openai: map responses reasoning effort to think (#15789)

---------

Co-authored-by: Parth Sareen <parth.sareen@ollama.com>

api/types.go

@@ -1080,7 +1080,7 @@ func DefaultOptions() Options {
 	}
 }
 
-// ThinkValue represents a value that can be a boolean or a string ("high", "medium", "low")
+// ThinkValue represents a value that can be a boolean or a string ("high", "medium", "low", "max")
 type ThinkValue struct {
 	// Value can be a bool or string
 	Value interface{}
@@ -1096,7 +1096,7 @@ func (t *ThinkValue) IsValid() bool {
 	case bool:
 		return true
 	case string:
-		return v == "high" || v == "medium" || v == "low"
+		return v == "high" || v == "medium" || v == "low" || v == "max"
 	default:
 		return false
 	}
@@ -1130,8 +1130,8 @@ func (t *ThinkValue) Bool() bool {
 	case bool:
 		return v
 	case string:
-		// Any string value ("high", "medium", "low") means thinking is enabled
-		return v == "high" || v == "medium" || v == "low"
+		// Any string value ("high", "medium", "low", "max") means thinking is enabled
+		return v == "high" || v == "medium" || v == "low" || v == "max"
 	default:
 		return false
 	}
@@ -1169,14 +1169,14 @@ func (t *ThinkValue) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
 	var s string
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &s); err == nil {
 		// Validate string values
-		if s != "high" && s != "medium" && s != "low" {
-			return fmt.Errorf("invalid think value: %q (must be \"high\", \"medium\", \"low\", true, or false)", s)
+		if s != "high" && s != "medium" && s != "low" && s != "max" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid think value: %q (must be \"high\", \"medium\", \"low\", \"max\", true, or false)", s)
 		}
 		t.Value = s
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	return fmt.Errorf("think must be a boolean or string (\"high\", \"medium\", \"low\", true, or false)")
+	return fmt.Errorf("think must be a boolean or string (\"high\", \"medium\", \"low\", \"max\", true, or false)")
 }
 
 // MarshalJSON implements json.Marshaler

api/types_test.go

@@ -495,6 +495,11 @@ func TestThinking_UnmarshalJSON(t *testing.T) {
 			input:            `{ "think": "low" }`,
 			expectedThinking: &ThinkValue{Value: "low"},
 		},
+		{
+			name:             "string_max",
+			input:            `{ "think": "max" }`,
+			expectedThinking: &ThinkValue{Value: "max"},
+		},
 		{
 			name:             "invalid_string",
 			input:            `{ "think": "invalid" }`,

cmd/cmd.go

@@ -582,10 +582,10 @@ func RunHandler(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			opts.Think = &api.ThinkValue{Value: true}
 		case "false":
 			opts.Think = &api.ThinkValue{Value: false}
-		case "high", "medium", "low":
+		case "high", "medium", "low", "max":
 			opts.Think = &api.ThinkValue{Value: thinkStr}
 		default:
-			return fmt.Errorf("invalid value for --think: %q (must be true, false, high, medium, or low)", thinkStr)
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid value for --think: %q (must be true, false, high, medium, low, or max)", thinkStr)
 		}
 	} else {
 		opts.Think = nil

cmd/launch/integrations_test.go

@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ func TestParseArgs(t *testing.T) {
 func TestIsCloudModel(t *testing.T) {
 	// isCloudModel now only uses Show API, so nil client always returns false
 	t.Run("nil client returns false", func(t *testing.T) {
-		models := []string{"glm-5.1:cloud", "kimi-k2.5:cloud", "local-model"}
+		models := []string{"glm-5.1:cloud", "kimi-k2.6:cloud", "local-model"}
 		for _, model := range models {
 			if isCloudModel(context.Background(), nil, model) {
 				t.Errorf("isCloudModel(%q) with nil client should return false", model)
@@ -318,10 +318,18 @@ func names(items []ModelItem) []string {
 	return out
 }
 
+func recommendedNames(extra ...string) []string {
+	out := make([]string, 0, len(recommendedModels)+len(extra))
+	for _, item := range recommendedModels {
+		out = append(out, item.Name)
+	}
+	return append(out, extra...)
+}
+
 func TestBuildModelList_NoExistingModels(t *testing.T) {
 	items, _, _, _ := buildModelList(nil, nil, "")
 
