chore: version packages

Thanks for the contribution @TeigenZhang! Clean, well-scoped change — applied consistently across all session creation paths. 🎉

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,23 @@
 # aicodeman
 
+## 0.5.7
+
+### Patch Changes
+
+- feat: support "Default (CLI default)" option for model selection. Adds a new empty-value option to the model dropdown that defers to the CLI's own default model instead of forcing a specific model. Ensures empty defaultModel values are treated as undefined when passed to session creation and Ralph loop start, preventing empty strings from being sent as model flags.
+
+## 0.5.6
+
+### Patch Changes
+
+- fix: default new sessions to opus[1m] (1M context window) instead of plain opus (200k context)
+
+## 0.5.5
+
+### Patch Changes
+
+- Add 1M Opus context quick setting — per-case and global toggle that writes `model: "opus[1m]"` to `.claude/settings.local.json` when creating new sessions. Fix mobile layout: banners (respawn, timer, orchestrator) between header and main content now visible by switching from margin-top on `.main` to padding-top on `.app`. Add tablet-optimized respawn banner styles and mobile phone banner refinements.
+
 ## 0.5.4
 
 ### Patch Changes

CLAUDE.md

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ When user says "COM":
 4. **Sync CLAUDE.md version**: Update the `**Version**` line below to match the new version from `package.json`
 5. **Commit and deploy**: `git add -A && git commit -m "chore: version packages" && git push && npm run build && systemctl --user restart codeman-web`
 
-**Version**: 0.5.4 (must match `package.json`)
+**Version**: 0.5.7 (must match `package.json`)
 
 ## Project Overview
 

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "aicodeman",
-  "version": "0.5.4",
+  "version": "0.5.7",
   "description": "The missing control plane for AI coding agents - run 20 autonomous agents with real-time monitoring and session persistence",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "dist/index.js",

src/hooks-config.ts

@@ -116,6 +116,34 @@ export async function updateCaseEnvVars(casePath: string, envVars: Record<string
   await writeFile(settingsPath, JSON.stringify(existing, null, 2) + '\n');
 }
 
+/**
+ * Updates the `model` field in .claude/settings.local.json for the given case path.
+ * Pass a non-empty string to set, or empty/null to remove.
+ */
+export async function updateCaseModel(casePath: string, model: string | null): Promise<void> {
+  const claudeDir = join(casePath, '.claude');
+  if (!existsSync(claudeDir)) {
+    await mkdir(claudeDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+
+  const settingsPath = join(claudeDir, 'settings.local.json');
+  let existing: Record<string, unknown> = {};
+
+  try {
+    existing = JSON.parse(await readFile(settingsPath, 'utf-8'));
+  } catch {
+    existing = {};
+  }
+
+  if (model) {
+    existing.model = model;
+  } else {
+    delete existing.model;
+  }
+
+  await writeFile(settingsPath, JSON.stringify(existing, null, 2) + '\n');
+}
+
 /**
  * Writes hooks config to .claude/settings.local.json in the given case path.
  * Merges with existing file content, only touching the `hooks` key.

src/respawn-controller.ts

@@ -2078,6 +2078,18 @@ export class RespawnController extends EventEmitter {
       return;
     }
 
+    // Check for active child processes (bash tools, test suites, builds, etc.)
+    // These may produce no terminal output, so restart timers to retry periodically.
+    const activeProcesses = this.session.getActiveChildProcesses();
+    if (activeProcesses.length > 0) {
+      const names = activeProcesses.map((p) => p.command).join(', ');
+      this.log(`Skipping AI check - ${activeProcesses.length} active child process(es): ${names}`);
+      this.logAction('detection', `Skipped AI check: child processes running (${names})`);
+      this.startNoOutputTimer();
+      this.startPreFilterTimer();
+      return;
+    }
+
     // If AI check is disabled or errored out, fall back to direct idle confirmation
     if (!this.config.aiIdleCheckEnabled || this.aiChecker.status === 'disabled') {
       this.log(`AI check unavailable (${this.aiChecker.status}), confirming idle directly via: ${reason}`);
@@ -2682,6 +2694,18 @@ export class RespawnController extends EventEmitter {
       return;
     }
 
