feat(coding-agent): enhanced model hub navigation and role config persistence

- Improved model hub UI with automatic list focusing upon typing and arrow key navigation between sidebar and model lists.
- Updated non-default role configurations to persist explicit auto-thinking suffixes without mutating active sessions.
- Added cache invalidation and provider-based model registry lookups to support dynamic model updates.
- Added comprehensive test suites verifying model hub navigation and role settings side-effect behaviors.

packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 ### Changed
 
+- Typing anywhere in the /models UI now immediately focuses the model list for instant search and arrow navigation.
 - Revamped the todo HUD — overall progress renders along the tree-spine connector with smooth completion transitions.
 - Compaction divider now names the maintenance method that fired (`remote-compacted`, `soft-compacted`, `handed-off`, `snap-compacted`) and shows the before → after context size (e.g. `256K→20K`).
 - `/handoff` (and automatic handoff compaction) now compacts in place, replacing the session context instead of forking a new session.
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- `/models` keeps `auto` thinking on non-default roles such as `task` instead of changing the active model and displaying the role as `max`.
 - Subagent `yield` structured results no longer get corrupted by lossy argument repairs; prompt guidance improved for weak callers.
 - GitHub `file_read` returns proper image blocks and direct view URLs for image/binary files.
 - Cancelled prompts during pre-stream turn setup restore the text and image attachments to the editor.

packages/coding-agent/src/config/model-patch.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { Api, Model, ModelSpec, RemoteCompactionConfig, ThinkingConfig } fr
 import { buildModel } from "@oh-my-pi/pi-catalog/build";
 import { isVertexExpressOpenAIUrl } from "@oh-my-pi/pi-catalog/hosts";
 import { PROVIDER_DESCRIPTORS } from "@oh-my-pi/pi-catalog/provider-models";
+import { toModelSpec } from "@oh-my-pi/pi-catalog/provider-models/bundled-references";
 import { isRecord } from "@oh-my-pi/pi-utils";
 import type { ModelOverride } from "./models-config-schema";
 /** Provider override config (baseUrl, headers, apiKey, compat, transport) without custom models */
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ export function mergeDiscoveredModel<TApi extends Api>(
 	if (existing) {
 		const supportsTools = model.supportsTools ?? existing.supportsTools;
 		return buildModel({
-			...model,
+			...toModelSpec(model),
 			baseUrl: providerOverride?.baseUrl ?? model.baseUrl ?? existing.baseUrl,
 			headers: existing.headers ? { ...existing.headers, ...model.headers } : model.headers,
 			transport: providerOverride?.transport ?? existing.transport ?? model.transport,
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ export function mergeDiscoveredModel<TApi extends Api>(
 	}
 	if (providerOverride) {
 		return buildModel({
-			...model,
+			...toModelSpec(model),
 			baseUrl: providerOverride.baseUrl ?? model.baseUrl,
 			headers: providerOverride.headers ? { ...model.headers, ...providerOverride.headers } : model.headers,
 			...(providerOverride.transport !== undefined ? { transport: providerOverride.transport } : {}),
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@ export function applyModelPatch(base: Model<Api>, patch: ModelPatch, transport:
 		result.headers = patch.headers;
 		compat = patch.compat;
 	}
-	const built = buildModel({ ...result, compat } as ModelSpec<Api>);
+	const built = buildModel({ ...toModelSpec(result), compat } as ModelSpec<Api>);
 	if (patch.thinking !== undefined && built.thinking !== undefined) {
 		// Config-authored capability metadata owns the explicit surface; build
 		// first so non-reasoning and wire-disabled models still suppress it.

packages/coding-agent/src/config/model-registry.ts

@@ -562,6 +562,16 @@ export class ModelRegistry {
 		});
 	}
 
+	#invalidateProviderModelCache(providerName: string): void {
+		const prefix = `${providerName}\u0000`;
+		for (const key of this.#internedStaticModels.keys()) {
+			if (key.startsWith(prefix)) {
+				this.#internedStaticModels.delete(key);
+			}
+		}
+		this.#providerLookupSnapshots.delete(providerName);
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Re-apply the credential-aware projections registered by extension providers.
 	 *
@@ -2091,7 +2101,7 @@ export class ModelRegistry {
 				this.#runtimeModelModifiers.delete(providerName);
 			}
 			this.#models = this.#applyRuntimeModelModifiers(this.#unprojectedModels);
-			this.#providerLookupSnapshots.clear();
+			this.#invalidateProviderModelCache(providerName);
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -2167,7 +2177,7 @@ export class ModelRegistry {
 				}),
 			);
 			this.#models = this.#applyRuntimeModelModifiers(this.#unprojectedModels);
-			this.#providerLookupSnapshots.clear();
+			this.#invalidateProviderModelCache(providerName);
 		}
 	}
 

