Large number of node_repl.exe processes

Codex
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1

Title: Codex Windows app freezes and creates dozens of node_repl.exe processes

I am experiencing repeated freezes in the Codex Windows desktop app.

The app periodically turns white and becomes “not responding” for roughly 20 seconds before recovering. During this, Task Manager shows a very large number of node_repl.exe processes running at the same time.

This does not look like normal resource pressure: overall CPU and memory are not extremely high. It looks more like Codex is spawning many child REPL processes and not cleaning them up, or not reusing existing sessions properly.

Expected:
The app should stay responsive and should not accumulate dozens of node_repl.exe child processes.

Observed:

  • Codex app freezes / white screen

  • “Not responding” for ~20 seconds

  • Dozens of node_repl.exe processes visible in Task Manager

  • Each process is small, but the process count is abnormal

Suggestion:
Please investigate whether node_repl.exe processes are being leaked or left alive after tasks finish. A child-process watchdog, reuse strategy, process cap, or cleanup routine may help. It would also be useful to expose diagnostic logs showing when these processes are spawned and terminated.
Screenshot attached.

bugreport
bugreport1051×1817 159 KB

2

Welcome to the forum!

You can discuss Codex-related issues here, but the official place to report them is the OpenAI Codex GitHub Issues.

I used ChatGPT to search for similar issues and found several related issues.

It’s worth reviewing existing issues to see if any align with your situation. If none do, consider opening a new report with clear reproduction steps. If you do find a match, adding a :+1: reaction can help increase its visibility to the developers.