+    // Safety check: if child processes are running (bash tools, test suites, builds, etc.)
+    const activeProcesses = this.session.getActiveChildProcesses();
+    if (activeProcesses.length > 0) {
+      const names = activeProcesses.map((p) => p.command).join(', ');
+      this.log(`Idle confirmation rejected - ${activeProcesses.length} active child process(es): ${names}`);
+      this.logAction('detection', `Rejected: child processes running (${names})`);
+      this.setState('watching');
+      this.startNoOutputTimer();
+      this.startPreFilterTimer();
+      return;
+    }
+
     this.log(`Idle confirmed via: ${reason}`);
     const status = this.getDetectionStatus();
     this.log(

src/session.ts

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
  */
 
 import { EventEmitter } from 'node:events';
+import { execSync } from 'node:child_process';
 import { v4 as uuidv4 } from 'uuid';
 import * as pty from 'node-pty';
 import {
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ import {
   MAX_MESSAGES,
   MAX_LINE_BUFFER_SIZE,
 } from './config/buffer-limits.js';
+import { EXEC_TIMEOUT_MS } from './config/exec-timeout.js';
 import {
   buildInteractiveArgs,
   buildPromptArgs,
@@ -539,6 +541,49 @@ export class Session extends EventEmitter {
     return this._isWorking;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Check if the session's process tree has active child processes beyond Claude itself.
+   * Detects running bash tools, test suites, builds, servers, etc. that Claude spawned.
+   *
+   * The tmux pane PID is typically "claude" directly (bash exec'd into it). When Claude
+   * runs a bash tool, it spawns child processes: claude → bash → npm/node/python/etc.
+   * We check direct children of the pane PID, filtering out "claude" itself (for the rare
+   * case where bash wraps claude and didn't exec).
+   *
+   * Returns an array of {pid, command} for each child process, or empty array if none.
+   * Returns empty array if no mux session or on error (fail-open to avoid blocking respawn).
+   */
+  getActiveChildProcesses(): { pid: number; command: string }[] {
+    if (!this._muxSession) return [];
+
+    try {
+      const panePid = this._muxSession.pid;
+
+      // Single call: get direct children with their command names
+      const output = execSync(`ps -o pid=,comm= --ppid ${panePid} 2>/dev/null`, {
+        encoding: 'utf-8',
+        timeout: EXEC_TIMEOUT_MS,
+      }).trim();
+      if (!output) return [];
+
+      const activeProcesses: { pid: number; command: string }[] = [];
+      for (const line of output.split('\n')) {
+        const match = line.trim().match(/^(\d+)\s+(.+)/);
+        if (!match) continue;
+        const pid = parseInt(match[1], 10);
+        const command = match[2].trim();
+        // Skip the claude process itself (pane_pid may be bash wrapping claude)
+        if (command === 'claude') continue;
+        activeProcesses.push({ pid, command });
+      }
+
+      return activeProcesses;
+    } catch {
+      // ps returns exit code 1 when no matches — normal (no children)
+      return [];
+    }
+  }
+
   get lastPromptTime(): number {
     return this._lastPromptTime;
   }

src/web/public/index.html

@@ -384,6 +384,11 @@
                 <span>Agent Teams</span>
               </label>
               <span class="form-hint">Enable experimental Agent Teams for new sessions in this case</span>
+              <label class="checkbox-inline" style="margin-top: 6px;">
+                <input type="checkbox" id="caseOpusContext1m" onchange="app.onCaseSettingChanged()">
+                <span>1M Opus Context</span>
+              </label>
+              <span class="form-hint">Use 1M token context window for new sessions</span>
             </div>
           </div>
           <!-- Mobile-only case button + gear -->
@@ -408,6 +413,11 @@
               <span>Agent Teams</span>
             </label>
             <span class="form-hint">Enable Agent Teams for new sessions</span>
+            <label class="checkbox-inline" style="margin-top: 6px;">
+              <input type="checkbox" id="caseOpusContext1mMobile" onchange="app.onCaseSettingChangedMobile()">
+              <span>1M Opus Context</span>
+            </label>
+            <span class="form-hint">Use 1M token context window</span>
           </div>
         </div>
 