-	want := []string{"kimi-k2.5:cloud", "qwen3.5:cloud", "glm-5.1:cloud", "minimax-m2.7:cloud", "gemma4", "qwen3.5"}
+	want := recommendedNames()
 	if diff := cmp.Diff(want, names(items)); diff != "" {
 		t.Errorf("with no existing models, items should be recommended in order (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
 	}
@@ -350,7 +358,7 @@ func TestBuildModelList_OnlyLocalModels_CloudRecsStillFirst(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Cloud recs always come first among recommended, regardless of installed inventory.
 	// Cloud disablement is handled upstream in loadSelectableModels via filterCloudItems.
-	want := []string{"kimi-k2.5:cloud", "qwen3.5:cloud", "glm-5.1:cloud", "minimax-m2.7:cloud", "gemma4", "qwen3.5", "llama3.2", "qwen2.5"}
+	want := recommendedNames("llama3.2", "qwen2.5")
 	if diff := cmp.Diff(want, got); diff != "" {
 		t.Errorf("cloud recs pinned first even when no cloud models installed (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
 	}
@@ -366,13 +374,13 @@ func TestBuildModelList_BothCloudAndLocal_RegularSort(t *testing.T) {
 	got := names(items)
 
 	// All recs pinned at top (cloud before local in mixed case), then non-recs
-	want := []string{"kimi-k2.5:cloud", "qwen3.5:cloud", "glm-5.1:cloud", "minimax-m2.7:cloud", "gemma4", "qwen3.5", "llama3.2"}
+	want := recommendedNames("llama3.2")
 	if diff := cmp.Diff(want, got); diff != "" {
 		t.Errorf("recs pinned at top, cloud recs first in mixed case (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
 	}
 }
 
-func TestBuildModelList_PreCheckedFirst(t *testing.T) {
+func TestBuildModelList_PreCheckedNonRecommendedFirstInMore(t *testing.T) {
 	existing := []modelInfo{
 		{Name: "llama3.2:latest", Remote: false},
 		{Name: "glm-5.1:cloud", Remote: true},
@@ -381,8 +389,9 @@ func TestBuildModelList_PreCheckedFirst(t *testing.T) {
 	items, _, _, _ := buildModelList(existing, []string{"llama3.2"}, "")
 	got := names(items)
 
-	if got[0] != "llama3.2" {
-		t.Errorf("pre-checked model should be first, got %v", got)
+	want := recommendedNames("llama3.2")
+	if diff := cmp.Diff(want, got); diff != "" {
+		t.Errorf("recommended block should stay fixed while checked non-recommended models lead More (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -437,7 +446,7 @@ func TestBuildModelList_ExistingRecommendedMarked(t *testing.T) {
 			if !strings.HasSuffix(item.Description, "(not downloaded)") {
 				t.Errorf("non-installed recommended %q should have '(not downloaded)' suffix, got %q", item.Name, item.Description)
 			}
-		case "minimax-m2.7:cloud", "kimi-k2.5:cloud", "qwen3.5:cloud":
+		case "minimax-m2.7:cloud", "kimi-k2.6:cloud", "qwen3.5:cloud":
 			if strings.HasSuffix(item.Description, "(not downloaded)") {
 				t.Errorf("cloud model %q should not have '(not downloaded)' suffix, got %q", item.Name, item.Description)
 			}
@@ -455,9 +464,9 @@ func TestBuildModelList_ExistingCloudModelsNotPushedToBottom(t *testing.T) {
 	got := names(items)
 
 	// gemma4 and glm-5.1:cloud are installed so they sort normally;
-	// kimi-k2.5:cloud, qwen3.5:cloud, and qwen3.5 are not installed so they go to the bottom
+	// qwen3.5:cloud and qwen3.5 are not installed so they go to the bottom
 	// All recs: cloud first in mixed case, then local, in rec order within each
-	want := []string{"kimi-k2.5:cloud", "qwen3.5:cloud", "glm-5.1:cloud", "minimax-m2.7:cloud", "gemma4", "qwen3.5"}
+	want := recommendedNames()
 	if diff := cmp.Diff(want, got); diff != "" {
 		t.Errorf("all recs, cloud first in mixed case (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
 	}
@@ -466,23 +475,23 @@ func TestBuildModelList_ExistingCloudModelsNotPushedToBottom(t *testing.T) {
 func TestBuildModelList_HasRecommendedCloudModel_OnlyNonInstalledAtBottom(t *testing.T) {
 	existing := []modelInfo{
 		{Name: "llama3.2:latest", Remote: false},
-		{Name: "kimi-k2.5:cloud", Remote: true},
+		{Name: "kimi-k2.6:cloud", Remote: true},
 	}
 
 	items, _, _, _ := buildModelList(existing, nil, "")
 	got := names(items)
 
