coder(providers): fix empty picker (loading-state) + config model overrides + current Claude models

Fix: getProviderSnapshot returned synchronous installed:false 'loading' entries on a cache miss (v2.5.5/Phase 2), which AgentComposerBar filters out — with the Phase 5 client poll not yet built, a single fetch stranded on 'loading' and the picker showed no providers. It now awaits the build and returns terminal entries; the sync loading-return is deferred until Phase 5. Builds stay fast via the tier-2 cold-probe skip.

Feature: wire the v2.3 config schema's models/additionalModels — buildResolvedRegistry carries them onto ResolvedProviderDef (models replace, additionalModels merge) and provider-snapshot applies them to every ready model list, so /data/coder-providers.json can edit any provider's models with no code change. Claude staticModels bumped from the stale 2-entry list to opus/sonnet/haiku latest-aliases + pinned claude-opus-4-8 / claude-sonnet-4-6 / claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 (passed verbatim to claude --model). +2 tests (109 total).

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 All notable changes per release tag. Most recent on top, ordered by tag creation date (which matches the git history). Tag names follow `vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH-slug` — the slug describes what shipped, so the tag name alone is enough to recall the batch.
 
+## v2.5.7-claude-models-and-picker-fix — 2026-05-29
+
+Two provider-layer changes. **(1) Fix the empty provider picker** — a regression from `v2.5.5` (Phase 2): on a cache miss `getProviderSnapshot` returned synchronous `installed:false` `loading` entries, which `AgentComposerBar` filters out (`e.installed && e.status !== 'error'`); with the client-side poll deferred to Phase 5, a single fetch landed on `loading` forever and no providers appeared. `getProviderSnapshot` now awaits the build and returns terminal entries (the sync `loading` return is deferred until Phase 5 ships the poll); builds stay fast via the tier-2 cold-probe skip. **(2) Claude models** — the list was a hardcoded 2-entry static list (Opus 4 / Sonnet 4, May 2025), and the v2.3 config schema's `models`/`additionalModels` were parsed but never wired. `buildResolvedRegistry` now carries config `models` (replace) + `additionalModels` (merge) onto `ResolvedProviderDef`, and `provider-snapshot` applies them to every ready model list — so `/data/coder-providers.json` can add or replace any provider's models with no code change. Claude `staticModels` bumped to `opus`/`sonnet`/`haiku` latest-aliases plus pinned `claude-opus-4-8` / `claude-sonnet-4-6` / `claude-haiku-4-5-20251001` (passed verbatim to `claude --model`; the CLI accepts both aliases and pinned full names). +2 unit tests (109 total). Builds on `v2.5.6-provider-lifecycle-phase3`.
+
+## v2.5.6-provider-lifecycle-phase3 — 2026-05-29
+
+Phase 3 of the v2.3 provider-lifecycle batch (`openspec/changes/v2-3-provider-lifecycle/design.md` §5): generic ACP dispatch. `acp-spawn.ts` gains `resolveLaunchSpec(resolved, installPath)` — it consults the resolved registry's `launchCommand` (a config override or a custom-ACP entry's command) first, falling back to the kept `resolveAcpSpawnArgs` switch for built-ins. `acp-dispatch.ts` now spawns `spec.binary`/`spec.args` with `env: { ...process.env, ...spec.env }` instead of the hardcoded per-name argv, and `dispatcher.ts` loads the resolved def by `task.agent` and passes it through. This lets config-defined custom ACP providers dispatch with no new switch case. Built-in dispatch (claude/opencode/goose/qwen) is **byte-identical** to pre-v2.3 — proven by a regression test asserting opencode→`['acp']`, goose→`['acp']`, qwen→`['--acp']`, binary=`installPath ?? id`, and empty config env → plain `process.env`. One deliberate deviation from the spec's literal `!installPath → null`: the `installPath ?? id` fallback is preserved so a missing install path still spawns the bare agent name as before. `setSessionMode`/permission/streaming and the dispatcher poll/NOTIFY/running-guard are untouched. 7 new `acp-spawn.test.ts` cases. No routes/UI (Phase 4+). Builds on `v2.5.5-provider-lifecycle-phase2`.
+
 ## v2.5.5-provider-lifecycle-phase2 — 2026-05-29
 
