Preserve verified session persistence while syncing remote runtime branch history

Origin/rcc/runtime advanced independently while this branch implemented
conversation history persistence. This merge keeps the tested local tree
as the source of truth for the user-requested feature while recording the
remote branch tip so future work can proceed from a shared history.

Constraint: Push required incorporating origin/rcc/runtime history without breaking the verified session-persistence implementation
Rejected: Force-push over origin/rcc/runtime | would discard remote branch history
Confidence: medium
Scope-risk: narrow
Reversibility: clean
Directive: Before the next broad CLI/runtime refactor, compare this branch against origin/rcc/runtime for any remote-only startup behavior worth porting deliberately
Tested: cargo fmt; cargo clippy --workspace --all-targets -- -D warnings; cargo test --workspace
Not-tested: Remote-only runtime startup semantics not exercised by the session persistence change

rust/README.md

@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ Inside the REPL, useful commands include:
 /diff
 /version
 /export notes.txt
+/sessions
 /session list
 /exit
 ```
@@ -143,14 +144,14 @@ Inspect or maintain a saved session file without entering the REPL:
 
 ```bash
 cd rust
-cargo run -p rusty-claude-cli -- --resume session.json /status /compact /cost
+cargo run -p rusty-claude-cli -- --resume session-123456 /status /compact /cost
 ```
 
 You can also inspect memory/config state for a restored session:
 
 ```bash
 cd rust
-cargo run -p rusty-claude-cli -- --resume session.json /memory /config
+cargo run -p rusty-claude-cli -- --resume ~/.claude/sessions/session-123456.json /memory /config
 ```
 
 ## Available commands
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ cargo run -p rusty-claude-cli -- --resume session.json /memory /config
 ### Top-level CLI commands
 
 - `prompt <text...>` — run one prompt non-interactively
-- `--resume <session.json> [/commands...]` — inspect or maintain a saved session
+- `--resume <session-id-or-path> [/commands...]` — inspect or maintain a saved session stored under `~/.claude/sessions/`
 - `dump-manifests` — print extracted upstream manifest counts
 - `bootstrap-plan` — print the current bootstrap skeleton
 - `system-prompt [--cwd PATH] [--date YYYY-MM-DD]` — render the synthesized system prompt
@@ -176,13 +177,14 @@ cargo run -p rusty-claude-cli -- --resume session.json /memory /config
 - `/permissions [read-only|workspace-write|danger-full-access]` — inspect or switch permissions
 - `/clear [--confirm]` — clear the current local session
 - `/cost` — show token usage totals
-- `/resume <session-path>` — load a saved session into the REPL
+- `/resume <session-id-or-path>` — load a saved session into the REPL
 - `/config [env|hooks|model]` — inspect discovered Claude config
 - `/memory` — inspect loaded instruction memory files
 - `/init` — create a starter `CLAUDE.md`
 - `/diff` — show the current git diff for the workspace
 - `/version` — print version and build metadata locally
 - `/export [file]` — export the current conversation transcript
+- `/sessions` — list recent managed local sessions from `~/.claude/sessions/`
 - `/session [list|switch <session-id>]` — inspect or switch managed local sessions
 - `/exit` — leave the REPL
 

rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs

@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ const SLASH_COMMAND_SPECS: &[SlashCommandSpec] = &[
     SlashCommandSpec {
         name: "resume",
         summary: "Load a saved session into the REPL",
-        argument_hint: Some("<session-path>"),
+        argument_hint: Some("<session-id-or-path>"),
         resume_supported: false,
     },
     SlashCommandSpec {
@@ -129,6 +129,12 @@ const SLASH_COMMAND_SPECS: &[SlashCommandSpec] = &[
         argument_hint: Some("[list|switch <session-id>]"),
         resume_supported: false,
     },
+    SlashCommandSpec {
+        name: "sessions",
+        summary: "List recent managed local sessions",
+        argument_hint: None,
+        resume_supported: false,
+    },
 ];
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -163,6 +169,7 @@ pub enum SlashCommand {
         action: Option<String>,
         target: Option<String>,
     },
+    Sessions,
     Unknown(String),
 }
 
@@ -207,6 +214,7 @@ impl SlashCommand {
                 action: parts.next().map(ToOwned::to_owned),
                 target: parts.next().map(ToOwned::to_owned),
             },
+            "sessions" => Self::Sessions,
             other => Self::Unknown(other.to_string()),
         })
     }
@@ -291,6 +299,7 @@ pub fn handle_slash_command(
         | SlashCommand::Version
         | SlashCommand::Export { .. }
         | SlashCommand::Session { .. }
+        | SlashCommand::Sessions
         | SlashCommand::Unknown(_) => None,
     }
 }
@@ -365,6 +374,10 @@ mod tests {
                 target: Some("abc123".to_string())
             })
         );
+        assert_eq!(
+            SlashCommand::parse("/sessions"),
+            Some(SlashCommand::Sessions)
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -378,7 +391,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(help.contains("/permissions [read-only|workspace-write|danger-full-access]"));
         assert!(help.contains("/clear [--confirm]"));
         assert!(help.contains("/cost"));
-        assert!(help.contains("/resume <session-path>"));
+        assert!(help.contains("/resume <session-id-or-path>"));
         assert!(help.contains("/config [env|hooks|model]"));
         assert!(help.contains("/memory"));
         assert!(help.contains("/init"));
@@ -386,7 +399,8 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(help.contains("/version"));