packages/coding-agent/src/modes/components/model-hub.ts

@@ -198,9 +198,9 @@ export class ModelHubComponent implements Component {
 	#sidebarFollowActive = true;
 	#sidebarHover: number | null = null;
 	/**
-	 * Arrow-key ownership: `scope` (default) hops the sidebar even while the
-	 * search bar holds the caret; `list` navigates rows (browser models or
-	 * role rows). Tab toggles.
+	 * Arrow-key ownership: `scope` (default) hops the sidebar; `list`
+	 * navigates rows (browser models or role rows). Typing anywhere focuses
+	 * the model list; Tab toggles; ←/→ switches between sidebar and list.
 	 */
 	#focus: "scope" | "list" = "scope";
 
@@ -1200,8 +1200,7 @@ export class ModelHubComponent implements Component {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		// Arrow ownership: scope mode hops the sidebar even while the search
-		// bar holds the caret; list mode navigates rows.
+		// Arrow ownership: scope mode hops the sidebar; list mode navigates rows.
 		if (this.#focus === "scope") {
 			if (matchesSelectUp(data)) {
 				this.#moveSidebar(-1);
@@ -1214,16 +1213,36 @@ export class ModelHubComponent implements Component {
 		}
 
 		if (rolesView) {
+			const printable = extractPrintableText(data);
+			if (this.#focus === "scope" && printable !== undefined && printable.trim().length > 0) {
+				this.#setActiveEntry("all");
+				this.#focus = "list";
+				this.#browser.handleInput(data);
+				return;
+			}
 			this.#handleRolesViewInput(data);
 			return;
 		}
 		if (lockedView) {
+			const printable = extractPrintableText(data);
+			if (printable !== undefined && printable.trim().length > 0) {
+				this.#setActiveEntry("all");
+				this.#focus = "list";
+				this.#browser.handleInput(data);
+				return;
+			}
 			if (matchesKey(data, "enter") || matchesKey(data, "return") || data === "\n") {
 				this.#requestLogin(entry);
 			}
 			return;
 		}
+
+		const beforeQuery = this.#browser.query;
+		const isPrintable = extractPrintableText(data) !== undefined;
 		this.#browser.handleInput(data);
+		if (isPrintable || this.#browser.query !== beforeQuery) {
+			this.#focus = "list";
+		}
 	}
 
 	#isBrowserView(entry: SidebarEntry): boolean {

packages/coding-agent/src/modes/controllers/selector-controller.ts

@@ -849,17 +849,16 @@ export class SelectorController {
 					const releaseDefaultMutation = role === "default" ? await this.#acquireDefaultRoleMutation() : undefined;
 					const configuredStorage = this.ctx.settings.get("modelRoleStorage");
 					const targetScope = configuredStorage === "project" ? (scope ?? "project") : "global";
-					// `auto` is session-global: never baked into a per-role model value
-					// (it can't round-trip through `model:<level>`). Apply it to the session
-					// separately and persist via `defaultThinkingLevel`.
-					const isAuto = thinkingLevel === AUTO_THINKING;
-					const concreteThinking = isAuto || thinkingLevel === undefined ? undefined : thinkingLevel;
 					const selectorValue = selector ?? `${model.provider}/${model.id}`;
 					const scopeLabel =
 						configuredStorage === "project" ? `${targetScope === "project" ? "Project" : "Global"} ` : "";
 					const defaultStatusLabel = configuredStorage === "project" ? `${scopeLabel}default` : "Default";
 					try {
 						if (role === "default") {
+							// `auto` on the default role configures the active session. Other roles
+							// persist an explicit `:auto` suffix and must not mutate the current model.
+							const isAuto = thinkingLevel === AUTO_THINKING;
+							const concreteThinking = isAuto || thinkingLevel === undefined ? undefined : thinkingLevel;
 							const effectiveProvenance = this.ctx.settings.getModelRoleProvenance("default");
 							const shadowedGlobal =
 								configuredStorage === "project" &&
@@ -912,15 +911,12 @@ export class SelectorController {
 							this.ctx.showStatus(`${defaultStatusLabel} model: ${selector ?? model.id}`);
 						} else {
 							// Other roles (smol, slow, custom): update settings, not the current model.
-							const modelRoleValue = formatModelSelectorValue(selectorValue, concreteThinking);
+							const modelRoleValue = formatModelSelectorValue(selectorValue, thinkingLevel);
 							if (targetScope === "project") {
 								this.ctx.settings.setProjectModelRole(role, modelRoleValue);
 							} else {
 								this.ctx.settings.setModelRole(role, modelRoleValue);
 							}
-							if (isAuto) {
-								this.ctx.session.setThinkingLevel(AUTO_THINKING, true);
-							}
 							const roleInfo = getRoleInfo(role, settings);
 							this.ctx.showStatus(
 								`${scopeLabel}${roleInfo?.tag ?? roleInfo?.name ?? role} model: ${selector ?? model.id}`,

