fix(coding-agent): defer catalog refresh until after TUI startup

packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed interactive startup waiting for background model catalog refresh while computing the footer provider count.
+
 ## [0.81.0] - 2026-07-21
 
 ### New Features

packages/coding-agent/src/main.ts

@@ -808,7 +808,8 @@ export async function main(args: string[], options?: MainOptions) {
 		process.exit(1);
 	}
 
-	if (!offlineMode && (appMode === "interactive" || appMode === "rpc")) {
+	// RPC refreshes catalogs here in the background; interactive mode starts its refresh after TUI initialization.
+	if (!offlineMode && appMode === "rpc") {
 		void modelRuntime.refresh().catch(() => {});
 	}
 

packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts

@@ -826,6 +826,13 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 	async run(): Promise<void> {
 		await this.init();
 
+		if (!process.env.PI_OFFLINE) {
+			void this.session.modelRuntime
+				.refresh()
+				.then(() => this.updateAvailableProviderCount())
+				.catch(() => {});
+		}
+
 		// Start version check asynchronously
 		checkForNewPiVersion(this.version).then((newRelease) => {
 			if (newRelease) {
@@ -4352,10 +4359,13 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 		}
 	}
 
-	/** Update the footer's available provider count from current model candidates */
-	private async updateAvailableProviderCount(): Promise<void> {
-		const models = await this.getModelCandidates();
-		const uniqueProviders = new Set(models.map((m) => m.provider));
+	/** Update the footer's available provider count from the current snapshot without refreshing catalogs. */
+	private updateAvailableProviderCount(): void {
+		const models =
+			this.session.scopedModels.length > 0
+				? this.session.scopedModels.map((scoped) => scoped.model)
+				: this.session.modelRuntime.getAvailableSnapshot();
+		const uniqueProviders = new Set(models.map((model) => model.provider));
 		this.footerDataProvider.setAvailableProviderCount(uniqueProviders.size);
 	}