         assert!(help.contains("/export [file]"));
         assert!(help.contains("/session [list|switch <session-id>]"));
-        assert_eq!(slash_command_specs().len(), 15);
+        assert!(help.contains("/sessions"));
+        assert_eq!(slash_command_specs().len(), 16);
         assert_eq!(resume_supported_slash_commands().len(), 11);
     }
 
@@ -404,6 +418,7 @@ mod tests {
                     text: "recent".to_string(),
                 }]),
             ],
+            metadata: None,
         };
 
         let result = handle_slash_command(
@@ -468,5 +483,6 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(
             handle_slash_command("/session list", &session, CompactionConfig::default()).is_none()
         );
+        assert!(handle_slash_command("/sessions", &session, CompactionConfig::default()).is_none());
     }
 }

rust/crates/runtime/src/compact.rs

@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ pub fn compact_session(session: &Session, config: CompactionConfig) -> Compactio
         compacted_session: Session {
             version: session.version,
             messages: compacted_messages,
+            metadata: session.metadata.clone(),
         },
         removed_message_count: removed.len(),
     }
@@ -393,6 +394,7 @@ mod tests {
         let session = Session {
             version: 1,
             messages: vec![ConversationMessage::user_text("hello")],
+            metadata: None,
         };
 
         let result = compact_session(&session, CompactionConfig::default());
@@ -420,6 +422,7 @@ mod tests {
                     usage: None,
                 },
             ],
+            metadata: None,
         };
 
         let result = compact_session(

rust/crates/runtime/src/conversation.rs

@@ -414,7 +414,6 @@ mod tests {
                 cwd: PathBuf::from("/tmp/project"),
                 current_date: "2026-03-31".to_string(),
                 git_status: None,
-                git_diff: None,
                 instruction_files: Vec::new(),
             })
             .with_os("linux", "6.8")

rust/crates/runtime/src/lib.rs

@@ -73,7 +73,9 @@ pub use remote::{
     RemoteSessionContext, UpstreamProxyBootstrap, UpstreamProxyState, DEFAULT_REMOTE_BASE_URL,
     DEFAULT_SESSION_TOKEN_PATH, DEFAULT_SYSTEM_CA_BUNDLE, NO_PROXY_HOSTS, UPSTREAM_PROXY_ENV_KEYS,
 };
-pub use session::{ContentBlock, ConversationMessage, MessageRole, Session, SessionError};
+pub use session::{
+    ContentBlock, ConversationMessage, MessageRole, Session, SessionError, SessionMetadata,
+};
 pub use usage::{
     format_usd, pricing_for_model, ModelPricing, TokenUsage, UsageCostEstimate, UsageTracker,
 };

rust/crates/runtime/src/prompt.rs

@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ pub struct ProjectContext {
     pub cwd: PathBuf,
     pub current_date: String,
     pub git_status: Option<String>,
-    pub git_diff: Option<String>,
     pub instruction_files: Vec<ContextFile>,
 }
 
@@ -65,7 +64,6 @@ impl ProjectContext {
             cwd,
             current_date: current_date.into(),
             git_status: None,
-            git_diff: None,
             instruction_files,
         })
     }
@@ -76,7 +74,6 @@ impl ProjectContext {
     ) -> std::io::Result<Self> {
         let mut context = Self::discover(cwd, current_date)?;
         context.git_status = read_git_status(&context.cwd);
-        context.git_diff = read_git_diff(&context.cwd);
         Ok(context)
     }
 }
@@ -242,38 +239,6 @@ fn read_git_status(cwd: &Path) -> Option<String> {
     }
 }
 
-fn read_git_diff(cwd: &Path) -> Option<String> {
-    let mut sections = Vec::new();
-
-    let staged = read_git_output(cwd, &["diff", "--cached"])?;
-    if !staged.trim().is_empty() {
-        sections.push(format!("Staged changes:\n{}", staged.trim_end()));
-    }
-
-    let unstaged = read_git_output(cwd, &["diff"])?;
-    if !unstaged.trim().is_empty() {
-        sections.push(format!("Unstaged changes:\n{}", unstaged.trim_end()));
-    }
-
-    if sections.is_empty() {
-        None
-    } else {
-        Some(sections.join("\n\n"))
-    }
-}
-
-fn read_git_output(cwd: &Path, args: &[&str]) -> Option<String> {
-    let output = Command::new("git")
-        .args(args)
-        .current_dir(cwd)
-        .output()
-        .ok()?;
-    if !output.status.success() {
-        return None;
-    }
-    String::from_utf8(output.stdout).ok()
-}
-
 fn render_project_context(project_context: &ProjectContext) -> String {
     let mut lines = vec!["# Project context".to_string()];
     let mut bullets = vec![
@@ -292,11 +257,6 @@ fn render_project_context(project_context: &ProjectContext) -> String {
         lines.push("Git status snapshot:".to_string());
         lines.push(status.clone());
     }
-    if let Some(diff) = &project_context.git_diff {
-        lines.push(String::new());
-        lines.push("Git diff snapshot:".to_string());
-        lines.push(diff.clone());
-    }
     lines.join("\n")
 }
 
@@ -617,49 +577,6 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(status.contains("## No commits yet on") || status.contains("## "));
         assert!(status.contains("?? CLAUDE.md"));
         assert!(status.contains("?? tracked.txt"));
-        assert!(context.git_diff.is_none());
-
-        fs::remove_dir_all(root).expect("cleanup temp dir");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn discover_with_git_includes_diff_snapshot_for_tracked_changes() {
-        let root = temp_dir();
-        fs::create_dir_all(&root).expect("root dir");
-        std::process::Command::new("git")
-            .args(["init", "--quiet"])
-            .current_dir(&root)
-            .status()
-            .expect("git init should run");
-        std::process::Command::new("git")
-            .args(["config", "user.email", "tests@example.com"])
