feat: CODER_* env vars, settings.json creation, --model interactive switching

- Replace ANTHROPIC_* env vars with CODER_BASE_URL/CODER_MODEL/CODER_AUTH_TOKEN
- install.sh: auto-create ~/.coder/settings.json with model config prompts
- entry.tsx: add --model flag for interactive model_list selection
- README/docs: remove config.yaml references, update to settings.json
- coder-client.ts: all ANTHROPIC_* env refs → CODER_*
- engine-factory.ts: use CODER_* env vars for provider config

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Author: jimgqyu

README.md

@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ Skills are stored in `~/.coder/skills/` and can be managed via:
 /skills search      # Search community skills by keyword
 ```
 
-Configure skill auto-creation and auto-improvement in `~/.coder/config.yaml`:
+Configure skill auto-creation and auto-improvement in `~/.coder/settings.json`:
 
 ```yaml
 skills:
@@ -226,96 +226,62 @@ skills:
 
 ## Configuration
 
-### API Key
+### Configuration
 
-Coder Agent primarily uses `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` for authentication. The legacy `ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN` is also supported as a fallback.
+Coder Agent uses `~/.coder/settings.json` for persistent config, with environment variable overrides.
 
-Priority order for API key resolution:
-1. `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` environment variable
-2. `ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN` environment variable
-3. `~/.coder/settings.json` → `env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`
-4. `~/.coder/settings.json` → `env.ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN`
+**Priority order:**
+1. CLI flags (`--model`, `--provider`)
+2. Environment variables (`CODER_BASE_URL`, `CODER_MODEL`, `CODER_AUTH_TOKEN`)
+3. `~/.coder/settings.json` → `model_list[]` + `env.*`
 
 ```bash
-# Recommended: set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
-export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-api03-..."
+# Set auth token (required)
+export CODER_AUTH_TOKEN="sk-your-key-here"
 
-# Legacy: ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN also works
-export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="sk-ant-api03-..."
+# Optional: override model and endpoint
+export CODER_MODEL="deepseek-chat"
+export CODER_BASE_URL="https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic"
 ```
 
-For OpenAI or DeepSeek, set the `CODER_PROVIDER` environment variable:
+### Model Switching
 
+Switch models interactively:
 ```bash
-# Use OpenAI
-export CODER_PROVIDER=openai
-export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-..."
-
-# Use DeepSeek with Anthropic-compatible endpoint
-export CODER_PROVIDER=anthropic
-export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-..."
-export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic"
-export ANTHROPIC_MODEL="deepseek-chat"
+coder --model          # Interactive selection from model_list
+coder --model gpt-4o   # Switch to a specific model by name
 ```
 
-### Configuration File (~/.coder/config.yaml)
-
-For persistent configuration, use `~/.coder/config.yaml`:
-
-```yaml
-provider: anthropic
-model: claude-sonnet-4-20250514
-
-providers:
-  anthropic:
-    baseUrl: https://api.anthropic.com
-    maxRetries: 3
-    timeoutMs: 120000
-  openai:
-    baseUrl: https://api.openai.com/v1
-    maxRetries: 3
-    timeoutMs: 120000
-  deepseek:
-    baseUrl: https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic
-    maxRetries: 3
-    timeoutMs: 120000
-
-permissions:
-  mode: default              # default | accept-edits | bypass
-  allowedPaths: []
-  deniedPaths: []
-
-maxTurns: 100
-contextBudget: 180000
-```
-
-You can also use `~/.coder/settings.json` (JSON format) for environment variables:
+### ~/.coder/settings.json
 
 ```json
 {
   "theme": "dark",
   "model_list": [
+    {
+      "name": "deepseek-v4",
+      "model": "deepseek-chat",
+      "base_url": "https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic",
+      "auth_token_env": "CODER_AUTH_TOKEN",
+      "provider": "deepseek"
+    },
     {
       "name": "claude-sonnet-4-6",
       "model": "claude-sonnet-4-6",
       "base_url": "https://api.anthropic.com/v1",
-      "auth_token_env": "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY",
+      "auth_token_env": "CODER_AUTH_TOKEN",
       "provider": "anthropic"
-    },
-    {
-      "name": "deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro",
-      "model": "deepseek-chat",
-      "base_url": "https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic",
-      "auth_token_env": "DEEPSEEK_API_KEY",
-      "provider": "deepseek"
     }
   ],
-  "default_model": "claude-sonnet-4-6"
+  "default_model": "deepseek-v4",
+  "env": {
+    "CODER_MODEL": "deepseek-chat",
+    "CODER_BASE_URL": "https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic",
+    "CODER_AUTH_TOKEN": ""
+  }
 }
 ```
 