 Phase 2 of the v2.3 provider-lifecycle batch (`openspec/changes/v2-3-provider-lifecycle/design.md` §4). `provider-snapshot.ts` stops returning `null` for uninstalled/disabled providers — it now emits one entry per registered provider with a lifecycle status (`loading | ready | unavailable | error`), an `enabled` flag, and a two-tier probe. Tier-1 is a fast `which`-style availability check (`command-availability.ts`, `execFile`/no-shell); tier-2 — the 5–30s cold ACP probe — is now SKIPPED unless forced (`POST /refresh`), the `available_agents.last_probed_at` row is older than `PROVIDER_PROBE_TTL_MS` (24h default), or the DB model list is empty, which kills snapshot latency on warm reads. A cache miss returns `status:'loading'` synchronously while the build settles in the background (client polling is deferred to Phase 5). `ProviderSnapshotStatus`/`ProviderSnapshotEntry` regained `loading`/`unavailable` and gained `enabled`, `description?`, `fetchedAt?` in both the coder and web copies, guarded by a runtime parity test (`provider-types-parity.test.ts`, mirroring the `ws-frames.test.ts` convention) that fails on any field drift — a compile-time cross-project assignability check was attempted first but blocked by TS6307 (web is a composite tsconfig project). Also tracks the previously-gitignored `data/coder-providers.json` seed via a `.gitignore` exception, completing the Phase 1 config file. No dispatch/route/UI changes (Phase 3+); AgentComposerBar filtering unchanged. Builds on `v2.5.4-provider-lifecycle-phase1`.

apps/coder/src/services/__tests__/acp-spawn.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { resolveLaunchSpec, resolveAcpSpawnArgs } from '../acp-spawn.js';
+import { buildResolvedRegistry } from '../provider-config-registry.js';
+import type { CoderProvidersFile } from '../provider-config.js';
+import { PROVIDERS } from '../provider-registry.js';
+
+/** Resolved def for a provider id under the given config (default: no override). */
+function builtin(name: string, providers: CoderProvidersFile['providers'] = {}) {
+  const def = buildResolvedRegistry(PROVIDERS, { providers }).get(name);
+  if (!def) throw new Error(`no resolved def for ${name}`);
+  return def;
+}
+
+describe('resolveLaunchSpec', () => {
+  // --- byte-identical built-in regression (the HARD CONSTRAINT) ---------------
+  // These argv values are the pre-v2.3 resolveAcpSpawnArgs switch outputs and
+  // MUST NOT change. spawn() is `spawn(spec.binary, spec.args, ...)`, so argv
+  // parity here is dispatch parity.
+  it('opencode (no override) → byte-identical argv ["acp"], binary = installPath', () => {
+    const spec = resolveLaunchSpec(builtin('opencode'), '/usr/bin/opencode');
+    expect(spec).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(spec!.args).toEqual(['acp']); // pre-v2.3 value
+    expect(spec!.binary).toBe('/usr/bin/opencode');
+    expect(spec!.env).toBeUndefined();
+    // cross-check against the switch source-of-truth
+    expect(spec!.args).toEqual(resolveAcpSpawnArgs('opencode'));
+  });
+
+  it('goose → ["acp"], qwen → ["--acp"] (byte-identical)', () => {
+    expect(resolveLaunchSpec(builtin('goose'), '/usr/bin/goose')!.args).toEqual(['acp']);
+    expect(resolveLaunchSpec(builtin('qwen'), '/usr/bin/qwen')!.args).toEqual(['--acp']);
+  });
+
+  it('built-in with null installPath falls back to the bare id (pre-v2.3 `installPath ?? agent`)', () => {
+    const spec = resolveLaunchSpec(builtin('opencode'), null);
+    expect(spec!.binary).toBe('opencode');
+    expect(spec!.args).toEqual(['acp']);
+  });
+
+  it('non-ACP / unknown provider → null (claude has no ACP argv)', () => {
+    expect(resolveLaunchSpec(builtin('claude'), '/usr/bin/claude')).toBeNull();
+    expect(resolveLaunchSpec(builtin('boocode'), null)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  // --- config-driven launch (the new capability) ------------------------------
+  it('custom ACP entry → configured command + env reach the spec', () => {
+    const def = builtin('amp-acp', {
+      'amp-acp': { extends: 'acp', label: 'Amp', command: ['amp-acp', '--acp'], env: { AMP_KEY: 'x' } },
+    });
+    const spec = resolveLaunchSpec(def, '/usr/local/bin/amp-acp');
+    expect(spec).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(spec!.binary).toBe('amp-acp'); // command[0], not the resolved install path
+    expect(spec!.args).toEqual(['--acp']); // command.slice(1)
+    expect(spec!.env).toEqual({ AMP_KEY: 'x' });
+  });
+
+  it('built-in WITH a config command override uses the override, not the switch default', () => {
+    const def = builtin('opencode', { opencode: { command: ['opencode', 'acp', '--verbose'], env: { DEBUG: '1' } } });
+    const spec = resolveLaunchSpec(def, '/usr/bin/opencode');
+    expect(spec!.binary).toBe('opencode');
+    expect(spec!.args).toEqual(['acp', '--verbose']);
+    expect(spec!.env).toEqual({ DEBUG: '1' });
+  });
+});
+
+describe('acp-dispatch spawn wiring (documented pass-through)', () => {
+  // dispatchViaAcp spawns `spawn(spec.binary, spec.args, { env: { ...process.env, ...spec.env } })`.
+  // The env merge layers config env over process.env; for a built-in with no
+  // config env, spec.env is undefined → { ...process.env } (byte-identical).
+  it('built-in with no config env yields an undefined spec.env (→ plain process.env at spawn)', () => {
+    expect(resolveLaunchSpec(builtin('opencode'), '/usr/bin/opencode')!.env).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});