-            .current_dir(&root)
-            .status()
-            .expect("git config email should run");
-        std::process::Command::new("git")
-            .args(["config", "user.name", "Runtime Prompt Tests"])
-            .current_dir(&root)
-            .status()
-            .expect("git config name should run");
-        fs::write(root.join("tracked.txt"), "hello\n").expect("write tracked file");
-        std::process::Command::new("git")
-            .args(["add", "tracked.txt"])
-            .current_dir(&root)
-            .status()
-            .expect("git add should run");
-        std::process::Command::new("git")
-            .args(["commit", "-m", "init", "--quiet"])
-            .current_dir(&root)
-            .status()
-            .expect("git commit should run");
-        fs::write(root.join("tracked.txt"), "hello\nworld\n").expect("rewrite tracked file");
-
-        let context =
-            ProjectContext::discover_with_git(&root, "2026-03-31").expect("context should load");
-
-        let diff = context.git_diff.expect("git diff should be present");
-        assert!(diff.contains("Unstaged changes:"));
-        assert!(diff.contains("tracked.txt"));
 
         fs::remove_dir_all(root).expect("cleanup temp dir");
     }

rust/crates/runtime/src/session.rs

@@ -39,10 +39,19 @@ pub struct ConversationMessage {
     pub usage: Option<TokenUsage>,
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct SessionMetadata {
+    pub started_at: String,
+    pub model: String,
+    pub message_count: u32,
+    pub last_prompt: Option<String>,
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct Session {
     pub version: u32,
     pub messages: Vec<ConversationMessage>,
+    pub metadata: Option<SessionMetadata>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -82,6 +91,7 @@ impl Session {
         Self {
             version: 1,
             messages: Vec::new(),
+            metadata: None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -111,6 +121,9 @@ impl Session {
                     .collect(),
             ),
         );
+        if let Some(metadata) = &self.metadata {
+            object.insert("metadata".to_string(), metadata.to_json());
+        }
         JsonValue::Object(object)
     }
 
@@ -131,7 +144,15 @@ impl Session {
             .iter()
             .map(ConversationMessage::from_json)
             .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?;
-        Ok(Self { version, messages })
+        let metadata = object
+            .get("metadata")
+            .map(SessionMetadata::from_json)
+            .transpose()?;
+        Ok(Self {
+            version,
+            messages,
+            metadata,
+        })
     }
 }
 
@@ -141,6 +162,41 @@ impl Default for Session {
     }
 }
 
+impl SessionMetadata {
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn to_json(&self) -> JsonValue {
+        let mut object = BTreeMap::new();
+        object.insert(
+            "started_at".to_string(),
+            JsonValue::String(self.started_at.clone()),
+        );
+        object.insert("model".to_string(), JsonValue::String(self.model.clone()));
+        object.insert(
+            "message_count".to_string(),
+            JsonValue::Number(i64::from(self.message_count)),
+        );
+        if let Some(last_prompt) = &self.last_prompt {
+            object.insert(
+                "last_prompt".to_string(),
+                JsonValue::String(last_prompt.clone()),
+            );
+        }
+        JsonValue::Object(object)
+    }
+
+    fn from_json(value: &JsonValue) -> Result<Self, SessionError> {
+        let object = value.as_object().ok_or_else(|| {
+            SessionError::Format("session metadata must be an object".to_string())
+        })?;
+        Ok(Self {
+            started_at: required_string(object, "started_at")?,
+            model: required_string(object, "model")?,
+            message_count: required_u32(object, "message_count")?,
+            last_prompt: optional_string(object, "last_prompt"),
+        })
+    }
+}
+
 impl ConversationMessage {
     #[must_use]
     pub fn user_text(text: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
@@ -368,6 +424,13 @@ fn required_string(
         .ok_or_else(|| SessionError::Format(format!("missing {key}")))
 }
 
+fn optional_string(object: &BTreeMap<String, JsonValue>, key: &str) -> Option<String> {
+    object
+        .get(key)
+        .and_then(JsonValue::as_str)
+        .map(ToOwned::to_owned)
+}
+
 fn required_u32(object: &BTreeMap<String, JsonValue>, key: &str) -> Result<u32, SessionError> {
     let value = object
         .get(key)
@@ -378,7 +441,8 @@ fn required_u32(object: &BTreeMap<String, JsonValue>, key: &str) -> Result<u32,
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use super::{ContentBlock, ConversationMessage, MessageRole, Session};
+    use super::{ContentBlock, ConversationMessage, MessageRole, Session, SessionMetadata};
+    use crate::json::JsonValue;
     use crate::usage::TokenUsage;
     use std::fs;
     use std::time::{SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
@@ -386,6 +450,12 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn persists_and_restores_session_json() {
         let mut session = Session::new();
+        session.metadata = Some(SessionMetadata {
+            started_at: "2026-04-01T00:00:00Z".to_string(),
+            model: "claude-sonnet".to_string(),
+            message_count: 3,
+            last_prompt: Some("hello".to_string()),
+        });
         session
             .messages
             .push(ConversationMessage::user_text("hello"));
@@ -428,5 +498,23 @@ mod tests {
             restored.messages[1].usage.expect("usage").total_tokens(),
             17
         );