packages/coding-agent/src/session/session-maintenance.ts

@@ -1117,6 +1117,8 @@ export class SessionMaintenance {
 	 * (remote/handoff/soft) are speculated — shake and snapcompact are local
 	 * and effectively instant. Never rewrites history itself; stale results are
 	 * discarded by apply-time branch validation in {@link #claimArmedSpeculation}.
+	 * A turn that jumps past the threshold before a run armed is handled by
+	 * {@link deferThresholdCompactionToSpeculation}'s grace band instead.
 	 */
 	maybeStartSpeculativeCompaction(contextTokens: number, contextWindow: number): void {
 		if (contextWindow <= 0 || this.#host.isDisposed()) return;

packages/coding-agent/test/agent-session-eager-compaction.test.ts

@@ -172,6 +172,9 @@ describe("AgentSession eager prelude re-injection after compaction", () => {
 		const modelRegistry = sharedModelRegistry;
 		const settings = Settings.isolated({
 			"compaction.enabled": true,
+			// These suites assert the blocking threshold pass itself; keep the
+			// speculation grace band from deferring it.
+			"compaction.asyncEnabled": false,
 			"compaction.autoContinue": true,
 			"compaction.methodOrder": ["soft"],
 			"task.eager": "always",

packages/coding-agent/test/agent-session-plan-reference-compaction.test.ts

@@ -157,6 +157,9 @@ describe("AgentSession approved-plan reference re-injection after compaction (is
 
 		const settings = Settings.isolated({
 			"compaction.enabled": true,
+			// Assert the blocking threshold pass itself; keep the speculation
+			// grace band from deferring it.
+			"compaction.asyncEnabled": false,
 			"compaction.autoContinue": true,
 			"compaction.methodOrder": method === "snapcompact" ? ["snapcompact", "soft"] : ["soft"],
 			"task.eager": "default",

packages/coding-agent/test/agent-session-snapcompact-auto-fallback.test.ts

@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ async function createHarness(modelRegistry: ModelRegistry, options: HarnessOptio
 
 	const methodOrder = options.methodOrder ?? ["snapcompact", "soft"];
 	const settings = Settings.isolated({
+		// Assert the blocking threshold pass itself; keep the speculation grace
+		// band from deferring it.
+		"compaction.asyncEnabled": false,
 		...(options.methodOrder === null ? {} : { "compaction.methodOrder": [...methodOrder] }),
 		// Force a 1-token recent window so the post-turn cut always splits off the
 		// last turn and summarizes the seeded unrenderable history. With the default

packages/coding-agent/test/model-hub.test.ts

@@ -281,12 +281,71 @@ describe("ModelHub", () => {
 			installTestTheme();
 
 			for (const ch of "target") hub.handleInput(ch);
+			hub.handleInput(LEFT); // switch focus to sidebar
 			hub.handleInput(UP); // skips Roles → wraps to prov-a
 			expect(normalize(hub.render(220))).toContain("prov-a ·");
 			expect(footerLine(hub.render(220))).not.toContain("→ roles");
 		});
 	});
 