apps/coder/src/services/__tests__/provider-config-registry.test.ts

@@ -61,6 +61,22 @@ describe('buildResolvedRegistry', () => {
     warn.mockRestore();
   });
 
+  it('carries config models + additionalModels onto built-in and custom defs', () => {
+    const reg = buildResolvedRegistry(PROVIDERS, {
+      providers: {
+        claude: { models: [{ id: 'claude-opus-4-8', label: 'Opus 4.8' }] },
+        'amp-acp': {
+          extends: 'acp',
+          label: 'Amp',
+          command: ['amp-acp'],
+          additionalModels: [{ id: 'amp-1', label: 'Amp 1' }],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+    expect(reg.get('claude')!.configModels).toEqual([{ id: 'claude-opus-4-8', label: 'Opus 4.8' }]);
+    expect(reg.get('amp-acp')!.configAdditionalModels).toEqual([{ id: 'amp-1', label: 'Amp 1' }]);
+  });
+
   it('REGRESSION: empty config returns exactly the built-ins, all enabled', () => {
     const reg = buildResolvedRegistry(PROVIDERS, { providers: {} });
     expect(reg.size).toBe(PROVIDERS.length);

apps/coder/src/services/__tests__/provider-snapshot.test.ts

@@ -293,6 +293,37 @@ describe('getProviderSnapshot', () => {
     expect(boocode?.installed).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  it('config models REPLACE the claude static list; additionalModels merge (+ thinking)', async () => {
+    loadConfigFixture({
+      claude: {
+        models: [{ id: 'claude-opus-4-8', label: 'Opus 4.8' }],
+        additionalModels: [{ id: 'sonnet', label: 'Sonnet (latest)' }],
+      },
+    });
+
+    const sql = mockSql([
+      {
+        name: 'claude',
+        install_path: '/usr/bin/claude',
+        supports_acp: false,
+        models: [{ id: 'old-static', label: 'Old' }],
+        label: 'Claude Code',
+        transport: 'pty',
+        last_probed_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    const entries = await getProviderSnapshot(sql, config, '/tmp/project', true);
+    const claude = entries.find((e) => e.name === 'claude');
+    const ids = claude!.models.map((m) => m.id);
+
+    expect(ids).toContain('claude-opus-4-8'); // config models replaced the DB/static list
+    expect(ids).toContain('sonnet'); // additionalModels merged on top
+    expect(ids).not.toContain('old-static'); // replaced, not appended
+    // thinking options still attach to the config-provided models
+    expect(claude!.models.find((m) => m.id === 'claude-opus-4-8')?.thinkingOptions?.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+  });
+
   it('2.7 warm cache: a second snapshot within the warm window spawns ZERO probes', async () => {
     loadConfigFixture({});
     mockProbe.mockResolvedValue({