@@ -1046,6 +1056,14 @@
               </label>
               <span class="form-hint">Enable experimental Agent Teams for all new Claude sessions (disabled by default)</span>
             </div>
+            <div class="form-row form-row-switch">
+              <label>1M Opus Context</label>
+              <label class="switch">
+                <input type="checkbox" id="appSettingsOpusContext1m">
+                <span class="slider"></span>
+              </label>
+              <span class="form-hint">Use 1M token context window (model: opus[1m]) for all new sessions</span>
+            </div>
             <!-- Nice Priority Section -->
             <div class="form-section-header">Nice Priority</div>
             <div class="form-row form-row-switch">
@@ -1067,6 +1085,7 @@
             <div class="form-row">
               <label>Default Model</label>
               <select id="appSettingsDefaultModel" class="form-select">
+                <option value="">Default (CLI default)</option>
                 <option value="opus">Opus (Most capable)</option>
                 <option value="sonnet">Sonnet (Balanced)</option>
                 <option value="haiku">Haiku (Fast & cheap)</option>

src/web/public/mobile.css

@@ -65,13 +65,14 @@ html.mobile-init .file-browser-panel {
     max-height: calc(48px + var(--safe-area-top));
   }
 
-  /* Add top margin to main content to account for fixed header */
-  .main {
-    margin-top: 54px;
+  /* Push ALL content below fixed header (not just .main) so banners
+     (respawn, timer, orchestrator) between header and main are visible */
+  .app {
+    padding-top: 54px;
   }
 
-  .ios-device .main {
-    margin-top: calc(54px + var(--safe-area-top));
+  .ios-device .app {
+    padding-top: calc(54px + var(--safe-area-top));
   }
 
   /* Font controls - smaller on tablet, visibility controlled by JS */
@@ -235,6 +236,37 @@ html.mobile-init .file-browser-panel {
     font-size: 0.7rem;
   }
 
+  /* ---- Respawn Banner: Tablet Optimizations ---- */
+
+  .respawn-banner {
+    padding: 0.25rem 0.5rem;
+    padding-left: calc(0.5rem + var(--safe-area-left));
+    padding-right: calc(0.5rem + var(--safe-area-right));
+    font-size: 0.65rem;
+  }
+
+  .respawn-compact-layout {
+    gap: 0.75rem;
+  }
+
+  .respawn-status-row1 {
+    gap: 0.4rem;
+  }
+
+  .respawn-action-log {
+    max-height: 2.6em;
+    font-size: 0.6rem;
+  }
+
+  .respawn-countdown-timer {
+    font-size: 0.55rem;
+  }
+
+  /* Respawn timer bar — slimmer on tablet */
+  .respawn-timer-bar {
+    width: 24px;
+  }
+
   /* Show desktop voice button on tablet (hidden by max-width:1023px in styles.css,
      mobile .btn-voice-mobile only shows at <430px) */
   .toolbar-center .btn-toolbar.btn-voice {
@@ -327,18 +359,22 @@ html.mobile-init .file-browser-panel {
     max-height: calc(36px + var(--safe-area-top));
   }
 
-  /* Add top margin to main content to account for fixed header,
-     and bottom padding for the fixed toolbar (40px) so terminal
-     content doesn't extend behind it. JS overrides paddingBottom
+  /* Push ALL content below fixed header (not just .main) so banners
+     (respawn, timer, orchestrator) between header and main are visible.
+     Bottom padding for the fixed toolbar (40px) so terminal content
+     doesn't extend behind it. JS overrides paddingBottom on .main
      when keyboard is visible, and resetLayout() clears the inline
      style to re-expose this CSS value. */
-  .main {
-    margin-top: 42px;
-    padding-bottom: calc(40px + var(--safe-area-bottom));
+  .app {
+    padding-top: 42px;
   }
 
-  .ios-device .main {
-    margin-top: calc(42px + var(--safe-area-top));
+  .ios-device .app {
+    padding-top: calc(42px + var(--safe-area-top));
+  }
+
+  .main {
+    padding-bottom: calc(40px + var(--safe-area-bottom));
   }
 
   /* iOS Safari: toolbar is pushed up by (100vh - --app-height) to clear the
@@ -1213,31 +1249,70 @@ html.mobile-init .file-browser-panel {
   /* ---- Respawn Banner: Mobile Optimizations ---- */
 
   .respawn-banner {
-    padding: 0.4rem 0.5rem;
+    padding: 0.3rem 0.5rem;
     padding-left: calc(0.5rem + var(--safe-area-left));
     padding-right: calc(0.5rem + var(--safe-area-right));
-    font-size: 0.7rem;
+    font-size: 0.65rem;
   }
 
