
                 .style(Style::default().dim())
                 .render_ref(textarea_rect.inner(Margin::new(1, 0)), buf);
         }
@@ -885,7 +887,8 @@ mod tests {
 
         let (tx, _rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
         let sender = AppEventSender::new(tx);
-        let mut composer = ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false);
+        let mut composer =
+            ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false, "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string());
 
         let needs_redraw = composer.handle_paste("hello".to_string());
         assert!(needs_redraw);
@@ -908,7 +911,8 @@ mod tests {
 
         let (tx, _rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
         let sender = AppEventSender::new(tx);
-        let mut composer = ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false);
+        let mut composer =
+            ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false, "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string());
 
         let large = "x".repeat(LARGE_PASTE_CHAR_THRESHOLD + 10);
         let needs_redraw = composer.handle_paste(large.clone());
@@ -937,7 +941,8 @@ mod tests {
         let large = "y".repeat(LARGE_PASTE_CHAR_THRESHOLD + 1);
         let (tx, _rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
         let sender = AppEventSender::new(tx);
-        let mut composer = ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false);
+        let mut composer =
+            ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false, "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string());
 
         composer.handle_paste(large);
         assert_eq!(composer.pending_pastes.len(), 1);
@@ -973,7 +978,12 @@ mod tests {
 
         for (name, input) in test_cases {
             // Create a fresh composer for each test case
-            let mut composer = ChatComposer::new(true, sender.clone(), false);
+            let mut composer = ChatComposer::new(
+                true,
+                sender.clone(),
+                false,
+                "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string(),
+            );
 
             if let Some(text) = input {
                 composer.handle_paste(text);
@@ -1011,7 +1021,8 @@ mod tests {
 
         let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
         let sender = AppEventSender::new(tx);
-        let mut composer = ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false);
+        let mut composer =
+            ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false, "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string());
 
         // Type the slash command.
         for ch in [
@@ -1054,7 +1065,8 @@ mod tests {
 
         let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
         let sender = AppEventSender::new(tx);
-        let mut composer = ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false);
+        let mut composer =
+            ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false, "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string());
 
         for ch in ['/', 'm', 'e', 'n', 't', 'i', 'o', 'n'] {
             let _ = composer.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char(ch), KeyModifiers::NONE));
@@ -1093,7 +1105,8 @@ mod tests {
 
         let (tx, _rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
         let sender = AppEventSender::new(tx);
-        let mut composer = ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false);
+        let mut composer =
+            ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false, "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string());
 
         // Define test cases: (paste content, is_large)
         let test_cases = [
@@ -1166,7 +1179,8 @@ mod tests {
 
         let (tx, _rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
         let sender = AppEventSender::new(tx);
-        let mut composer = ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false);
+        let mut composer =
+            ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false, "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string());
 
         // Define test cases: (content, is_large)
         let test_cases = [
@@ -1232,7 +1246,8 @@ mod tests {
 
         let (tx, _rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
         let sender = AppEventSender::new(tx);
-        let mut composer = ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false);
+        let mut composer =
+            ChatComposer::new(true, sender, false, "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string());
 
         // Define test cases: (cursor_position_from_end, expected_pending_count)
         let test_cases = [

codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/mod.rs

@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ pub(crate) struct BottomPaneParams {
     pub(crate) app_event_tx: AppEventSender,
     pub(crate) has_input_focus: bool,
     pub(crate) enhanced_keys_supported: bool,
+    pub(crate) placeholder_text: String,
 }
 
 impl BottomPane<'_> {
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ impl BottomPane<'_> {
                 params.has_input_focus,
                 params.app_event_tx.clone(),
                 enhanced_keys_supported,
+                params.placeholder_text,
             ),
             active_view: None,
             app_event_tx: params.app_event_tx,
@@ -352,6 +354,7 @@ mod tests {
             app_event_tx: tx,
             has_input_focus: true,
             enhanced_keys_supported: false,
+            placeholder_text: "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string(),
         });
         pane.push_approval_request(exec_request());
         assert_eq!(CancellationEvent::Handled, pane.on_ctrl_c());
@@ -369,6 +372,7 @@ mod tests {
             app_event_tx: tx,
             has_input_focus: true,
             enhanced_keys_supported: false,
+            placeholder_text: "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string(),
         });
 
         // Create an approval modal (active view).
@@ -397,6 +401,7 @@ mod tests {
             app_event_tx: tx.clone(),
             has_input_focus: true,
             enhanced_keys_supported: false,
+            placeholder_text: "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string(),
         });
 
         // Start a running task so the status indicator replaces the composer.
@@ -446,6 +451,7 @@ mod tests {
             app_event_tx: tx,
             has_input_focus: true,
             enhanced_keys_supported: false,
+            placeholder_text: "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string(),
         });
 