apps/coder/src/services/acp-dispatch.ts

@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ import type { Broker } from '@boocode/server/broker';
 import type { WsFrame } from '@boocode/server/ws-frames';
 import { spawn } from 'node:child_process';
 import { findThoughtLevelConfigId } from './acp-derive.js';
-import { resolveAcpSpawnArgs } from './acp-spawn.js';
+import { resolveLaunchSpec } from './acp-spawn.js';
+import { getResolvedRegistry, type ResolvedProviderDef } from './provider-config-registry.js';
 import { createAcpNdJsonStream } from './acp-stream.js';
 import { waitForPermissionResponse, waitForElicitationResponse, cancelPendingPermission } from './permission-waiter.js';
 import { mergeTaskCommands, getTaskCommands } from './agent-commands-cache.js';
@@ -59,6 +60,9 @@ export interface AcpDispatchOpts {
   messageId?: string;
   broker?: Broker;
   installPath?: string;
+  /** v2.3 phase 3: resolved registry def for launch-spec resolution. The
+   *  dispatcher loads this by task.agent; falls back to a registry lookup here. */
+  resolved?: ResolvedProviderDef;
   signal?: AbortSignal;
   log: FastifyBaseLogger;
 }
@@ -282,8 +286,12 @@ export async function dispatchViaAcp(opts: AcpDispatchOpts): Promise<AcpDispatch
     broker,
   } = opts;
 
-  const args = resolveAcpSpawnArgs(agent);
-  if (!args) {
+  // v2.3 phase 3: launch from the resolved registry def (config override /
+  // custom-ACP command) with the built-in switch as the fallback. The dispatcher
+  // passes `resolved`; fall back to a registry lookup if it didn't.
+  const resolved = opts.resolved ?? getResolvedRegistry().get(agent);
+  const spec = resolved ? resolveLaunchSpec(resolved, installPath ?? null) : null;
+  if (!spec) {
     return {
       exitCode: 1,
       output: `Agent '${agent}' does not support ACP.`,
@@ -293,12 +301,11 @@ export async function dispatchViaAcp(opts: AcpDispatchOpts): Promise<AcpDispatch
     };
   }
 
-  const binary = installPath ?? agent;
-  log.info({ agent, binary, worktreePath, modeId, model: opts.model }, 'acp-dispatch: spawning');
-  const child = spawn(binary, args, {
+  log.info({ agent, binary: spec.binary, worktreePath, modeId, model: opts.model }, 'acp-dispatch: spawning');
+  const child = spawn(spec.binary, spec.args, {
     cwd: worktreePath,
     stdio: ['pipe', 'pipe', 'pipe'],
-    env: { ...process.env },
+    env: { ...process.env, ...spec.env },
   });
 
   const streamCtx = new AcpStreamContext(

apps/coder/src/services/acp-spawn.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
+import type { ResolvedProviderDef } from './provider-config-registry.js';
+
 /**
- * Resolve ACP spawn argv per provider (host-probe verified 2026-05-25).
+ * Resolve ACP spawn argv per built-in provider (host-probe verified 2026-05-25).
+ * Source of truth for built-in default argv — resolveLaunchSpec wraps these; it
+ * does NOT replace them.
  */
 export function resolveAcpSpawnArgs(agent: string): string[] | null {
   switch (agent) {
@@ -13,6 +17,34 @@ export function resolveAcpSpawnArgs(agent: string): string[] | null {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * v2.3 phase 3: resolve the launch spec for an ACP dispatch (design.md §5.1).
+ * Consults the resolved registry's launchCommand (config override or custom-ACP
+ * entry) first; otherwise falls back to the built-in default argv above.
+ *
+ * Byte-identical to pre-v2.3 for built-ins with no override: binary is
+ * `installPath ?? id` and args come from resolveAcpSpawnArgs — exactly the
+ * `binary = installPath ?? agent` + `resolveAcpSpawnArgs(agent)` the dispatcher
+ * used before. (Deliberate deviation from design §5.1's `!installPath → null`:
+ * the old path spawned the bare agent name when install_path was missing, so we
+ * preserve the `?? id` fallback rather than fail.)
+ */
+export function resolveLaunchSpec(
+  resolved: ResolvedProviderDef,
+  installPath: string | null,
+): { binary: string; args: string[]; env?: Record<string, string> } | null {
+  if (resolved.launchCommand) {
+    return {
+      binary: resolved.launchCommand[0],
+      args: resolved.launchCommand.slice(1),
+      env: resolved.env,
+    };
+  }
+  const args = resolveAcpSpawnArgs(resolved.id);
+  if (!args) return null;
+  return { binary: installPath ?? resolved.id, args, env: resolved.env };
+}
+
 export function resolveAcpProbeBinaries(agent: string): string[] {
   return [agent];
 }