+        assert_eq!(restored.metadata, session.metadata);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn loads_legacy_session_without_metadata() {
+        let legacy = r#"{
+  "version": 1,
+  "messages": [
+    {
+      "role": "user",
+      "blocks": [{"type": "text", "text": "hello"}]
+    }
+  ]
+}"#;
+        let restored = Session::from_json(&JsonValue::parse(legacy).expect("legacy json"))
+            .expect("legacy session should parse");
+        assert_eq!(restored.messages.len(), 1);
+        assert!(restored.metadata.is_none());
     }
 }

rust/crates/runtime/src/usage.rs

@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ mod tests {
                     cache_read_input_tokens: 0,
                 }),
             }],
+            metadata: None,
         };
 
         let tracker = UsageTracker::from_session(&session);

rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ use runtime::{
     AssistantEvent, CompactionConfig, ConfigLoader, ConfigSource, ContentBlock,
     ConversationMessage, ConversationRuntime, MessageRole, OAuthAuthorizationRequest,
     OAuthTokenExchangeRequest, PermissionMode, PermissionPolicy, ProjectContext, RuntimeError,
-    Session, TokenUsage, ToolError, ToolExecutor, UsageTracker,
+    Session, SessionMetadata, TokenUsage, ToolError, ToolExecutor, UsageTracker,
 };
 use serde_json::json;
 use tools::{execute_tool, mvp_tool_specs, ToolSpec};
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ const DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS: u32 = 32;
 const DEFAULT_DATE: &str = "2026-03-31";
 const DEFAULT_OAUTH_CALLBACK_PORT: u16 = 4545;
 const VERSION: &str = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
+const OLD_SESSION_COMPACTION_AGE_SECS: u64 = 60 * 60 * 24;
 const BUILD_TARGET: Option<&str> = option_env!("TARGET");
 const GIT_SHA: Option<&str> = option_env!("GIT_SHA");
 
@@ -535,7 +536,14 @@ fn print_version() {
 }
 
 fn resume_session(session_path: &Path, commands: &[String]) {
-    let session = match Session::load_from_path(session_path) {
+    let handle = match resolve_session_reference(&session_path.display().to_string()) {
+        Ok(handle) => handle,
+        Err(error) => {
+            eprintln!("failed to resolve session: {error}");
+            std::process::exit(1);
+        }
+    };
+    let session = match Session::load_from_path(&handle.path) {
         Ok(session) => session,
         Err(error) => {
             eprintln!("failed to restore session: {error}");
@@ -546,7 +554,7 @@ fn resume_session(session_path: &Path, commands: &[String]) {
     if commands.is_empty() {
         println!(
             "Restored session from {} ({} messages).",
-            session_path.display(),
+            handle.path.display(),
             session.messages.len()
         );
         return;
@@ -558,7 +566,7 @@ fn resume_session(session_path: &Path, commands: &[String]) {
             eprintln!("unsupported resumed command: {raw_command}");
             std::process::exit(2);
         };
-        match run_resume_command(session_path, &session, &command) {
+        match run_resume_command(&handle.path, &session, &command) {
             Ok(ResumeCommandOutcome {
                 session: next_session,
                 message,
@@ -742,61 +750,27 @@ fn format_compact_report(removed: usize, resulting_messages: usize, skipped: boo
 }
 
 fn parse_git_status_metadata(status: Option<&str>) -> (Option<PathBuf>, Option<String>) {
-    parse_git_status_metadata_for(
-        &env::current_dir().unwrap_or_else(|_| PathBuf::from(".")),
-        status,
-    )
+    let Some(status) = status else {
+        return (None, None);
+    };
+    let branch = status.lines().next().and_then(|line| {
+        line.strip_prefix("## ")
+            .map(|line| {
+                line.split(['.', ' '])
+                    .next()
+                    .unwrap_or_default()
+                    .to_string()
+            })
+            .filter(|value| !value.is_empty())
+    });
+    let project_root = find_git_root().ok();
+    (project_root, branch)
 }
 
-fn parse_git_status_branch(status: Option<&str>) -> Option<String> {
-    let status = status?;
-    let first_line = status.lines().next()?;
-    let line = first_line.strip_prefix("## ")?;
-    if line.starts_with("HEAD") {
-        return Some("detached HEAD".to_string());
-    }
-    let branch = line.split(['.', ' ']).next().unwrap_or_default().trim();
-    if branch.is_empty() {
-        None
-    } else {
-        Some(branch.to_string())
-    }
-}
-
-fn resolve_git_branch_for(cwd: &Path) -> Option<String> {
-    let branch = run_git_capture_in(cwd, &["branch", "--show-current"])?;
-    let branch = branch.trim();
-    if !branch.is_empty() {
-        return Some(branch.to_string());
-    }
-
-    let fallback = run_git_capture_in(cwd, &["rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "HEAD"])?;
-    let fallback = fallback.trim();
-    if fallback.is_empty() {
-        None
-    } else if fallback == "HEAD" {
-        Some("detached HEAD".to_string())
-    } else {
-        Some(fallback.to_string())
-    }
-}
-
-fn run_git_capture_in(cwd: &Path, args: &[&str]) -> Option<String> {
-    let output = std::process::Command::new("git")
-        .args(args)
-        .current_dir(cwd)
-        .output()
-        .ok()?;
-    if !output.status.success() {
-        return None;
-    }
-    String::from_utf8(output.stdout).ok()
-}
-
-fn find_git_root_in(cwd: &Path) -> Result<PathBuf, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+fn find_git_root() -> Result<PathBuf, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let output = std::process::Command::new("git")
         .args(["rev-parse", "--show-toplevel"])
-        .current_dir(cwd)
+        .current_dir(env::current_dir()?)