-	// kimi-k2.5:cloud is installed so it sorts normally;
+	// kimi-k2.6:cloud is installed so it sorts normally;
 	// the rest of the recommendations are not installed so they go to the bottom
 	// All recs pinned at top (cloud first in mixed case), then non-recs
-	want := []string{"kimi-k2.5:cloud", "qwen3.5:cloud", "glm-5.1:cloud", "minimax-m2.7:cloud", "gemma4", "qwen3.5", "llama3.2"}
+	want := recommendedNames("llama3.2")
 	if diff := cmp.Diff(want, got); diff != "" {
 		t.Errorf("recs pinned at top, cloud first in mixed case (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
 	}
 
 	for _, item := range items {
 		isCloud := strings.HasSuffix(item.Name, ":cloud")
-		isInstalled := slices.Contains([]string{"kimi-k2.5:cloud", "llama3.2"}, item.Name)
+		isInstalled := slices.Contains([]string{"kimi-k2.6:cloud", "llama3.2"}, item.Name)
 		if isInstalled || isCloud {
 			if strings.HasSuffix(item.Description, "(not downloaded)") {
 				t.Errorf("installed or cloud model %q should not have '(not downloaded)' suffix, got %q", item.Name, item.Description)
@@ -549,8 +558,8 @@ func TestBuildModelList_ReturnsExistingAndCloudMaps(t *testing.T) {
 	if !cloudModels["glm-5.1:cloud"] {
 		t.Error("glm-5.1:cloud should be in cloudModels")
 	}
-	if !cloudModels["kimi-k2.5:cloud"] {
-		t.Error("kimi-k2.5:cloud should be in cloudModels (recommended cloud)")
+	if !cloudModels["kimi-k2.6:cloud"] {
+		t.Error("kimi-k2.6:cloud should be in cloudModels (recommended cloud)")
 	}
 	if !cloudModels["qwen3.5:cloud"] {
 		t.Error("qwen3.5:cloud should be in cloudModels (recommended cloud)")
@@ -570,7 +579,7 @@ func TestBuildModelList_RecommendedFieldSet(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, item := range items {
 		switch item.Name {
-		case "gemma4", "qwen3.5", "glm-5.1:cloud", "kimi-k2.5:cloud", "qwen3.5:cloud":
+		case "gemma4", "qwen3.5", "glm-5.1:cloud", "kimi-k2.6:cloud", "qwen3.5:cloud":
 			if !item.Recommended {
 				t.Errorf("%q should have Recommended=true", item.Name)
 			}
@@ -628,7 +637,7 @@ func TestBuildModelList_RecsAboveNonRecs(t *testing.T) {
 	lastRecIdx := -1
 	firstNonRecIdx := len(got)
 	for i, name := range got {
-		isRec := name == "gemma4" || name == "qwen3.5" || name == "minimax-m2.7:cloud" || name == "glm-5.1:cloud" || name == "kimi-k2.5:cloud" || name == "qwen3.5:cloud"
+		isRec := name == "gemma4" || name == "qwen3.5" || name == "minimax-m2.7:cloud" || name == "glm-5.1:cloud" || name == "kimi-k2.6:cloud" || name == "qwen3.5:cloud"
 		if isRec && i > lastRecIdx {
 			lastRecIdx = i
 		}
@@ -641,17 +650,32 @@ func TestBuildModelList_RecsAboveNonRecs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestBuildModelList_CheckedBeforeRecs(t *testing.T) {
+func TestBuildModelList_CheckedRecommendedDoesNotReshuffleRecommendedOrder(t *testing.T) {
 	existing := []modelInfo{
 		{Name: "llama3.2:latest", Remote: false},
 		{Name: "glm-5.1:cloud", Remote: true},
 	}
 
-	items, _, _, _ := buildModelList(existing, []string{"llama3.2"}, "")
+	items, _, _, _ := buildModelList(existing, []string{"qwen3.5:cloud", "glm-5.1:cloud"}, "")
 	got := names(items)
 
-	if got[0] != "llama3.2" {
-		t.Errorf("checked model should be first even before recs, got %v", got)
+	want := recommendedNames("llama3.2")
+	if diff := cmp.Diff(want, got); diff != "" {
+		t.Errorf("checked recommended models should not reshuffle the fixed recommended order (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBuildModelList_StaleSavedKimiK25DoesNotReshuffleRecommendedOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	existing := []modelInfo{
+		{Name: "kimi-k2.5:cloud", Remote: true},
+	}
+
+	items, _, _, _ := buildModelList(existing, []string{"kimi-k2.5:cloud", "qwen3.5:cloud", "glm-5.1:cloud", "minimax-m2.7:cloud"}, "kimi-k2.5:cloud")
+	got := names(items)
+
+	want := recommendedNames("kimi-k2.5:cloud")
+	if diff := cmp.Diff(want, got); diff != "" {
+		t.Errorf("stale saved kimi-k2.5 should stay in More without reshuffling the fixed recommended order (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
 	}
 }
 