apps/coder/src/services/dispatcher.ts

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import type { WsFrame } from '@boocode/server/ws-frames';
 import type { Config } from '../config.js';
 import { createWorktree, diffWorktree, cleanupWorktree } from './worktrees.js';
 import { dispatchViaAcp } from './acp-dispatch.js';
+import { getResolvedRegistry } from './provider-config-registry.js';
 import { dispatchViaPty } from './pty-dispatch.js';
 import { clearTaskCommands, setTaskCommands } from './agent-commands-cache.js';
 import { getManifestCommands } from './provider-commands.js';
@@ -340,6 +341,7 @@ export function createDispatcher(deps: Deps): { start(): void; stop(): Promise<v
       if (supportsAcp) {
         const result = await dispatchViaAcp({
           agent,
+          resolved: getResolvedRegistry().get(agent),
           task: task.input,
           worktreePath,
           installPath: installPath ?? undefined,

apps/coder/src/services/provider-config-registry.ts

@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ export interface ResolvedProviderDef extends ProviderDef {
   env: Record<string, string> | undefined;
   configLabel?: string;
   configDescription?: string;
+  /** Config `models` — REPLACES the discovered/static model list when present. */
+  configModels?: Array<{ id: string; label: string }>;
+  /** Config `additionalModels` — MERGED on top of the resolved model list. */
+  configAdditionalModels?: Array<{ id: string; label: string }>;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -61,6 +65,8 @@ export function buildResolvedRegistry(
       env: ov?.env,
       configLabel: ov?.label,
       configDescription: ov?.description,
+      configModels: ov?.models,
+      configAdditionalModels: ov?.additionalModels,
     });
   }
 
@@ -87,6 +93,8 @@ export function buildResolvedRegistry(
       env: ov.env,
       configLabel: ov.label,
       configDescription: ov.description,
+      configModels: ov.models,
+      configAdditionalModels: ov.additionalModels,
     });
   }
 

apps/coder/src/services/provider-registry.ts

@@ -41,9 +41,18 @@ export const PROVIDERS: ProviderDef[] = [
     label: 'Claude Code',
     transport: 'pty',
     modelSource: 'static',
+    // Passed verbatim to `claude --model <id>` (PTY dispatch). The CLI accepts a
+    // latest-alias ('opus'/'sonnet'/'haiku') or a pinned full name
+    // ('claude-opus-4-8'). Aliases never go stale; pinned IDs let you select an
+    // exact version. Extend/replace per-install via data/coder-providers.json
+    // (models / additionalModels) without a code change.
     staticModels: [
-      { id: 'claude-opus-4-20250514', label: 'Opus 4' },
-      { id: 'claude-sonnet-4-20250514', label: 'Sonnet 4' },
+      { id: 'opus', label: 'Opus (latest)' },
+      { id: 'claude-opus-4-8', label: 'Opus 4.8' },
+      { id: 'sonnet', label: 'Sonnet (latest)' },
+      { id: 'claude-sonnet-4-6', label: 'Sonnet 4.6' },
+      { id: 'haiku', label: 'Haiku (latest)' },
+      { id: 'claude-haiku-4-5-20251001', label: 'Haiku 4.5' },
     ],
   },
   {

apps/coder/src/services/provider-snapshot.ts

@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ async function buildProviderEntry(
   const label = agentRow?.label ?? resolved.configLabel ?? resolved.label;
   const descr = resolved.configDescription ? { description: resolved.configDescription } : {};
 