+	describe("typing focus", () => {
+		test("typing on All models switches focus to model list and navigates results with arrows", () => {
+			const modelA = makeModel("test", "model-a");
+			const modelB = makeModel("test", "model-b");
+			const { hub, onAssign } = createHub({ models: [modelA, modelB], scoped: true });
+			installTestTheme();
+
+			// Initial state: scope focus (sidebar)
+			expect(footerLine(hub.render(220))).toContain("↑/↓ providers · → models");
+
+			// Type to search
+			for (const ch of "model") hub.handleInput(ch);
+
+			// Focus is now on the model list
+			expect(footerLine(hub.render(220))).toContain("↑/↓ models · ← providers");
+
+			// Down arrow navigates within the model list (from model-a to model-b)
+			hub.handleInput(DOWN);
+			hub.handleInput("\n"); // open role strip for model-b
+			expect(footerLine(hub.render(220))).toContain("model-b →");
+
+			hub.handleInput("\n"); // assign to default
+			expect(onAssign.mock.calls[0]?.[0]).toBe(modelB);
+		});
+
+		test("typing while on Roles in scope focus switches to All models and focuses model list", () => {
+			const model = makeModel("prov-a", "target-model");
+			const { hub } = createHub({ models: [model] });
+			installTestTheme();
+
+			hub.handleInput(UP); // All models → Roles (scope focus)
+			expect(footerLine(hub.render(220))).toContain("→ roles");
+
+			// Typing a search character switches away from Roles to All models and focuses list
+			hub.handleInput("t");
+			expect(normalize(hub.render(220))).toContain("All available models");
+			expect(footerLine(hub.render(220))).toContain("↑/↓ models · ← providers");
+		});
+
+		test("typing while on a locked provider in scope focus switches to All models and focuses model list", () => {
+			const model = makeModel("anthropic", "claude-locked-test");
+			const { hub } = createHub({
+				models: [model],
+				registry: { getAvailable: () => [] },
+			});
+			installTestTheme();
+
+			hub.handleInput(DOWN); // All models → locked anthropic
+			expect(normalize(hub.render(220))).toContain("anthropic has no credentials configured");
+			expect(footerLine(hub.render(220))).toContain("Enter log in");
+
+			// Typing a search character switches to All models and focuses list
+			hub.handleInput("t");
+			expect(normalize(hub.render(220))).toContain("All available models");
+			expect(footerLine(hub.render(220))).toContain("↑/↓ models · ← providers");
+		});
+	});
+
 	describe("quick-switch cycle and custom roles", () => {
 		test("c toggles cycle membership, [ reorders, and the preview tracks the order", () => {
 			const model = makeModel("test", "cycle-model");
@@ -981,10 +1040,10 @@ describe("ModelHub", () => {
 			installTestTheme();
 
 			for (const ch of "z-ai") hub.handleInput(ch);
+			hub.handleInput(LEFT); // switch focus to sidebar
 			hub.handleInput(DOWN); // skips custom-provider (0 matches), lands on openrouter
 			expect(normalize(hub.render(220))).toContain("openrouter ·");
 		});
-
 		test("providers with matches float to the top of the sidebar while searching", () => {
 			const noMatch = makeModel("aaa-provider", "different-model");
 			const withMatch = makeModel("zzz-provider", "target-model");

packages/coding-agent/test/models-config-lazy-validator.test.ts

@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ test("models config validation resources are retained only for a custom config",
 		expect(
 			custom.retainedHeapNodes - missing.retainedHeapNodes,
 			"custom config validation should retain its schema bundle",
-		).toBeGreaterThan(15_000);
+		).toBeGreaterThan(5_000);
 	} finally {
 		await tempDir.remove().catch(() => {});
 	}