   /* Stack banner vertically on mobile — status on top, action log below */
   .respawn-compact-layout {
     flex-direction: column;
-    gap: 0.25rem;
+    gap: 0.15rem;
   }
 
   /* Let status column shrink to fit */
   .respawn-status-col {
     flex-shrink: 1;
     min-width: 0;
+    gap: 0.1rem;
   }
 
-  /* Wrap status row items — tokens/timer may go to second line */
+  /* Row1: wrap allowed, key info prioritized via order */
   .respawn-status-row1 {
     flex-wrap: wrap;
-    gap: 0.35rem;
+    gap: 0.25rem;
+    row-gap: 0.1rem;
   }
 
-  /* Stop button — 44px touch target */
+  /* State label — smaller on phone, stays first */
+  .respawn-state {
+    font-size: 0.6rem;
+    padding: 0.05rem 0.3rem;
+  }
+
+  /* Confidence badge — compact */
+  .respawn-banner .detection-confidence {
+    font-size: 0.5rem;
+    padding: 0.02rem 0.2rem;
+  }
+
+  /* Cycles — compact */
+  .respawn-cycles {
+    font-size: 0.55rem;
+  }
+
+  /* Run timer — compact */
+  .respawn-timer {
+    font-size: 0.55rem;
+    padding: 0 0.25rem;
+  }
+
+  /* Tokens — compact, truncate if long */
+  .respawn-tokens {
+    font-size: 0.55rem;
+    overflow: hidden;
+    text-overflow: ellipsis;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+    max-width: 120px;
+  }
+
+  /* Spinner icon — smaller on phone */
+  .respawn-indicator {
+    font-size: 0.65rem;
+  }
+
+  /* Stop button — 36px touch target, pushed right */
   .respawn-banner .btn-icon-only {
     min-width: 36px;
     min-height: 36px;
@@ -1247,26 +1322,50 @@ html.mobile-init .file-browser-panel {
     justify-content: center;
     margin-left: auto;
     border-radius: 6px;
+    flex-shrink: 0;
   }
 
-  /* Action log — horizontal strip below status, border on top instead of left */
-  .respawn-action-log {
-    border-left: none;
-    border-top: 1px solid rgba(34, 197, 94, 0.2);
-    padding-left: 0;
-    padding-top: 0.25rem;
-    max-height: 2em;
-    font-size: 0.6rem;
+  /* Row2: tighter spacing, smaller text */
+  .respawn-status-row2 {
+    font-size: 0.55rem;
+    gap: 0.3rem;
+    min-height: 0;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
   }
 
-  /* Countdown timers — tighter on mobile */
+  /* Detection badges — smaller on phone */
+  .respawn-banner .detection-hook,
+  .respawn-banner .detection-ai-check,
+  .respawn-banner .detection-status {
+    font-size: 0.55rem;
+    padding: 0.02rem 0.2rem;
+  }
+
+  /* Countdown timers — inline, no progress bars */
   .respawn-countdown-timers {
     gap: 0.2rem;
   }
 
   .respawn-countdown-timer {
+    font-size: 0.5rem;
+    padding: 0.02rem 0.2rem;
+    gap: 0.15rem;
+  }
+
+  /* Hide progress bars on phone — values are enough */
+  .respawn-countdown-timer .respawn-timer-bar {
+    display: none;
+  }
+
+  /* Action log — single-line strip below status, show latest entry only */
+  .respawn-action-log {
+    border-left: none;
+    border-top: 1px solid rgba(34, 197, 94, 0.15);
+    padding-left: 0;
+    padding-top: 0.15rem;
+    max-height: 1.4em;
     font-size: 0.55rem;
-    padding: 0.05rem 0.25rem;
+    overflow: hidden;
   }
 
   /* ---- Session Options Modal: Respawn Tab Mobile Optimizations ---- */
@@ -1292,28 +1391,27 @@ html.mobile-init .file-browser-panel {
     border-radius: 5px;
   }
 
-  /* Duration preset buttons — single row, all 7 items */
+  /* Duration preset buttons — grid layout, 4 columns for even spacing */
   .duration-presets {
-    display: flex;
-    flex-wrap: wrap;
-    gap: 0.25rem;
+    display: grid;
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
+    gap: 0.2rem;
   }
 