-> **Note:** `ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL` can also be configured per-provider in `~/.coder/config.yaml` under the `providers` section, rather than as a global environment variable.
-
 ### Hook Configuration
 
 Place hook definitions in `~/.coder/hooks/*.json`:
@@ -406,7 +372,7 @@ pnpm ci
 ## Documentation
 
 - [Getting Started Guide](./docs/getting-started.md) — installation, basic usage, TUI shortcuts, session management
-- [Configuration Reference](./docs/configuration.md) — full config.yaml schema, env vars, permission modes, sandbox setup
+- [Configuration Reference](./docs/configuration.md) — full settings.json schema, env vars, permission modes, sandbox setup
 
 ---
 

config.example.toml

@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
-# Coder Agent Configuration
-# Copy this file to ~/.coder/config.toml and customize your settings.
+# Coder Agent Configuration (DEPRECATED FORMAT)
+# This file is kept for reference only. Modern config uses ~/.coder/settings.json.
+# Copy this file to ~/.coder/config.toml to use the legacy TOML format.
 
 [env]
-# Anthropic API Configuration
+# Coder API Configuration
 # Priority: environment variables > this file > defaults
-# For API key: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY > ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN
-ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL = "https://api.deepseek.com/v1"
-ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN = "sk-ant-xxxxx"
-ANTHROPIC_MODEL = "deepseek-v4-pro"
+# For API key: CODER_API_KEY > CODER_AUTH_TOKEN
+CODER_BASE_URL = "https://api.deepseek.com/v1"
+CODER_AUTH_TOKEN = "sk-ant-xxxxx"
+CODER_MODEL = "deepseek-v4-pro"
 
 # Appearance
 theme = "dark"

configs/test-setup.ts

@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ const CREDENTIAL_SUFFIXES = [
 ];
 
 const CREDENTIAL_NAMES = new Set([
-  'ANTHROPIC_API_KEY',
-  'ANTHROPIC_TOKEN',
+  'CODER_API_KEY',
+  'CODER_TOKEN',
   'OPENAI_API_KEY',
   'OPENROUTER_API_KEY',
   'GEMINI_API_KEY',

docs/configuration.md

@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 # Configuration Reference
 
-Coder Agent is configured through a combination of `~/.coder/config.yaml`,
+Coder Agent is configured through a combination of `~/.coder/settings.json`,
 environment variables, and CLI flags.
 
 ## Config File
 
-The primary configuration file lives at `~/.coder/config.yaml`. It is created
+The primary configuration file lives at `~/.coder/settings.json`. It is created
 automatically on first run if it doesn't exist.
 
