fix(cli): keep composer editable during compression

cli.py

@@ -4169,6 +4169,7 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin, CLIBillingMixin):
         self._pending_tool_info: dict = {}  # function_name -> list of (preview, args) for stacked scrollback
         self._last_scrollback_tool: str = ""  # last tool name printed to scrollback (for "new" dedup)
         self._command_running = False
+        self._command_blocks_input = False
         self._command_status = ""
         # Petdex mascot (opt-in via display.pet). The base CLI mirrors the TUI's
         # PetPane: a half-block sprite above the prompt that reacts to agent
@@ -6182,9 +6183,17 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin, CLIBillingMixin):
         return _COMMAND_SPINNER_FRAMES[frame_idx]
 
     @contextmanager
-    def _busy_command(self, status: str):
-        """Expose a temporary busy state in the TUI while a slash command runs."""
+    def _busy_command(self, status: str, *, blocks_input: bool = True):
+        """Expose a temporary busy state in the TUI while a slash command runs.
+
+        Most synchronous slash commands must reserve the composer because their
+        completion changes the active session state. Manual compression is safe
+        to draft through: the queued input is processed against the compacted
+        history after the command completes.
+        """
+        previous_blocks_input = getattr(self, "_command_blocks_input", False)
         self._command_running = True
+        self._command_blocks_input = blocks_input
         self._command_status = status
         self._invalidate(min_interval=0.0)
         try:
@@ -6192,6 +6201,7 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin, CLIBillingMixin):
             yield
         finally:
             self._command_running = False
+            self._command_blocks_input = previous_blocks_input
             self._command_status = ""
             self._invalidate(min_interval=0.0)
 
@@ -10010,7 +10020,7 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin, CLIBillingMixin):
             return
 
         original_count = len(self.conversation_history)
-        with self._busy_command("Compressing context..."):
+        with self._busy_command("Compressing context...", blocks_input=False):
             try:
                 from agent.model_metadata import estimate_request_tokens_rough
                 from agent.manual_compression_feedback import summarize_manual_compression
@@ -13436,6 +13446,7 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin, CLIBillingMixin):
 
         # Slash command loading state
         self._command_running = False
+        self._command_blocks_input = False
         self._command_status = ""
 
         # Secure secret capture state for skill setup
@@ -14397,7 +14408,7 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin, CLIBillingMixin):
             style='class:input-area',
             multiline=True,
             wrap_lines=True,
-            read_only=Condition(lambda: bool(cli_ref._command_running)),
+            read_only=Condition(lambda: bool(cli_ref._command_blocks_input)),
             history=FileHistory(str(self._history_file)),
             # complete_while_typing fires the completer on every keystroke. The
             # completer does blocking work — fuzzy @-file indexing shells out to
@@ -14608,8 +14619,9 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin, CLIBillingMixin):
 
             if cli_ref._command_running:
                 frame = cli_ref._command_spinner_frame()
+                detail = "input temporarily disabled" if cli_ref._command_blocks_input else "input stays active; Enter queues"
                 return [
-                    ('class:hint', f'  {frame} command in progress · input temporarily disabled'),
+                    ('class:hint', f'  {frame} command in progress · {detail}'),
                 ]
 
             return []

tests/cli/test_manual_compress.py

@@ -14,6 +14,35 @@ def _make_history() -> list[dict[str, str]]:
     ]
 
 
+def test_manual_compress_keeps_tui_composer_editable(capsys):
+    """A follow-up can be drafted and queued while /compress runs."""
+    shell = _make_cli()
+    history = _make_history()
+    shell.conversation_history = history
+    shell.agent = MagicMock()
+    shell.agent.compression_enabled = True
+    shell.agent._cached_system_prompt = ""
+    shell.agent.tools = None
+    shell.agent.session_id = shell.session_id
+
+    observed = {}
+
+    def compress(*_args, **_kwargs):
+        # The classic TUI's TextArea consults this state for its read_only
+        # condition. Compression must retain its status spinner without
+        # preventing the user from drafting the next prompt.
+        observed["running"] = shell._command_running
+        observed["blocks_input"] = getattr(shell, "_command_blocks_input", shell._command_running)
+        return list(history), ""
+
+    shell.agent._compress_context.side_effect = compress
+
+    with patch("agent.model_metadata.estimate_request_tokens_rough", return_value=100):
+        shell._manual_compress()
+
+    assert observed == {"running": True, "blocks_input": False}
+
+
 def test_manual_compress_reports_noop_without_success_banner(capsys):
     shell = _make_cli()
     history = _make_history()

tests/test_cli_manual_compress.py

@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def test_manual_compress_does_not_pass_cached_system_prompt(monkeypatch):
     cli.agent = DummyAgent()
     cli.session_id = "old-session"
     cli._pending_title = "old title"
-    cli._busy_command = lambda _message: nullcontext()
+    cli._busy_command = lambda _message, **_kwargs: nullcontext()
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         "agent.manual_compression_feedback.summarize_manual_compression",