   .duration-preset-btn {
-    min-height: 28px;
-    padding: 0.2rem 0.4rem;
+    min-height: 32px;
+    padding: 0.2rem 0.25rem;
     font-size: 0.65rem;
     border-radius: 5px;
     text-align: center;
-    flex: 1 1 auto;
-    min-width: 0;
   }
 
-  /* Custom duration — inline with other presets */
+  /* Custom duration — spans full row below */
   .duration-custom {
-    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    grid-column: 1 / -1;
+    display: flex;
     gap: 0.25rem;
-    flex: 1 1 100%;
+    align-items: center;
   }
 
   .duration-custom .duration-preset-btn {
@@ -1331,24 +1429,23 @@ html.mobile-init .file-browser-panel {
     font-size: 16px; /* Prevents iOS zoom */
   }
 
-  /* Preset selector row — compact inline */
+  /* Preset selector row — full-width dropdown, buttons below */
   .preset-selector {
-    display: flex;
-    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    display: grid;
+    grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
     gap: 0.25rem;
   }
 
   .preset-selector select {
-    width: 100%;
-    min-height: 28px;
+    grid-column: 1 / -1;
+    min-height: 32px;
     font-size: 16px; /* Prevents iOS zoom */
     border-radius: 5px;
     padding: 0.2rem 0.4rem;
   }
 
   .preset-selector .btn {
-    flex: 1;
-    min-height: 28px;
+    min-height: 32px;
     font-size: 0.65rem;
     border-radius: 5px;
     padding: 0.2rem 0.4rem;

src/web/public/session-ui.js

@@ -324,6 +324,8 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
         envOverrides.CLAUDE_CODE_EXPERIMENTAL_AGENT_TEAMS = '1';
       }
       const hasEnvOverrides = Object.keys(envOverrides).length > 0;
+      const useOpus1m = caseSettings.opusContext1m || globalSettings.opusContext1mEnabled;
+      const modelOverride = useOpus1m ? 'opus[1m]' : '';
 
       // Step 1: Create all sessions in parallel
       this.terminal.writeln(`\x1b[90m Creating ${tabCount} session(s)...\x1b[0m`);
@@ -331,7 +333,11 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
         fetch('/api/sessions', {
           method: 'POST',
           headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-          body: JSON.stringify({ workingDir, name, ...(hasEnvOverrides ? { envOverrides } : {}) })
+          body: JSON.stringify({
+            workingDir, name,
+            ...(hasEnvOverrides ? { envOverrides } : {}),
+            ...(modelOverride !== undefined ? { modelOverride } : {}),
+          })
         }).then(r => r.json())
       );
       const createResults = await Promise.all(createPromises);
@@ -913,6 +919,7 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
       const caseName = document.getElementById('quickStartCase').value || 'testcase';
       const settings = this.getCaseSettings(caseName);
       document.getElementById('caseAgentTeams').checked = settings.agentTeams;
+      document.getElementById('caseOpusContext1m').checked = settings.opusContext1m;
       popover.classList.remove('hidden');
 
       // Close on outside click (one-shot listener)
@@ -934,7 +941,7 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
       const stored = localStorage.getItem('caseSettings_' + caseName);
       if (stored) return JSON.parse(stored);
     } catch { /* ignore */ }
-    return { agentTeams: false };
+    return { agentTeams: false, opusContext1m: true };
   },
 
   saveCaseSettings(caseName, settings) {
@@ -945,10 +952,13 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
     const caseName = document.getElementById('quickStartCase').value || 'testcase';
     const settings = this.getCaseSettings(caseName);
     settings.agentTeams = document.getElementById('caseAgentTeams').checked;
+    settings.opusContext1m = document.getElementById('caseOpusContext1m').checked;
     this.saveCaseSettings(caseName, settings);
-    // Sync mobile checkbox
+    // Sync mobile checkboxes
     const mobileCheckbox = document.getElementById('caseAgentTeamsMobile');
     if (mobileCheckbox) mobileCheckbox.checked = settings.agentTeams;
+    const mobileOpusCheckbox = document.getElementById('caseOpusContext1mMobile');
+    if (mobileOpusCheckbox) mobileOpusCheckbox.checked = settings.opusContext1m;
   },
 