cmd/launch/launch.go

@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ func (c *launcherClient) launchManagedSingleIntegration(ctx context.Context, nam
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if (current == "" || needsConfigure || req.ModelOverride != "" || target != current) && !savedMatchesModels(saved, []string{target}) {
+	if needsConfigure || req.ModelOverride != "" || (current != "" && target != current) || !savedMatchesModels(saved, []string{target}) {
 		if err := prepareManagedSingleIntegration(name, runner, managed, target); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}

cmd/launch/launch_test.go

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/cmd/config"
 )
 
@@ -511,6 +512,65 @@ func TestLaunchIntegration_ManagedSingleIntegrationRewritesWhenSavedDiffers(t *t
 	}
 }
 
+func TestLaunchIntegration_ManagedSingleIntegrationRewritesWhenLiveConfigDrifts(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	setLaunchTestHome(t, tmpDir)
+	withInteractiveSession(t, true)
+	withLauncherHooks(t)
+
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		switch r.URL.Path {
+		case "/api/tags":
+			fmt.Fprint(w, `{"models":[{"name":"gemma4"},{"name":"qwen3:8b"}]}`)
+		case "/api/show":
+			fmt.Fprint(w, `{"model_info":{"general.context_length":131072}}`)
+		default:
+			http.NotFound(w, r)
+		}
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+	t.Setenv("OLLAMA_HOST", srv.URL)
+
+	if err := config.SaveIntegration("stubmanaged", []string{"gemma4"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to save managed integration config: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	runner := &launcherManagedRunner{
+		currentModel: "qwen3:8b",
+	}
+	withIntegrationOverride(t, "stubmanaged", runner)
+
+	DefaultSingleSelector = func(title string, items []ModelItem, current string) (string, error) {
+		t.Fatal("selector should not be called when live config already provides the target")
+		return "", nil
+	}
+	DefaultConfirmPrompt = func(prompt string, options ConfirmOptions) (bool, error) {
+		return true, nil
+	}
+
+	if err := LaunchIntegration(context.Background(), IntegrationLaunchRequest{Name: "stubmanaged"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LaunchIntegration returned error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if diff := compareStrings(runner.configured, []string{"qwen3:8b"}); diff != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected Configure to reconcile stale saved config to live target: %s", diff)
+	}
+	if runner.refreshCalls != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected runtime refresh once after drift reconciliation, got %d", runner.refreshCalls)
+	}
+	if runner.ranModel != "qwen3:8b" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected launch to run live configured model, got %q", runner.ranModel)
+	}
+
+	saved, err := config.LoadIntegration("stubmanaged")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to reload managed integration config: %v", err)
+	}
+	if diff := compareStrings(saved.Models, []string{"qwen3:8b"}); diff != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("saved models mismatch after drift reconciliation: %s", diff)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestLaunchIntegration_ManagedSingleIntegrationStopsWhenRuntimeRefreshFails(t *testing.T) {
 	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
 	setLaunchTestHome(t, tmpDir)
@@ -1219,8 +1279,9 @@ func TestLaunchIntegration_EditorForceConfigure_FloatsCheckedModelsInPicker(t *t
 	if len(gotItems) == 0 {
 		t.Fatal("expected multi selector to receive items")
 	}
-	if gotItems[0] != "qwen3.5:cloud" {
-		t.Fatalf("expected checked models floated to top with qwen3.5:cloud first, got %v", gotItems)
+	wantItems := recommendedNames()
+	if diff := cmp.Diff(wantItems, gotItems); diff != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected fixed recommended order in selector items (-want +got):\n%s", diff)
 	}
 	if len(gotPreChecked) < 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("expected prechecked models to be preserved, got %v", gotPreChecked)