 ### Full Schema
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ Environment variables take precedence over the config file.
 
 | Variable | Description | Default |
 |----------|-------------|---------|
-| `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` | Anthropic API key | — |
+| `CODER_API_KEY` | Coder API key | — |
 | `DEEPSEEK_API_KEY` | DeepSeek API key | — |
 | `OPENAI_API_KEY` | OpenAI API key | — |
 | `CODER_PROVIDER` | LLM provider name | `anthropic` |
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ Environment variables take precedence over the config file.
 ### Anthropic (Default)
 
 ```bash
-export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-api03-...
+export CODER_API_KEY=sk-ant-api03-...
 ```
 
 Supported models:
@@ -303,6 +303,6 @@ compactThreshold: 0.7      # Start compacting at 126K tokens
 
 ### Multiple Projects
 
-Configuration is global (`~/.coder/config.yaml`), but project-specific
+Configuration is global (`~/.coder/settings.json`), but project-specific
 instructions go in `CLAUDE.md` at the project root. The agent reads this
 file at the start of every session.

docs/getting-started.md

@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ Coder Agent supports multiple LLM providers. Set at least one:
 
 ```bash
 # Anthropic (default)
-export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
+export CODER_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
 
 # DeepSeek
 export DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=sk-...
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ across terminal sessions.
 
 ### Provider Selection
 
-Set the provider and model in `~/.coder/config.yaml`:
+Set the provider and model in `~/.coder/settings.json`:
 
 ```yaml
 provider: deepseek

install.sh

@@ -172,54 +172,91 @@ mkdir -p "${CODER_DIR}/scratchpad"
 echo -e "${GREEN}✅ Configuration directory created at ${CODER_DIR}${NC}"
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# 6. API Key setup
+# 6. Model Configuration (settings.json)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+SETTINGS_FILE="${CODER_DIR}/settings.json"
+
 echo ""
 echo -e "${YELLOW}╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════╗${NC}"
-echo -e "${YELLOW}║  API Key Configuration                          ║${NC}"
+echo -e "${YELLOW}║  Model Configuration                            ║${NC}"
 echo -e "${YELLOW}╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝${NC}"
 echo ""
-echo "Coder Agent supports multiple LLM providers:"
-echo "  - DeepSeek (default):   DEEPSEEK_API_KEY"
-echo "  - Anthropic:            ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"
-echo "  - OpenAI:               OPENAI_API_KEY"
+echo "Configure your default LLM provider and model."
 echo ""
 