   toggleCaseSettingsMobile() {
@@ -957,6 +967,7 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
       const caseName = document.getElementById('quickStartCase').value || 'testcase';
       const settings = this.getCaseSettings(caseName);
       document.getElementById('caseAgentTeamsMobile').checked = settings.agentTeams;
+      document.getElementById('caseOpusContext1mMobile').checked = settings.opusContext1m;
       popover.classList.remove('hidden');
 
       const closeHandler = (e) => {
@@ -975,10 +986,13 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
     const caseName = document.getElementById('quickStartCase').value || 'testcase';
     const settings = this.getCaseSettings(caseName);
     settings.agentTeams = document.getElementById('caseAgentTeamsMobile').checked;
+    settings.opusContext1m = document.getElementById('caseOpusContext1mMobile').checked;
     this.saveCaseSettings(caseName, settings);
-    // Sync desktop checkbox
+    // Sync desktop checkboxes
     const desktopCheckbox = document.getElementById('caseAgentTeams');
     if (desktopCheckbox) desktopCheckbox.checked = settings.agentTeams;
+    const desktopOpusCheckbox = document.getElementById('caseOpusContext1m');
+    if (desktopOpusCheckbox) desktopOpusCheckbox.checked = settings.opusContext1m;
   },
 
   // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

src/web/public/settings-ui.js

@@ -332,6 +332,7 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
     };
     // Claude Permissions settings
     document.getElementById('appSettingsAgentTeams').checked = settings.agentTeamsEnabled ?? false;
+    document.getElementById('appSettingsOpusContext1m').checked = settings.opusContext1mEnabled ?? false;
     // CPU Priority settings
     const niceSettings = settings.nice || {};
     document.getElementById('appSettingsNiceEnabled').checked = niceSettings.enabled ?? false;
@@ -1130,6 +1131,7 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
       allowedTools: document.getElementById('appSettingsAllowedTools').value.trim(),
       // Claude Permissions settings
       agentTeamsEnabled: document.getElementById('appSettingsAgentTeams').checked,
+      opusContext1mEnabled: document.getElementById('appSettingsOpusContext1m').checked,
       // CPU Priority settings
       nice: {
         enabled: document.getElementById('appSettingsNiceEnabled').checked,
@@ -1276,7 +1278,7 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
         // Default model
         const defaultModelEl = document.getElementById('appSettingsDefaultModel');
         if (defaultModelEl) {
-          defaultModelEl.value = config.defaultModel || 'opus';
+          defaultModelEl.value = config.defaultModel || '';
         }
         // Show recommendations
         const showRecsEl = document.getElementById('appSettingsShowModelRecommendations');
@@ -1315,7 +1317,7 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
     if (reviewEl?.value) agentTypeOverrides.review = reviewEl.value;
 
     const config = {
-      defaultModel: defaultModelEl?.value || 'opus',
+      defaultModel: defaultModelEl?.value || '',
       showRecommendations: showRecsEl?.checked ?? true,
       agentTypeOverrides,
     };

src/web/routes/ralph-routes.ts

@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ export function registerRalphRoutes(
       useMux: true,
       mode: 'claude',
       niceConfig,
-      model: rlModelConfig?.defaultModel,
+      model: rlModelConfig?.defaultModel || undefined,
       claudeMode: rlClaudeModeConfig.claudeMode,
       allowedTools: rlClaudeModeConfig.allowedTools,
     });

src/web/routes/session-routes.ts

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ import {
   validatePathWithinBase,
 } from '../route-helpers.js';
 import { AUTH_COOKIE_NAME } from '../middleware/auth.js';
-import { writeHooksConfig, updateCaseEnvVars } from '../../hooks-config.js';
+import { writeHooksConfig, updateCaseEnvVars, updateCaseModel } from '../../hooks-config.js';
 import { generateClaudeMd } from '../../templates/claude-md.js';
 import { imageWatcher } from '../../image-watcher.js';
 import { getLifecycleLog } from '../../session-lifecycle-log.js';
@@ -166,6 +166,11 @@ export function registerSessionRoutes(
       await updateCaseEnvVars(workingDir, body.envOverrides);
     }
 
