gemini-cli - ✅(Solved) Fix Metadata-only sessions can be deleted immediately, regardless of age [1 pull requests, 1 participants]

jpmartins98 · 2026-05-19T19:57:15Z

[gemini-cli] PR 27287: fix cli : harmonize empty session lifecycle - Repository: google-gemini/gemini-cli - Author: jpmartins98 - State: open | merged: False -… # PR #27287: fix(cli): harmonize empty session lifecycle - Repository: google-gemini/gemini-cli - Author: jpmartins98 - State: open | merged: False - Link: https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/pull/27287 ## Description (problem / solution / changelog) ## Summary This PR harmonizes how the Gemini CLI handles "empty" (metadata-only) sessions, fixing several interrelated lifecycle and persistence bugs. Empty sessions are now treated as valid but explicitly flagged, preventing them from being falsely advertised for resumption or prematurely deleted. ## Details Previously, when a user started the CLI and immediately quit (e.g., after `/clear`), a metadata-only session file was created. The CLI's listing parser treated these as corrupted (`sessionInfo: null`), which caused a cascade of issues: 1. **Immediate Deletion**: The startup cleanup task aggressively deleted them because they were considered corrupt, ignoring retention policies. 2. **Invisible to Resume**: They were filtered out of `--list-sessions` and `--resume`. 3. **Contradictory Errors**: `--session-id` checked raw file existence, while `--resume` used the filtered list, causing the CLI to tell users to resume a session that couldn't be resumed. 4. **False Promises**: The exit summary blindly printed `gemini --resume ` even if no conversation occurred. This PR fixes this by: - Adding an `isEmpty: boolean` flag to `SessionInfo`. - Allowing empty sessions to parse successfully so they fall under normal age-based retention policies. - Hiding the resume command in the exit summary if the session is empty. - Updating `--session-id` conflict detection to report that the ID exists but is empty, rather than blindly redirecting to `--resume`. ## Related Issues Fixes #27269 Fixes #27270 Fixes #27271 Fixes #27282 ## How to Validate 1. Run the CLI and immediately exit using `/quit`. 2. Observe the exit screen: It should say "No conversation recorded." instead of providing a `--resume` command. 3. Run `gemini --list-sessions`. 4. Observe the session list: The session should appear in the list with an `(Empty)` tag. 5. Attempt to start a new session with that same ID: `gemini --session-id `. 6. The CLI should output a specific error: `Session ID " " already exists but is empty. Please provide a different ID or delete the old session.` ## Pre-Merge Checklist - [x] Updated relevant documentation and README (if needed) - [x] Added/updated tests (if needed) - [ ] Noted breaking changes (if any) - [x] Validated on required platforms/methods: - [ ] MacOS - [ ] npm run - [ ] npx - [ ] Docker - [ ] Podman - [ ] Seatbelt - [ ] Windows - [ ] npm run - [ ] npx - [ ] Docker - [x] Linux - [x] npm run - [ ] npx - [ ] Docker ## Changed files - `docs/cli/session-management.md` (modified, +6/-1) - `packages/cli/src/gemini.test.tsx` (modified, +3/-1) - `packages/cli/src/gemini.tsx` (modified, +13/-5) - `packages/cli/src/ui/components/SessionBrowser.test.tsx` (modified, +4/-0) - `packages/cli/src/ui/components/SessionBrowser/utils.test.ts` (modified, +1/-0) - `packages/cli/src/ui/components/SessionSummaryDisplay.tsx` (modified, +10/-5) - `packages/cli/src/utils/sessionUtils.test.ts` (modified, +14/-7) - `packages/cli/src/utils/sessionUtils.ts` (modified, +13/-8) - `packages/cli/src/utils/sessions.test.ts` (modified, +22/-0) - `packages/cli/src/utils/sessions.ts` (modified, +2/-1) - `packages/core/src/services/chatRecordingService.test.ts` (modified, +121/-0) ## Fixed - Fixed by PR: fix(cli): harmonize empty session lifecycle (https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/pull/27287) ### What happened? The cleanup code treats every sessionInfo === null file as a corrupted file. That includes metadata-only sessions, because listing already converted them to sessionInfo: null. These files are pushed into sessionsToDelete before age-based retention is checked. A session created seconds ago can therefore be selected for deletion if it is from a previous run and has no user/gemini messages. minRetention does not protect this path. This is especially bad because /clear followed by /quit creates exactly this kind of file. packages/cli/src/utils/sessionCleanup.ts:308 ``` // All corrupted files should be deleted sessionsToDelete.push( ...allFiles.filter((entry) => entry.sessionInfo === null), ); ``` ### What did you expect to happen? A recent file with a valid sessionId should not be deleted just because no prompt was sent. The cleanup should distinguish truly corrupted files from empty-but-valid sessions. If the file is younger than a safety window, it should be skipped or quarantined. If it is deleted, the user should get visible feedback. minRetention should apply here too, not only to age-based deletion. ### Client information Client Information Run `gemini` to enter the interact