-# Check if API keys are already set
-if [ -n "${DEEPSEEK_API_KEY:-}" ]; then
-  echo -e "${GREEN}✅ DEEPSEEK_API_KEY is already set${NC}"
-else
-  echo -e "${YELLOW}⚠️  DEEPSEEK_API_KEY is not set${NC}"
-  echo ""
-  echo "To set it now, enter your DeepSeek API key (or press Enter to skip):"
-  read -r -p "API Key: " api_key
-
-  if [ -n "$api_key" ]; then
-    # Detect shell config file
-    SHELL_CONFIG=""
-    if [ -f "${HOME}/.zshrc" ]; then
-      SHELL_CONFIG="${HOME}/.zshrc"
-    elif [ -f "${HOME}/.bashrc" ]; then
-      SHELL_CONFIG="${HOME}/.bashrc"
-    elif [ -f "${HOME}/.bash_profile" ]; then
-      SHELL_CONFIG="${HOME}/.bash_profile"
-    fi
-
-    if [ -n "$SHELL_CONFIG" ]; then
-      echo "" >> "$SHELL_CONFIG"
-      echo "# Coder Agent — API Key" >> "$SHELL_CONFIG"
-      echo "export DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=${api_key}" >> "$SHELL_CONFIG"
-      echo -e "${GREEN}✅ API key added to ${SHELL_CONFIG}${NC}"
-      echo ""
-      echo -e "${YELLOW}Run 'source ${SHELL_CONFIG}' or restart your terminal to apply.${NC}"
-    else
-      echo -e "${YELLOW}Could not detect shell config file. Add this to your shell profile:${NC}"
-      echo "  export DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=${api_key}"
-    fi
-  else
-    echo "Skipped. You can set it later:"
-    echo "  export DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=your-key-here"
-  fi
+# -- CODER_BASE_URL --
+echo -e "${CYAN}API Base URL${NC} (e.g. https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic)"
+echo "Press Enter to skip:"
+read -r -p "> " coder_base_url
+
+# -- CODER_MODEL --
+echo ""
+echo -e "${CYAN}Model ID${NC} (e.g. deepseek-chat, claude-sonnet-4-6)"
+echo "Press Enter for default (deepseek-chat):"
+read -r -p "> " coder_model
+coder_model="${coder_model:-deepseek-chat}"
+
+# -- CODER_AUTH_TOKEN --
+echo ""
+echo -e "${CYAN}API Key / Auth Token${NC}"
+echo "Press Enter to skip (you can set CODER_AUTH_TOKEN env var later):"
+read -r -p "> " coder_auth_token
+
+# Build settings.json
+SETTINGS_JSON=$(cat <<SETEOF
+{
+  "theme": "dark",
+  "default_model": "${coder_model}",
+  "model_list": [
+    {
+      "name": "${coder_model}",
+      "model": "${coder_model}",
+      "base_url": "${coder_base_url}",
+      "auth_token_env": "CODER_AUTH_TOKEN",
+      "provider": "deepseek"
+    }
+  ],
+  "env": {
+    "CODER_MODEL": "${coder_model}",
+    "CODER_BASE_URL": "${coder_base_url}",
+    "CODER_AUTH_TOKEN": "${coder_auth_token}"
+  }
+}
+SETEOF
+)
+
+# Write settings.json
+echo "$SETTINGS_JSON" > "$SETTINGS_FILE"
+echo -e "${GREEN}✅ Created ${SETTINGS_FILE}${NC}"
+
+# Export env vars for immediate use
+if [ -n "$coder_base_url" ]; then
+  export CODER_BASE_URL="$coder_base_url"
+fi
+if [ -n "$coder_auth_token" ]; then
+  export CODER_AUTH_TOKEN="$coder_auth_token"
+fi
+export CODER_MODEL="$coder_model"
+
+# Add to shell config for persistence
+SHELL_CONFIG=""
+if [ -f "${HOME}/.zshrc" ]; then
+  SHELL_CONFIG="${HOME}/.zshrc"
+elif [ -f "${HOME}/.bashrc" ]; then
+  SHELL_CONFIG="${HOME}/.bashrc"
+elif [ -f "${HOME}/.bash_profile" ]; then
+  SHELL_CONFIG="${HOME}/.bash_profile"
+fi
+
+if [ -n "$SHELL_CONFIG" ]; then
+  {
+    echo ""
+    echo "# Coder Agent — Model Configuration"
+    echo "export CODER_MODEL=${coder_model}"
+    [ -n "$coder_base_url" ] && echo "export CODER_BASE_URL=${coder_base_url}"
+    [ -n "$coder_auth_token" ] && echo "export CODER_AUTH_TOKEN=${coder_auth_token}"
+  } >> "$SHELL_CONFIG"
+  echo -e "${GREEN}✅ Env vars added to ${SHELL_CONFIG}${NC}"
 fi
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -244,6 +281,7 @@ echo ""
 echo -e "${CYAN}Configuration:${NC}"
 echo "  ~/.coder/               — Configuration directory"
 echo "  ~/.coder/settings.json  — Provider & model settings"
+echo "  export CODER_AUTH_TOKEN  — Set your API key if skipped during install"
 echo "  CODER.md                — Project-specific instructions"
 echo ""
 echo -e "${YELLOW}Documentation: https://github.com/AgenticMatrix/Coder-Agent${NC}"

packages/cli/src/config/env.ts

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export const STARTUP_QUERY = (process.env.CODER_TUI_QUERY ?? '').trim()
 export const STARTUP_IMAGE = (process.env.CODER_TUI_IMAGE ?? '').trim()
 
 // Mouse tracking mode resolution at startup. Per-mode selection (off|wheel|
-// buttons|all) lives in display.mouse_tracking in config.yaml — these env
+// buttons|all) lives in display.mouse_tracking in settings.json — these env
 // vars only set the boot-time default before that config is applied.
 //
 // Precedence (highest first):