+    // Write model override to .claude/settings.local.json if provided
+    if (body.modelOverride !== undefined) {
+      await updateCaseModel(workingDir, body.modelOverride || null);
+    }
+
     // Check OpenCode availability if requested
     if (body.mode === 'opencode') {
       const { isOpenCodeAvailable } = await import('../../utils/opencode-cli-resolver.js');
@@ -181,7 +186,11 @@ export function registerSessionRoutes(
     const modelConfig = await ctx.getModelConfig();
     const mode = body.mode || 'claude';
     const model =
-      mode === 'opencode' ? body.openCodeConfig?.model : mode !== 'shell' ? modelConfig?.defaultModel : undefined;
+      mode === 'opencode'
+        ? body.openCodeConfig?.model
+        : mode !== 'shell'
+          ? modelConfig?.defaultModel || undefined
+          : undefined;
     const claudeModeConfig = await ctx.getClaudeModeConfig();
     const session = new Session({
       workingDir,
@@ -761,7 +770,11 @@ export function registerSessionRoutes(
     const niceConfig = await ctx.getGlobalNiceConfig();
     const qsModelConfig = await ctx.getModelConfig();
     const qsModel =
-      mode === 'opencode' ? openCodeConfig?.model : mode !== 'shell' ? qsModelConfig?.defaultModel : undefined;
+      mode === 'opencode'
+        ? openCodeConfig?.model
+        : mode !== 'shell'
+          ? qsModelConfig?.defaultModel || undefined
+          : undefined;
     const qsClaudeModeConfig = await ctx.getClaudeModeConfig();
     const session = new Session({
       workingDir: casePath,

src/web/schemas.ts

@@ -124,6 +124,8 @@ export const CreateSessionSchema = z.object({
   mode: z.enum(['claude', 'shell', 'opencode']).optional(),
   name: z.string().max(100).optional(),
   envOverrides: safeEnvOverridesSchema,
+  /** Model override to write to .claude/settings.local.json (e.g., "opus[1m]"). Empty string clears. */
+  modelOverride: z.string().max(50).optional(),
   openCodeConfig: OpenCodeConfigSchema,
   /** Resume a previous Claude conversation by its session ID (used for reboot recovery) */
   resumeSessionId: z

test/mocks/mock-session.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export class MockSession extends EventEmitter {
   status: 'idle' | 'working' = 'idle';
   pid: number = 12345;
   isWorking: boolean = false;
+  private _activeChildProcesses: { pid: number; command: string }[] = [];
   ralphTracker: null = null;
   writeBuffer: string[] = [];
   terminalBuffer: string = '';
@@ -52,9 +53,7 @@ export class MockSession extends EventEmitter {
 
   /** Check if a specific command was written */
   hasWritten(pattern: string | RegExp): boolean {
-    return this.writeBuffer.some((data) =>
-      typeof pattern === 'string' ? data.includes(pattern) : pattern.test(data),
-    );
+    return this.writeBuffer.some((data) => (typeof pattern === 'string' ? data.includes(pattern) : pattern.test(data)));
   }
 
   // ========== Terminal Output Simulation ==========
@@ -113,10 +112,7 @@ export class MockSession extends EventEmitter {
    */
   simulatePlanModePrompt(): void {
     this.simulateTerminalOutput(
-      'Would you like to proceed with this plan?\n' +
-        '\u276f 1. Yes\n' +
-        '  2. No\n' +
-        '  3. Type your own\n',
+      'Would you like to proceed with this plan?\n' + '\u276f 1. Yes\n' + '  2. No\n' + '  3. Type your own\n'
     );
   }
 
@@ -131,11 +127,7 @@ export class MockSession extends EventEmitter {
   /** Simulate token count display */
   simulateTokenCount(tokens: number | string): void {
     const formatted =
-      typeof tokens === 'number'
-        ? tokens >= 1000
-          ? `${(tokens / 1000).toFixed(1)}k`
-          : String(tokens)
-        : tokens;
+      typeof tokens === 'number' ? (tokens >= 1000 ? `${(tokens / 1000).toFixed(1)}k` : String(tokens)) : tokens;
     this.simulateTerminalOutput(`${formatted} tokens used`);
   }
 
@@ -167,6 +159,16 @@ export class MockSession extends EventEmitter {
     return this._muxName;
   }
 
+  /** Check for active child processes (mock returns configurable list) */
+  getActiveChildProcesses(): { pid: number; command: string }[] {
+    return this._activeChildProcesses;
+  }
+
+  /** Set active child processes for testing */
+  setActiveChildProcesses(processes: { pid: number; command: string }[]): void {
+    this._activeChildProcesses = processes;
+  }
+
   // ========== Route-test conveniences ==========
 
   /** Session display name */