gemini-cli2026-05-19 19:57:15

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google-gemini/gemini-cli#27270•Fetched 2026-05-20 03:59:43

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Root Cause

The cleanup code treats every sessionInfo === null file as a corrupted file. That includes metadata-only sessions, because listing already converted them to sessionInfo: null. These files are pushed into sessionsToDelete before age-based retention is checked. A session created seconds ago can therefore be selected for deletion if it is from a previous run and has no user/gemini messages. minRetention does not protect this path. This is especially bad because /clear followed by /quit creates exactly this kind of file.

Code Example

// All corrupted files should be deleted
  sessionsToDelete.push(
    ...allFiles.filter((entry) => entry.sessionInfo === null),
  );

---

╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 │
│ About Gemini CLI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                │
│                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 │
│ CLI Version                                                                                    0.42.0                                                                                                                                                                           │
│ Git Commit                                                                                     68e2196d5                                                                                                                                                                        │
│ Model                                                                                          Auto (Gemini 3)                                                                                                                                                                  │
│ Sandbox                                                                                        no sandbox                                                                                                                                                                       │
│ OS                                                                                             linux                                                                                                                                                                            │
│ Auth Method                                                                                    Signed in with Google                                                                                                                              │
│ Tier                                                                                           Gemini Code Assist in Google One AI Pro                                                                                                                                          │
│                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 │
╰─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

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What happened?

packages/cli/src/utils/sessionCleanup.ts:308

  // All corrupted files should be deleted
  sessionsToDelete.push(
    ...allFiles.filter((entry) => entry.sessionInfo === null),
  );

What did you expect to happen?

A recent file with a valid sessionId should not be deleted just because no prompt was sent. The cleanup should distinguish truly corrupted files from empty-but-valid sessions. If the file is younger than a safety window, it should be skipped or quarantined. If it is deleted, the user should get visible feedback. minRetention should apply here too, not only to age-based deletion.

Client information

<details> <summary>Client Information</summary>

Run gemini to enter the interactive CLI, then run the /about command.

╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 │
│ About Gemini CLI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                │
│                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 │
│ CLI Version                                                                                    0.42.0                                                                                                                                                                           │
│ Git Commit                                                                                     68e2196d5                                                                                                                                                                        │
│ Model                                                                                          Auto (Gemini 3)                                                                                                                                                                  │
│ Sandbox                                                                                        no sandbox                                                                                                                                                                       │
│ OS                                                                                             linux                                                                                                                                                                            │
│ Auth Method                                                                                    Signed in with Google                                                                                                                              │
│ Tier                                                                                           Gemini Code Assist in Google One AI Pro                                                                                                                                          │
│                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 │
╰─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

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gemini-cli - ✅(Solved) Fix Metadata-only sessions can be deleted immediately, regardless of age [1 pull requests, 1 participants]

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PR #27287: fix(cli): harmonize empty session lifecycle

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gemini-cli - ✅(Solved) Fix Metadata-only sessions can be deleted immediately, regardless of age [1 pull requests, 1 participants]

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PR #27287: fix(cli): harmonize empty session lifecycle

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