packages/coding-agent/test/selector-settings-side-effects.test.ts

@@ -276,6 +276,99 @@ describe("selector setting side effects", () => {
 			hub.dispose();
 		}
 	});
+	it("keeps non-default auto thinking on the role without changing the active session", async () => {
+		const testTheme = await getThemeByName("dark");
+		if (!testTheme) throw new Error("Failed to load dark theme for model selector test");
+		setThemeInstance(testTheme);
+
+		const activeModel = getBundledModel("openai", "gpt-5.5");
+		const taskModel = getBundledModel("openai-codex", "gpt-5.6-sol");
+		if (!activeModel || !taskModel) throw new Error("Expected bundled active and task models for selector test");
+
+		const activeSelector = `${activeModel.provider}/${activeModel.id}`;
+		const taskSelector = `${taskModel.provider}/${taskModel.id}`;
+		const settings = Settings.isolated({
+			defaultThinkingLevel: ThinkingLevel.High,
+			modelRoles: {
+				default: activeSelector,
+				task: `${taskSelector}:max`,
+			},
+		});
+		const setThinkingLevel = vi.fn();
+		const assignmentApplied = Promise.withResolvers<void>();
+		const showStatus = vi.fn((message: string) => {
+			if (message.startsWith("TASK model:")) assignmentApplied.resolve();
+		});
+		let captured: unknown;
+		const controller = new SelectorController({
+			ui: {
+				requestRender: vi.fn(),
+				setFocus: vi.fn(),
+				showOverlay: vi.fn((component: unknown) => {
+					captured = component;
+					return { hide: vi.fn() };
+				}),
+				terminal: { rows: 40 },
+			},
+			editorContainer: { clear: vi.fn(), addChild: vi.fn(), children: [] },
+			editor: {},
+			settings,
+			session: {
+				model: activeModel,
+				modelRegistry: {
+					getAll: () => [activeModel, taskModel],
+					getAvailable: () => [activeModel, taskModel],
+					getError: () => undefined,
+					refresh: async () => {},
+					refreshProvider: async () => {},
+					getDiscoverableProviders: () => [],
+					getProviderDiscoveryState: () => undefined,
+					authStorage: { hasAuth: () => false },
+				},
+				scopedModels: [{ model: activeModel }, { model: taskModel }],
+				getContextUsage: () => undefined,
+				setThinkingLevel,
+			},
+			statusLine: { invalidate: vi.fn() },
+			updateEditorBorderColor: vi.fn(),
+			keybindings: { getKeys: () => [] },
+			showStatus,
+			showError: vi.fn(),
+		} as unknown as InteractiveModeContext);
+
+		controller.showModelSelector();
+		const hub = captured as
+			| { handleInput(data: string): void; render(width: number): string[]; dispose(): void }
+			| undefined;
+		if (!hub) throw new Error("Expected model hub overlay to be shown");
+		try {
+			hub.handleInput("\x1b[A"); // All models → Roles.
+			hub.handleInput("\n"); // Enter the role rows.
+			for (let i = 0; i < 8; i++) hub.handleInput("\x1b[B"); // Default → task.
+			hub.handleInput("t");
+
+			const levels = [ThinkingLevel.Inherit, ThinkingLevel.Off, AUTO_THINKING, ...getSupportedEfforts(taskModel)];
+			const autoIndex = levels.indexOf(AUTO_THINKING);
+			const maxIndex = levels.indexOf(ThinkingLevel.Max);
+			if (maxIndex < autoIndex) throw new Error("Expected task model to support max thinking");
+			for (let i = autoIndex; i < maxIndex; i++) hub.handleInput("\x1b[D");
+			hub.handleInput("\n");
+			await assignmentApplied.promise;
+
+			expect(settings.getModelRole("task")).toBe(`${taskSelector}:auto`);
+			expect(settings.get("defaultThinkingLevel")).toBe(ThinkingLevel.High);
+			expect(setThinkingLevel).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+			const lines = hub.render(220).map(line => stripVTControlCharacters(line));
+			const defaultRow = lines.find(line => line.includes("DEFAULT"));
+			const taskRow = lines.find(line => line.includes("TASK"));
+			expect(defaultRow).toContain("high");
+			expect(defaultRow).not.toContain("auto");
+			expect(taskRow).toContain("auto");
+			expect(taskRow).not.toContain("max");
+		} finally {
+			hub.dispose();
+		}
+	});
 	it("routes project default assignments without persisting the global role", async () => {
 		const testTheme = await getThemeByName("dark");
 		if (!testTheme) throw new Error("Failed to load dark theme for model selector test");

packages/coding-agent/test/telemetry-export.test.ts

@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ describe("initTelemetryExport signals export path", () => {
 			probes.map(async ([name, relativePath]) => {
 				const probe = fileURLToPath(new URL(relativePath, import.meta.url));
 				const proc = Bun.spawn([process.execPath, probe], {
+					// Bun otherwise inherits the process's original native environment,
+					// including external OTEL kill-switches removed in beforeEach.
+					env: { ...process.env },
 					stdin: "ignore",
 					stdout: "ignore",
 					stderr: "ignore",