         // Begin a task: show initial status.
@@ -477,6 +483,7 @@ mod tests {
             app_event_tx: tx,
             has_input_focus: true,
             enhanced_keys_supported: false,
+            placeholder_text: "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string(),
         });
 
         // Activate spinner (status view replaces composer) with no live ring.
@@ -528,6 +535,7 @@ mod tests {
             app_event_tx: tx,
             has_input_focus: true,
             enhanced_keys_supported: false,
+            placeholder_text: "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string(),
         });
 
         pane.set_task_running(true);

codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/textarea.rs

@@ -932,33 +932,33 @@ mod tests {
     use rand::prelude::*;
 
     fn rand_grapheme(rng: &mut rand::rngs::StdRng) -> String {
-        let r: u8 = rng.gen_range(0..100);
+        let r: u8 = rng.random_range(0..100);
         match r {
             0..=4 => "\n".to_string(),
             5..=12 => " ".to_string(),
-            13..=35 => (rng.gen_range(b'a'..=b'z') as char).to_string(),
+            13..=35 => (rng.random_range(b'a'..=b'z') as char).to_string(),
-            36..=45 => (rng.gen_range(b'A'..=b'Z') as char).to_string(),
+            36..=45 => (rng.random_range(b'A'..=b'Z') as char).to_string(),
-            46..=52 => (rng.gen_range(b'0'..=b'9') as char).to_string(),
+            46..=52 => (rng.random_range(b'0'..=b'9') as char).to_string(),
             53..=65 => {
                 // Some emoji (wide graphemes)
                 let choices = ["👍", "😊", "🐍", "🚀", "🧪", "🌟"];
-                choices[rng.gen_range(0..choices.len())].to_string()
+                choices[rng.random_range(0..choices.len())].to_string()
             }
             66..=75 => {
                 // CJK wide characters
                 let choices = ["漢", "字", "測", "試", "你", "好", "界", "编", "码"];
-                choices[rng.gen_range(0..choices.len())].to_string()
+                choices[rng.random_range(0..choices.len())].to_string()
             }
             76..=85 => {
                 // Combining mark sequences
-                let base = ["e", "a", "o", "n", "u"][rng.gen_range(0..5)];
+                let base = ["e", "a", "o", "n", "u"][rng.random_range(0..5)];
                 let marks = ["\u{0301}", "\u{0308}", "\u{0302}", "\u{0303}"];
-                format!("{}{}", base, marks[rng.gen_range(0..marks.len())])
+                format!("{base}{}", marks[rng.random_range(0..marks.len())])
             }
             86..=92 => {
                 // Some non-latin single codepoints (Greek, Cyrillic, Hebrew)
                 let choices = ["Ω", "β", "Ж", "ю", "ש", "م", "ह"];
-                choices[rng.gen_range(0..choices.len())].to_string()
+                choices[rng.random_range(0..choices.len())].to_string()
             }
             _ => {
                 // ZWJ sequences (single graphemes but multi-codepoint)
@@ -967,7 +967,7 @@ mod tests {
                     "👨\u{200D}💻", // man technologist
                     "🏳️\u{200D}🌈", // rainbow flag
                 ];
-                choices[rng.gen_range(0..choices.len())].to_string()
+                choices[rng.random_range(0..choices.len())].to_string()
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1447,7 +1447,7 @@ mod tests {
             let mut elem_texts: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
             let mut next_elem_id: usize = 0;
             // Start with a random base string
-            let base_len = rng.gen_range(0..30);
+            let base_len = rng.random_range(0..30);
             let mut base = String::new();
             for _ in 0..base_len {
                 base.push_str(&rand_grapheme(&mut rng));
@@ -1457,26 +1457,26 @@ mod tests {
             let mut boundaries: Vec<usize> = vec![0];
             boundaries.extend(ta.text().char_indices().map(|(i, _)| i).skip(1));
             boundaries.push(ta.text().len());
-            let init = boundaries[rng.gen_range(0..boundaries.len())];
+            let init = boundaries[rng.random_range(0..boundaries.len())];
             ta.set_cursor(init);
 
-            let mut width: u16 = rng.gen_range(1..=12);
+            let mut width: u16 = rng.random_range(1..=12);
-            let mut height: u16 = rng.gen_range(1..=4);
+            let mut height: u16 = rng.random_range(1..=4);
 
             for _step in 0..200 {
                 // Mostly stable width/height, occasionally change
-                if rng.gen_bool(0.1) {
+                if rng.random_bool(0.1) {
-                    width = rng.gen_range(1..=12);
+                    width = rng.random_range(1..=12);
                 }
-                if rng.gen_bool(0.1) {
+                if rng.random_bool(0.1) {
-                    height = rng.gen_range(1..=4);
+                    height = rng.random_range(1..=4);
                 }
 