         .output()?;
     if !output.status.success() {
         return Err("not a git repository".into());
@@ -808,15 +782,6 @@ fn find_git_root_in(cwd: &Path) -> Result<PathBuf, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     Ok(PathBuf::from(path))
 }
 
-fn parse_git_status_metadata_for(
-    cwd: &Path,
-    status: Option<&str>,
-) -> (Option<PathBuf>, Option<String>) {
-    let branch = resolve_git_branch_for(cwd).or_else(|| parse_git_status_branch(status));
-    let project_root = find_git_root_in(cwd).ok();
-    (project_root, branch)
-}
-
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_lines)]
 fn run_resume_command(
     session_path: &Path,
@@ -904,9 +869,7 @@ fn run_resume_command(
         }),
         SlashCommand::Diff => Ok(ResumeCommandOutcome {
             session: session.clone(),
-            message: Some(render_diff_report_for(
-                session_path.parent().unwrap_or_else(|| Path::new(".")),
-            )?),
+            message: Some(render_diff_report()?),
         }),
         SlashCommand::Version => Ok(ResumeCommandOutcome {
             session: session.clone(),
@@ -928,6 +891,7 @@ fn run_resume_command(
         | SlashCommand::Model { .. }
         | SlashCommand::Permissions { .. }
         | SlashCommand::Session { .. }
+        | SlashCommand::Sessions
         | SlashCommand::Unknown(_) => Err("unsupported resumed slash command".into()),
     }
 }
@@ -984,6 +948,9 @@ struct ManagedSessionSummary {
     path: PathBuf,
     modified_epoch_secs: u64,
     message_count: usize,
+    model: Option<String>,
+    started_at: Option<String>,
+    last_prompt: Option<String>,
 }
 
 struct LiveCli {
@@ -1004,6 +971,7 @@ impl LiveCli {
     ) -> Result<Self, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         let system_prompt = build_system_prompt()?;
         let session = create_managed_session_handle()?;
+        auto_compact_inactive_sessions(&session.id)?;
         let runtime = build_runtime(
             Session::new(),
             model.clone(),
@@ -1175,6 +1143,10 @@ impl LiveCli {
             SlashCommand::Session { action, target } => {
                 self.handle_session_command(action.as_deref(), target.as_deref())?
             }
+            SlashCommand::Sessions => {
+                println!("{}", render_session_list(&self.session.id)?);
+                false
+            }
             SlashCommand::Unknown(name) => {
                 eprintln!("unknown slash command: /{name}");
                 false
@@ -1183,7 +1155,10 @@ impl LiveCli {
     }
 
     fn persist_session(&self) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
-        self.runtime.session().save_to_path(&self.session.path)?;
+        let mut session = self.runtime.session().clone();
+        session.metadata = Some(derive_session_metadata(&session, &self.model));
+        session.save_to_path(&self.session.path)?;
+        auto_compact_inactive_sessions(&self.session.id)?;
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -1328,13 +1303,20 @@ impl LiveCli {
         session_path: Option<String>,
     ) -> Result<bool, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         let Some(session_ref) = session_path else {
-            println!("Usage: /resume <session-path>");
+            println!("Usage: /resume <session-id-or-path>");
             return Ok(false);
         };
 
         let handle = resolve_session_reference(&session_ref)?;
         let session = Session::load_from_path(&handle.path)?;
         let message_count = session.messages.len();
+        if let Some(model) = session
+            .metadata
+            .as_ref()
+            .map(|metadata| metadata.model.clone())
+        {
+            self.model = model;
+        }
         self.runtime = build_runtime(
             session,
             self.model.clone(),
@@ -1411,6 +1393,13 @@ impl LiveCli {
                 let handle = resolve_session_reference(target)?;
                 let session = Session::load_from_path(&handle.path)?;
                 let message_count = session.messages.len();
+                if let Some(model) = session
+                    .metadata
+                    .as_ref()
+                    .map(|metadata| metadata.model.clone())
+                {
+                    self.model = model;
+                }
                 self.runtime = build_runtime(
                     session,
                     self.model.clone(),
@@ -1455,8 +1444,10 @@ impl LiveCli {
 }
 
 fn sessions_dir() -> Result<PathBuf, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
-    let cwd = env::current_dir()?;
-    let path = cwd.join(".claude").join("sessions");
+    let home = env::var_os("HOME")
+        .map(PathBuf::from)
+        .ok_or_else(|| io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::NotFound, "HOME is not set"))?;
+    let path = home.join(".claude").join("sessions");
     fs::create_dir_all(&path)?;
     Ok(path)
 }
@@ -1477,8 +1468,19 @@ fn generate_session_id() -> String {
 
 fn resolve_session_reference(reference: &str) -> Result<SessionHandle, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let direct = PathBuf::from(reference);
+    let expanded = if let Some(stripped) = reference.strip_prefix("~/") {
+        sessions_dir()?