+  // v2.3: config `models` REPLACES the discovered/static list; `additionalModels`
+  // MERGES on top. Applied to every ready/installed model list below.
+  const withConfigModels = (m: ProviderModel[]): ProviderModel[] => {
+    let out = resolved.configModels && resolved.configModels.length > 0 ? resolved.configModels : m;
+    if (resolved.configAdditionalModels && resolved.configAdditionalModels.length > 0) {
+      out = mergeModels(out, resolved.configAdditionalModels);
+    }
+    return out;
+  };
+
   // ACP built-ins fall back to PTY transport when the installed binary lacks ACP.
   let transport = resolved.transport;
   if (agentRow && resolved.transport === 'acp' && !agentRow.supports_acp) {
@@ -104,7 +114,7 @@ async function buildProviderEntry(
   if (isNative) {
     return {
       name, label: resolved.label, transport, status: 'ready',
-      enabled: true, installed: true, models: llamaModels, modes: [],
+      enabled: true, installed: true, models: withConfigModels(llamaModels), modes: [],
       defaultModeId: null, commands: manifestCommands,
     };
   }
@@ -137,7 +147,7 @@ async function buildProviderEntry(
   if (name === 'claude') {
     return {
       name, label, transport, status: 'ready', enabled: true, installed: true,
-      models: attachClaudeThinking(models), modes: fallbackModes, defaultModeId,
+      models: attachClaudeThinking(withConfigModels(models)), modes: fallbackModes, defaultModeId,
       commands: manifestCommands,
     };
   }
@@ -165,7 +175,7 @@ async function buildProviderEntry(
       }
       return {
         name, label, transport, status: 'ready', enabled: true, installed: true,
-        models: skipModels, modes: fallbackModes, defaultModeId, commands: manifestCommands,
+        models: withConfigModels(skipModels), modes: fallbackModes, defaultModeId, commands: manifestCommands,
       };
     }
 
@@ -188,7 +198,7 @@ async function buildProviderEntry(
       name, label, transport,
       status: probe.ok ? 'ready' : 'error',
       enabled: true, installed: true,
-      models: probeModels,
+      models: withConfigModels(probeModels),
       modes: probe.modes.length > 0 ? probe.modes : fallbackModes,
       defaultModeId: probe.defaultModeId ?? defaultModeId,
       commands: mergeCommands(manifestCommands, probe.commands),
@@ -203,27 +213,10 @@ async function buildProviderEntry(
   }
   return {
     name, label, transport, status: 'ready', enabled: true, installed: true,
-    models, modes: fallbackModes, defaultModeId, commands: manifestCommands,
+    models: withConfigModels(models), modes: fallbackModes, defaultModeId, commands: manifestCommands,
   };
 }
 
-/** Synchronous placeholder entries for a cache-miss while the build runs (§4.4). */
-function loadingEntries(): ProviderSnapshotEntry[] {
-  return [...getResolvedRegistry().values()].map((r) => ({
-    name: r.id,
-    label: r.configLabel ?? r.label,
-    ...(r.configDescription ? { description: r.configDescription } : {}),
-    transport: r.transport,
-    status: r.enabled ? ('loading' as const) : ('unavailable' as const),
-    enabled: r.enabled,
-    installed: false,
-    models: [],
-    modes: getManifestModes(r.id),
-    defaultModeId: getManifestDefaultModeId(r.id),
-    commands: getManifestCommands(r.id),
-  }));
-}
-
 const snapshotCache = new Map<string, { at: number; entries: ProviderSnapshotEntry[] }>();
 const snapshotInflight = new Map<string, Promise<ProviderSnapshotEntry[]>>();
 const CACHE_TTL_MS = 5 * 60_000;
@@ -269,14 +262,13 @@ export async function getProviderSnapshot(
   });
   snapshotInflight.set(cacheKey, promise);
 
-  // force → await the full build (cold probes included). Non-force cache miss →
-  // return loading entries synchronously; the build settles in the background
-  // and the next call returns it via cache / inflight (§4.4; client polls).
-  if (force) return promise;
-  promise.catch(() => {
-    /* settled errors surface on the next call that awaits inflight/rebuilds */
-  });
-  return loadingEntries();
+  // Await the build (force or cache-miss) and return terminal entries. The sync
+  // `loading` return (design §4.4) is DEFERRED until Phase 5 ships the client
+  // poll that resolves it: without that poll, a single fetch lands on
+  // installed:false `loading` entries, which AgentComposerBar filters out
+  // (`e.installed && ...`) → empty picker. Builds stay fast via the tier-2 skip
+  // once available_agents.models is warm.
+  return promise;
 }
 
 export function clearProviderSnapshotCache(): void {