                 // Pick an operation
-                match rng.gen_range(0..18) {
+                match rng.random_range(0..18) {
                     0 => {
                         // insert small random string at cursor
-                        let len = rng.gen_range(0..6);
+                        let len = rng.random_range(0..6);
                         let mut s = String::new();
                         for _ in 0..len {
                             s.push_str(&rand_grapheme(&mut rng));
@@ -1488,14 +1488,14 @@ mod tests {
                         let mut b: Vec<usize> = vec![0];
                         b.extend(ta.text().char_indices().map(|(i, _)| i).skip(1));
                         b.push(ta.text().len());
-                        let i1 = rng.gen_range(0..b.len());
+                        let i1 = rng.random_range(0..b.len());
-                        let i2 = rng.gen_range(0..b.len());
+                        let i2 = rng.random_range(0..b.len());
                         let (start, end) = if b[i1] <= b[i2] {
                             (b[i1], b[i2])
                         } else {
                             (b[i2], b[i1])
                         };
-                        let insert_len = rng.gen_range(0..=4);
+                        let insert_len = rng.random_range(0..=4);
                         let mut s = String::new();
                         for _ in 0..insert_len {
                             s.push_str(&rand_grapheme(&mut rng));
@@ -1520,8 +1520,8 @@ mod tests {
                             );
                         }
                     }
-                    2 => ta.delete_backward(rng.gen_range(0..=3)),
+                    2 => ta.delete_backward(rng.random_range(0..=3)),
-                    3 => ta.delete_forward(rng.gen_range(0..=3)),
+                    3 => ta.delete_forward(rng.random_range(0..=3)),
                     4 => ta.delete_backward_word(),
                     5 => ta.kill_to_beginning_of_line(),
                     6 => ta.kill_to_end_of_line(),
@@ -1534,7 +1534,7 @@ mod tests {
                     13 => {
                         // Insert an element with a unique sentinel payload
                         let payload =
-                            format!("[[EL#{}:{}]]", next_elem_id, rng.gen_range(1000..9999));
+                            format!("[[EL#{}:{}]]", next_elem_id, rng.random_range(1000..9999));
                         next_elem_id += 1;
                         ta.insert_element(&payload);
                         elem_texts.push(payload);
@@ -1545,7 +1545,7 @@ mod tests {
                             if let Some(start) = ta.text().find(&payload) {
                                 let end = start + payload.len();
                                 if end - start > 2 {
-                                    let pos = rng.gen_range(start + 1..end - 1);
+                                    let pos = rng.random_range(start + 1..end - 1);
                                     let ins = rand_grapheme(&mut rng);
                                     ta.insert_str_at(pos, &ins);
                                 }
@@ -1558,8 +1558,8 @@ mod tests {
                             if let Some(start) = ta.text().find(&payload) {
                                 let end = start + payload.len();
                                 // Create an intersecting range [start-δ, end-δ2)
-                                let mut s = start.saturating_sub(rng.gen_range(0..=2));
+                                let mut s = start.saturating_sub(rng.random_range(0..=2));
-                                let mut e = (end + rng.gen_range(0..=2)).min(ta.text().len());
+                                let mut e = (end + rng.random_range(0..=2)).min(ta.text().len());
                                 // Align to char boundaries to satisfy String::replace_range contract
                                 let txt = ta.text();
                                 while s > 0 && !txt.is_char_boundary(s) {
@@ -1571,7 +1571,7 @@ mod tests {
                                 if s < e {
                                     // Small replacement text
                                     let mut srep = String::new();
-                                    for _ in 0..rng.gen_range(0..=2) {
+                                    for _ in 0..rng.random_range(0..=2) {
                                         srep.push_str(&rand_grapheme(&mut rng));
                                     }
                                     ta.replace_range(s..e, &srep);
@@ -1585,7 +1585,7 @@ mod tests {
                             if let Some(start) = ta.text().find(&payload) {
                                 let end = start + payload.len();
                                 if end - start > 2 {
-                                    let pos = rng.gen_range(start + 1..end - 1);
+                                    let pos = rng.random_range(start + 1..end - 1);
                                     ta.set_cursor(pos);
                                 }
                             }
@@ -1593,7 +1593,7 @@ mod tests {
                     }
                     _ => {
                         // Jump to word boundaries
-                        if rng.gen_bool(0.5) {
+                        if rng.random_bool(0.5) {
                             let p = ta.beginning_of_previous_word();
                             ta.set_cursor(p);
                         } else {

codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ use codex_core::protocol::TurnDiffEvent;
 use codex_protocol::parse_command::ParsedCommand;
 use crossterm::event::KeyEvent;
 use crossterm::event::KeyEventKind;
+use rand::Rng;
 use ratatui::buffer::Buffer;
 use ratatui::layout::Constraint;
 use ratatui::layout::Layout;
@@ -494,6 +495,8 @@ impl ChatWidget<'_> {
         initial_images: Vec<PathBuf>,
         enhanced_keys_supported: bool,
     ) -> Self {
+        let mut rng = rand::rng();
+        let placeholder = EXAMPLE_PROMPTS[rng.random_range(0..EXAMPLE_PROMPTS.len())].to_string();
         let codex_op_tx = spawn_agent(config.clone(), app_event_tx.clone(), conversation_manager);
 
         Self {
@@ -503,6 +506,7 @@ impl ChatWidget<'_> {
                 app_event_tx,
                 has_input_focus: true,
                 enhanced_keys_supported,
+                placeholder_text: placeholder,
             }),
             active_exec_cell: None,
             config: config.clone(),
@@ -680,10 +684,6 @@ impl ChatWidget<'_> {
         ));
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn add_prompts_output(&mut self) {
-        self.add_to_history(&history_cell::new_prompts_output());
-    }
-
     /// Forward file-search results to the bottom pane.
     pub(crate) fn apply_file_search_result(&mut self, query: String, matches: Vec<FileMatch>) {
         self.bottom_pane.on_file_search_result(query, matches);
@@ -764,6 +764,15 @@ impl WidgetRef for &ChatWidget<'_> {
     }
 }
 
+const EXAMPLE_PROMPTS: [&str; 6] = [
+    "Explain this codebase",
+    "Summarize recent commits",
+    "Implement {feature}",
+    "Find and fix a bug in @filename",
+    "Write tests for @filename",
+    "Improve documentation in @filename",
+];
+
 fn add_token_usage(current_usage: &TokenUsage, new_usage: &TokenUsage) -> TokenUsage {
     let cached_input_tokens = match (
         current_usage.cached_input_tokens,

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

@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ fn make_chatwidget_manual() -> (
         app_event_tx: app_event_tx.clone(),
         has_input_focus: true,
         enhanced_keys_supported: false,
+        placeholder_text: "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string(),
     });
     let widget = ChatWidget {
         app_event_tx,

codex-rs/tui/src/history_cell.rs

@@ -170,7 +170,6 @@ pub(crate) fn new_session_info(
             Line::from(format!(" /init - {}", SlashCommand::Init.description()).dim()),
             Line::from(format!(" /status - {}", SlashCommand::Status.description()).dim()),
             Line::from(format!(" /diff - {}", SlashCommand::Diff.description()).dim()),
-            Line::from(format!(" /prompts - {}", SlashCommand::Prompts.description()).dim()),
             Line::from("".dim()),
         ];
         PlainHistoryCell { lines }
@@ -635,21 +634,6 @@ pub(crate) fn new_status_output(
     PlainHistoryCell { lines }
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn new_prompts_output() -> PlainHistoryCell {
-    let lines: Vec<Line<'static>> = vec![
-        Line::from("/prompts".magenta()),
-        Line::from(""),
-        Line::from(" 1. Explain this codebase"),
-        Line::from(" 2. Summarize recent commits"),
-        Line::from(" 3. Implement {feature}"),
-        Line::from(" 4. Find and fix a bug in @filename"),
-        Line::from(" 5. Write tests for @filename"),
-        Line::from(" 6. Improve documentation in @filename"),
-        Line::from(""),
-    ];
-    PlainHistoryCell { lines }
-}
-
 pub(crate) fn new_error_event(message: String) -> PlainHistoryCell {
     let lines: Vec<Line<'static>> = vec![vec!["🖐 ".red().bold(), message.into()].into(), "".into()];
     PlainHistoryCell { lines }

codex-rs/tui/src/slash_command.rs

@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ pub enum SlashCommand {
     Diff,
     Mention,
     Status,
-    Prompts,
     Logout,
     Quit,
     #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
@@ -36,7 +35,6 @@ impl SlashCommand {
             SlashCommand::Diff => "show git diff (including untracked files)",
             SlashCommand::Mention => "mention a file",
             SlashCommand::Status => "show current session configuration and token usage",
-            SlashCommand::Prompts => "show example prompts",
             SlashCommand::Logout => "log out of Codex",
             #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
             SlashCommand::TestApproval => "test approval request",