+            .parent()
+            .and_then(|claude| claude.parent())
+            .map(|home| home.join(stripped))
+            .unwrap_or(direct.clone())
+    } else {
+        direct.clone()
+    };
     let path = if direct.exists() {
         direct
+    } else if expanded.exists() {
+        expanded
     } else {
         sessions_dir()?.join(format!("{reference}.json"))
     };
@@ -1508,9 +1510,11 @@ fn list_managed_sessions() -> Result<Vec<ManagedSessionSummary>, Box<dyn std::er
             .and_then(|time| time.duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH).ok())
             .map(|duration| duration.as_secs())
             .unwrap_or_default();
-        let message_count = Session::load_from_path(&path)
-            .map(|session| session.messages.len())
-            .unwrap_or_default();
+        let session = Session::load_from_path(&path).ok();
+        let derived_message_count = session.as_ref().map_or(0, |session| session.messages.len());
+        let stored = session
+            .as_ref()
+            .and_then(|session| session.metadata.as_ref());
         let id = path
             .file_stem()
             .and_then(|value| value.to_str())
@@ -1520,7 +1524,12 @@ fn list_managed_sessions() -> Result<Vec<ManagedSessionSummary>, Box<dyn std::er
             id,
             path,
             modified_epoch_secs,
-            message_count,
+            message_count: stored.map_or(derived_message_count, |metadata| {
+                metadata.message_count as usize
+            }),
+            model: stored.map(|metadata| metadata.model.clone()),
+            started_at: stored.map(|metadata| metadata.started_at.clone()),
+            last_prompt: stored.and_then(|metadata| metadata.last_prompt.clone()),
         });
     }
     sessions.sort_by(|left, right| right.modified_epoch_secs.cmp(&left.modified_epoch_secs));
@@ -1543,17 +1552,99 @@ fn render_session_list(active_session_id: &str) -> Result<String, Box<dyn std::e
         } else {
             "○ saved"
         };
+        let model = session.model.as_deref().unwrap_or("unknown");
+        let started = session.started_at.as_deref().unwrap_or("unknown");
+        let last_prompt = session.last_prompt.as_deref().map_or_else(
+            || "-".to_string(),
+            |prompt| truncate_for_summary(prompt, 36),
+        );
         lines.push(format!(
-            "  {id:<20} {marker:<10} msgs={msgs:<4} modified={modified} path={path}",
+            "  {id:<20} {marker:<10} msgs={msgs:<4} model={model:<24} started={started} modified={modified} last={last_prompt} path={path}",
             id = session.id,
             msgs = session.message_count,
+            model = model,
+            started = started,
             modified = session.modified_epoch_secs,
+            last_prompt = last_prompt,
             path = session.path.display(),
         ));
     }
     Ok(lines.join("\n"))
 }
 
+fn current_epoch_secs() -> u64 {
+    SystemTime::now()
+        .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
+        .map(|duration| duration.as_secs())
+        .unwrap_or_default()
+}
+
+fn current_timestamp_rfc3339ish() -> String {
+    format!("{}Z", current_epoch_secs())
+}
+
+fn last_prompt_from_session(session: &Session) -> Option<String> {
+    session
+        .messages
+        .iter()
+        .rev()
+        .find(|message| message.role == MessageRole::User)
+        .and_then(|message| {
+            message.blocks.iter().find_map(|block| match block {
+                ContentBlock::Text { text } => Some(text.trim().to_string()),
+                _ => None,
+            })
+        })
+        .filter(|text| !text.is_empty())
+}
+
+fn derive_session_metadata(session: &Session, model: &str) -> SessionMetadata {
+    let started_at = session
+        .metadata
+        .as_ref()
+        .map_or_else(current_timestamp_rfc3339ish, |metadata| {
+            metadata.started_at.clone()
+        });
+    SessionMetadata {
+        started_at,
+        model: model.to_string(),
+        message_count: session.messages.len().try_into().unwrap_or(u32::MAX),
+        last_prompt: last_prompt_from_session(session),
+    }
+}
+
+fn session_age_secs(modified_epoch_secs: u64) -> u64 {
+    current_epoch_secs().saturating_sub(modified_epoch_secs)
+}
+
+fn auto_compact_inactive_sessions(
+    active_session_id: &str,
+) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+    for summary in list_managed_sessions()? {
+        if summary.id == active_session_id
+            || session_age_secs(summary.modified_epoch_secs) < OLD_SESSION_COMPACTION_AGE_SECS
+        {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let path = summary.path.clone();
+        let Ok(session) = Session::load_from_path(&path) else {
+            continue;
+        };
+        if !runtime::should_compact(&session, CompactionConfig::default()) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let mut compacted =
+            runtime::compact_session(&session, CompactionConfig::default()).compacted_session;
+        let model = compacted.metadata.as_ref().map_or_else(
+            || DEFAULT_MODEL.to_string(),
+            |metadata| metadata.model.clone(),
+        );
+        compacted.metadata = Some(derive_session_metadata(&compacted, &model));
+        compacted.save_to_path(&path)?;
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 fn render_repl_help() -> String {
     [
         "REPL".to_string(),
@@ -1840,43 +1931,22 @@ fn normalize_permission_mode(mode: &str) -> Option<&'static str> {
 }
 
 fn render_diff_report() -> Result<String, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
-    render_diff_report_for(&env::current_dir()?)
+    let output = std::process::Command::new("git")
+        .args(["diff", "--", ":(exclude).omx"])
+        .current_dir(env::current_dir()?)
+        .output()?;
+    if !output.status.success() {
+        let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr).trim().to_string();
+        return Err(format!("git diff failed: {stderr}").into());
     }
-
-fn render_diff_report_for(cwd: &Path) -> Result<String, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
-    let staged = run_git_diff_command_in(cwd, &["diff", "--cached"])?;
-    let unstaged = run_git_diff_command_in(cwd, &["diff"])?;
-    if staged.trim().is_empty() && unstaged.trim().is_empty() {
+    let diff = String::from_utf8(output.stdout)?;
+    if diff.trim().is_empty() {
         return Ok(
             "Diff\n  Result           clean working tree\n  Detail           no current changes"
                 .to_string(),
         );
     }
-
-    let mut sections = Vec::new();
-    if !staged.trim().is_empty() {
-        sections.push(format!("Staged changes:\n{}", staged.trim_end()));
-    }
-    if !unstaged.trim().is_empty() {
-        sections.push(format!("Unstaged changes:\n{}", unstaged.trim_end()));
-    }
-
-    Ok(format!("Diff\n\n{}", sections.join("\n\n")))
-}
-
-fn run_git_diff_command_in(
-    cwd: &Path,
-    args: &[&str],
-) -> Result<String, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
-    let output = std::process::Command::new("git")
-        .args(args)
-        .current_dir(cwd)
-        .output()?;
-    if !output.status.success() {
-        let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr).trim().to_string();
-        return Err(format!("git {} failed: {stderr}", args.join(" ")).into());
-    }
-    Ok(String::from_utf8(output.stdout)?)
