Feature context_management.experimental_mode causes node_repl to fail

What version of Codex CLI is running?

codex-cli 0.154.0

What subscription do you have?

Pro x20

Which model were you using?

gpt-6-astra

What platform is your computer?

Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.26200.0 x64

What terminal emulator and version are you using (if applicable)?

Powershell in VS Code

Codex doctor report

{
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  "overallStatus": "warning",
  "codexVersion": "0.154.0",
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        "status": "not running",
        "update-loop pid file": "C:\\Users\\kacpe\\.codex\\app-server-daemon\\app-server-updater.pid (missing)"
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        "cwd": "C:\\Users\\kacpe\\source\\repos\\swanskirts.worktrees\\main",
        "enabled feature flags": "<redacted>",
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        "PATH git #1": "c:\\program files\\git\\cmd\\git.exe",
        "PATH git #2": "C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd\\git.exe",
        "PATH git #3": "D:\\msys\\usr\\bin\\git.exe",
        "PATH git entries": "3",
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      "details": {},
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      "durationMs": 0
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    "installation": {
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      "category": "install",
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        "managed by Vite+": "false",
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        "managed package root": "C:\\Users\\kacpe\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@openai\\codex",
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    "network.env": {
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      "status": "ok",
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      "details": {
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        "respect system proxy": "disabled"
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      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 0
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      "summary": "active provider endpoints are reachable over HTTP",
      "details": {
        "ChatGPT inference URL": "https://chatgpt.com/backend-api/<redacted> reachable (HTTP 405)",
        "desktop assets CDN": "https://persistent.oaistatic.com/codex-app-prod/<redacted> reachable (HTTP 200)",
        "reachability mode": "ChatGPT auth"
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      "remediation": null,
      "durationMs": 122
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    "network.websocket_reachability": {
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      "summary": "Responses WebSocket handshake succeeded",
      "details": {
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        "auth mode": "chatgpt",
        "connect timeout": "15000 ms",
        "endpoint": "wss://chatgpt.com/backend-api/<redacted>",
        "handshake result": "HTTP 101 Switching Protocols",
        "model provider": "openai",
        "provider name": "OpenAI",
        "proxy env vars": "none",
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        "server model present": "false",
        "supports websockets": "true",
        "wire API": "responses"
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      "remediation": null,
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    "runtime.provenance": {
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      "status": "ok",
      "summary": "running npm on windows-x86_64",
      "details": {
        "commit": "unknown",
        "current executable": "C:\\Users\\kacpe\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@openai\\codex\\node_modules\\@openai\\codex-win32-x64\\vendor\\x86_64-pc-windows-msvc\\bin\\codex.exe",
        "install method": "npm (package C:\\Users\\kacpe\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@openai\\codex\\node_modules\\@openai\\codex-win32-x64\\vendor\\x86_64-pc-windows-msvc, bin C:\\Users\\kacpe\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@openai\\codex\\node_modules\\@openai\\codex-win32-x64\\vendor\\x86_64-pc-windows-msvc\\bin, resources C:\\Users\\kacpe\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@openai\\codex\\node_modules\\@openai\\codex-win32-x64\\vendor\\x86_64-pc-windows-msvc\\codex-resources, path C:\\Users\\kacpe\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@openai\\codex\\node_modules\\@openai\\codex-win32-x64\\vendor\\x86_64-pc-windows-msvc\\codex-path)",
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          "expected": "Codex application and helper exclusions",
          "remedy": "Microsoft Defender: Add a certificate or executable-path exclusion for Codex and its helpers. If Attack Surface Reduction blocks Codex, add a rule exclusion. If Controlled Folder Access blocks Codex, allow the app.",
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  }
}

What issue are you seeing?

After enabling new context compaction feature for gpt-6-astra feature.context_management.experimental_mode = true the model cannot use browser (both in-app and control chrome extension). The step "Connect to in-app browser" fails with "node_repl kernel exited unexpectedly" and

 node_repl diagnostics: {"kernel_pid":3112,"kernel_status":"exited(code=1)","kernel_stderr_tail":"Error: C:\\Users\\kacpe\\.codex\\config.toml:102:1: invalid type: map, expected a boolean | Caused by: |     invalid type: map, expected a boolean |     in `features` |
        ","reason":"stdout_eof","stream_error":null}

What steps can reproduce the bug?

1. Install the newest version of codex-cli (the issue persist since at least 0.153.1)
2. Update config.toml and set:
   [features.context_management] experimental_mode = true or
   [features] context_management.experimental_mode = true
3. Invoke the $browser or $chrome skill

What is the expected behavior?

The model is able to use browser

Additional information

No response

Start by reproducing the failure in Codex CLI 0.154.0 with context_management.experimental_mode enabled and node_repl in the reported Windows PowerShell environment. Trace the node_repl path and configuration handling to identify the failure boundary; done means node_repl works with experimental mode enabled, with a regression test if the repository provides a relevant test location.