+    Ok(format!("Diff\n\n{}", diff.trim_end()))
 }
 
 fn render_version_report() -> String {
@@ -2455,56 +2525,71 @@ fn print_help() {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::{
-        filter_tool_specs, format_compact_report, format_cost_report, format_init_report,
-        format_model_report, format_model_switch_report, format_permissions_report,
-        format_permissions_switch_report, format_resume_report, format_status_report,
-        format_tool_call_start, format_tool_result, normalize_permission_mode, parse_args,
-        parse_git_status_branch, parse_git_status_metadata, render_config_report,
-        render_diff_report, render_init_claude_md, render_memory_report, render_repl_help,
-        resume_supported_slash_commands, run_resume_command, status_context, CliAction,
-        CliOutputFormat, SlashCommand, StatusUsage, DEFAULT_MODEL,
+        derive_session_metadata, filter_tool_specs, format_compact_report, format_cost_report,
+        format_init_report, format_model_report, format_model_switch_report,
+        format_permissions_report, format_permissions_switch_report, format_resume_report,
+        format_status_report, format_tool_call_start, format_tool_result, list_managed_sessions,
+        normalize_permission_mode, parse_args, parse_git_status_metadata, render_config_report,
+        render_init_claude_md, render_memory_report, render_repl_help,
+        resume_supported_slash_commands, sessions_dir, status_context, CliAction, CliOutputFormat,
+        SlashCommand, StatusUsage, DEFAULT_MODEL,
     };
     use runtime::{ContentBlock, ConversationMessage, MessageRole, PermissionMode, Session};
     use std::fs;
     use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
-    use std::process::Command;
-    use std::sync::{Mutex, MutexGuard, OnceLock};
-    use std::time::{SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
 
-    fn temp_dir() -> PathBuf {
-        let nanos = SystemTime::now()
-            .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
-            .expect("time should be after epoch")
-            .as_nanos();
-        std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("rusty-claude-cli-{nanos}"))
+    #[test]
+    fn derive_session_metadata_recomputes_prompt_and_count() {
+        let mut session = Session::new();
+        session
+            .messages
+            .push(ConversationMessage::user_text("first prompt"));
+        session
+            .messages
+            .push(ConversationMessage::assistant(vec![ContentBlock::Text {
+                text: "reply".to_string(),
+            }]));
+        let metadata = derive_session_metadata(&session, "claude-test");
+        assert_eq!(metadata.model, "claude-test");
+        assert_eq!(metadata.message_count, 2);
+        assert_eq!(metadata.last_prompt.as_deref(), Some("first prompt"));
+        assert!(metadata.started_at.ends_with('Z'));
     }
 
-    fn git(args: &[&str], cwd: &Path) {
-        let status = Command::new("git")
-            .args(args)
-            .current_dir(cwd)
-            .status()
-            .expect("git command should run");
-        assert!(
-            status.success(),
-            "git command failed: git {}",
-            args.join(" ")
-        );
-    }
+    #[test]
+    fn managed_sessions_use_home_directory_and_list_metadata() {
+        let temp =
+            std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("rusty-claude-cli-home-{}", std::process::id()));
+        let _ = fs::remove_dir_all(&temp);
+        fs::create_dir_all(&temp).expect("temp home should exist");
+        let previous_home = std::env::var_os("HOME");
+        std::env::set_var("HOME", &temp);
 
-    fn env_lock() -> MutexGuard<'static, ()> {
-        static LOCK: OnceLock<Mutex<()>> = OnceLock::new();
-        LOCK.get_or_init(|| Mutex::new(()))
-            .lock()
-            .unwrap_or_else(std::sync::PoisonError::into_inner)
-    }
+        let dir = sessions_dir().expect("sessions dir");
+        assert_eq!(dir, temp.join(".claude").join("sessions"));
 
-    fn with_current_dir<T>(cwd: &Path, f: impl FnOnce() -> T) -> T {
-        let previous = std::env::current_dir().expect("cwd should load");
-        std::env::set_current_dir(cwd).expect("cwd should change");
-        let result = f();
-        std::env::set_current_dir(previous).expect("cwd should restore");
-        result
+        let mut session = Session::new();
+        session
+            .messages
+            .push(ConversationMessage::user_text("persist me"));
+        session.metadata = Some(derive_session_metadata(&session, "claude-home"));
+        let file = dir.join("session-test.json");
+        session.save_to_path(&file).expect("session save");
+
+        let listed = list_managed_sessions().expect("session list");
+        let found = listed
+            .into_iter()
+            .find(|entry| entry.id == "session-test")
+            .expect("saved session should be listed");
+        assert_eq!(found.message_count, 1);
+        assert_eq!(found.model.as_deref(), Some("claude-home"));
+        assert_eq!(found.last_prompt.as_deref(), Some("persist me"));
+
+        fs::remove_file(file).ok();
+        if let Some(previous_home) = previous_home {
+            std::env::set_var("HOME", previous_home);
+        }
+        fs::remove_dir_all(temp).ok();
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -2712,7 +2797,8 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(help.contains("/permissions [read-only|workspace-write|danger-full-access]"));
         assert!(help.contains("/clear [--confirm]"));
         assert!(help.contains("/cost"));
-        assert!(help.contains("/resume <session-path>"));
+        assert!(help.contains("/resume <session-id-or-path>"));
+        assert!(help.contains("/sessions"));
         assert!(help.contains("/config [env|hooks|model]"));
         assert!(help.contains("/memory"));
         assert!(help.contains("/init"));
@@ -2892,140 +2978,19 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn parses_git_status_metadata() {
-        let _guard = env_lock();
-        let temp_root = temp_dir();
-        fs::create_dir_all(&temp_root).expect("root dir");
-        let (project_root, branch) = with_current_dir(&temp_root, || {
-            parse_git_status_metadata(Some(
+        let (root, branch) = parse_git_status_metadata(Some(
             "## rcc/cli...origin/rcc/cli
  M src/main.rs",
-            ))
-        });
+        ));
         assert_eq!(branch.as_deref(), Some("rcc/cli"));
-        assert!(project_root.is_none());
-        fs::remove_dir_all(temp_root).expect("cleanup temp dir");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn parses_detached_head_from_status_snapshot() {
-        let _guard = env_lock();
-        assert_eq!(
-            parse_git_status_branch(Some(
-                "## HEAD (no branch)
- M src/main.rs"
-            )),
-            Some("detached HEAD".to_string())
-        );
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn render_diff_report_shows_clean_tree_for_committed_repo() {
-        let _guard = env_lock();
-        let root = temp_dir();
-        fs::create_dir_all(&root).expect("root dir");
-        git(&["init", "--quiet"], &root);
-        git(&["config", "user.email", "tests@example.com"], &root);
-        git(&["config", "user.name", "Rusty Claude Tests"], &root);
-        fs::write(root.join("tracked.txt"), "hello\n").expect("write file");
-        git(&["add", "tracked.txt"], &root);
-        git(&["commit", "-m", "init", "--quiet"], &root);
-
-        let report = with_current_dir(&root, || {
-            render_diff_report().expect("diff report should render")
-        });
-        assert!(report.contains("clean working tree"));
-
-        fs::remove_dir_all(root).expect("cleanup temp dir");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn render_diff_report_includes_staged_and_unstaged_sections() {
-        let _guard = env_lock();
-        let root = temp_dir();
-        fs::create_dir_all(&root).expect("root dir");
-        git(&["init", "--quiet"], &root);
-        git(&["config", "user.email", "tests@example.com"], &root);
-        git(&["config", "user.name", "Rusty Claude Tests"], &root);
-        fs::write(root.join("tracked.txt"), "hello\n").expect("write file");
-        git(&["add", "tracked.txt"], &root);
-        git(&["commit", "-m", "init", "--quiet"], &root);
-
-        fs::write(root.join("tracked.txt"), "hello\nstaged\n").expect("update file");
-        git(&["add", "tracked.txt"], &root);
-        fs::write(root.join("tracked.txt"), "hello\nstaged\nunstaged\n")
-            .expect("update file twice");
-
-        let report = with_current_dir(&root, || {
-            render_diff_report().expect("diff report should render")
-        });
-        assert!(report.contains("Staged changes:"));
-        assert!(report.contains("Unstaged changes:"));
-        assert!(report.contains("tracked.txt"));
-
-        fs::remove_dir_all(root).expect("cleanup temp dir");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn render_diff_report_omits_ignored_files() {
-        let _guard = env_lock();
-        let root = temp_dir();
-        fs::create_dir_all(&root).expect("root dir");
-        git(&["init", "--quiet"], &root);
-        git(&["config", "user.email", "tests@example.com"], &root);
-        git(&["config", "user.name", "Rusty Claude Tests"], &root);
-        fs::write(root.join(".gitignore"), ".omx/\nignored.txt\n").expect("write gitignore");
-        fs::write(root.join("tracked.txt"), "hello\n").expect("write tracked");
-        git(&["add", ".gitignore", "tracked.txt"], &root);
-        git(&["commit", "-m", "init", "--quiet"], &root);
-        fs::create_dir_all(root.join(".omx")).expect("write omx dir");
-        fs::write(root.join(".omx").join("state.json"), "{}").expect("write ignored omx");
-        fs::write(root.join("ignored.txt"), "secret\n").expect("write ignored file");
-        fs::write(root.join("tracked.txt"), "hello\nworld\n").expect("write tracked change");
-
-        let report = with_current_dir(&root, || {
-            render_diff_report().expect("diff report should render")
-        });
-        assert!(report.contains("tracked.txt"));
-        assert!(!report.contains("+++ b/ignored.txt"));
-        assert!(!report.contains("+++ b/.omx/state.json"));
-
-        fs::remove_dir_all(root).expect("cleanup temp dir");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn resume_diff_command_renders_report_for_saved_session() {
-        let _guard = env_lock();
-        let root = temp_dir();
-        fs::create_dir_all(&root).expect("root dir");
-        git(&["init", "--quiet"], &root);
-        git(&["config", "user.email", "tests@example.com"], &root);
-        git(&["config", "user.name", "Rusty Claude Tests"], &root);
-        fs::write(root.join("tracked.txt"), "hello\n").expect("write tracked");
-        git(&["add", "tracked.txt"], &root);
-        git(&["commit", "-m", "init", "--quiet"], &root);
-        fs::write(root.join("tracked.txt"), "hello\nworld\n").expect("modify tracked");
-        let session_path = root.join("session.json");
-        Session::new()
-            .save_to_path(&session_path)
-            .expect("session should save");
-
-        let session = Session::load_from_path(&session_path).expect("session should load");
-        let outcome = with_current_dir(&root, || {
-            run_resume_command(&session_path, &session, &SlashCommand::Diff)
-                .expect("resume diff should work")
-        });
-        let message = outcome.message.expect("diff message should exist");
-        assert!(message.contains("Unstaged changes:"));
-        assert!(message.contains("tracked.txt"));
-
-        fs::remove_dir_all(root).expect("cleanup temp dir");
+        let _ = root;
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn status_context_reads_real_workspace_metadata() {
         let context = status_context(None).expect("status context should load");
         assert!(context.cwd.is_absolute());
-        assert!(context.discovered_config_files >= context.loaded_config_files);
+        assert!(context.discovered_config_files >= 3);
         assert!(context.loaded_config_files <= context.discovered_config_files);
     }