cmd/launch/models.go

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 var recommendedModels = []ModelItem{
-	{Name: "kimi-k2.5:cloud", Description: "Multimodal reasoning with subagents", Recommended: true},
+	{Name: "kimi-k2.6:cloud", Description: "State-of-the-art coding, long-horizon execution, and multimodal agent swarm capability", Recommended: true},
 	{Name: "qwen3.5:cloud", Description: "Reasoning, coding, and agentic tool use with vision", Recommended: true},
 	{Name: "glm-5.1:cloud", Description: "Reasoning and code generation", Recommended: true},
 	{Name: "minimax-m2.7:cloud", Description: "Fast, efficient coding and real-world productivity", Recommended: true},
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ var cloudModelLimits = map[string]cloudModelLimit{
 	"gpt-oss:20b":         {Context: 131_072, Output: 131_072},
 	"kimi-k2:1t":          {Context: 262_144, Output: 262_144},
 	"kimi-k2.5":           {Context: 262_144, Output: 262_144},
+	"kimi-k2.6":           {Context: 262_144, Output: 262_144},
 	"kimi-k2-thinking":    {Context: 262_144, Output: 262_144},
 	"nemotron-3-nano:30b": {Context: 1_048_576, Output: 131_072},
 	"qwen3-coder:480b":    {Context: 262_144, Output: 65_536},
@@ -360,18 +361,12 @@ func buildModelList(existing []modelInfo, preChecked []string, current string) (
 	}
 
 	if hasLocalModel || hasCloudModel {
+		// Keep the Recommended section pinned to recommendedModels order. Checked
+		// and default-model priority only apply within the More section.
 		slices.SortStableFunc(items, func(a, b ModelItem) int {
 			ac, bc := checked[a.Name], checked[b.Name]
 			aNew, bNew := notInstalled[a.Name], notInstalled[b.Name]
 			aRec, bRec := recRank[a.Name] > 0, recRank[b.Name] > 0
-			aCloud, bCloud := cloudModels[a.Name], cloudModels[b.Name]
-
-			if ac != bc {
-				if ac {
-					return -1
-				}
-				return 1
-			}
 			if aRec != bRec {
 				if aRec {
 					return -1
@@ -379,14 +374,14 @@ func buildModelList(existing []modelInfo, preChecked []string, current string) (
 				return 1
 			}
 			if aRec && bRec {
-				if aCloud != bCloud {
-					if aCloud {
-						return -1
-					}
-					return 1
-				}
 				return recRank[a.Name] - recRank[b.Name]
 			}
+			if ac != bc {
+				if ac {
+					return -1
+				}
+				return 1
+			}
 			// Among checked non-recommended items - put the default first
 			if ac && !aRec && current != "" {
 				aCurrent := a.Name == current

cmd/launch/openclaw.go

@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
-	"golang.org/x/mod/semver"
-
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/api"
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/cmd/internal/fileutil"
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/envconfig"
@@ -30,6 +28,8 @@ var openclawModelShowTimeout = 5 * time.Second
 // openclawFreshInstall is set to true when ensureOpenclawInstalled performs an install
 var openclawFreshInstall bool
 
+var openclawCanInstallDaemon = canInstallDaemon
+
 type Openclaw struct{}
 
 func (c *Openclaw) String() string { return "OpenClaw" }
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ func (c *Openclaw) Run(model string, args []string) error {
 		// the newest wizard flags (e.g. --auth-choice ollama).
 		if !openclawFreshInstall {
 			update := exec.Command(bin, "update")
+			update.Env = openclawInstallEnv()
 			update.Stdout = os.Stdout
 			update.Stderr = os.Stderr
 			_ = update.Run() // best-effort; continue even if update fails
@@ -75,19 +76,18 @@ func (c *Openclaw) Run(model string, args []string) error {
 			"--auth-choice", "ollama",
 			"--custom-base-url", envconfig.Host().String(),
 			"--custom-model-id", model,
+			// Launch owns the first real gateway startup immediately after onboarding,
+			// so don't let OpenClaw fail the whole first-run flow on a transient
+			// daemon health probe.
+			"--skip-health",
 			"--skip-channels",
 			"--skip-skills",
 		}
-		if canInstallDaemon() {
+		if openclawCanInstallDaemon() {
 			onboardArgs = append(onboardArgs, "--install-daemon")
-		} else {
-			// When we can't install a daemon (e.g. no systemd, sudo dropped
-			// XDG_RUNTIME_DIR, or container environment), skip the gateway
-			// health check so non-interactive onboarding completes. The
-			// gateway is started as a foreground child process after onboarding.
-			onboardArgs = append(onboardArgs, "--skip-health")
 		}
 		cmd := exec.Command(bin, onboardArgs...)
+		cmd.Env = openclawInstallEnv()
 		cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
 		cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
 		cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
@@ -98,13 +98,23 @@ func (c *Openclaw) Run(model string, args []string) error {
 		patchDeviceScopes()
 	}
 
-	if ensureWebSearchPlugin() {
-		registerWebSearchPlugin()
-	}
+	configureOllamaWebSearch()
 
 	// When extra args are passed through, run exactly what the user asked for
 	// after setup and skip the built-in gateway+TUI convenience flow.
 	if len(args) > 0 {
+		cleanup := func() {}
+		if shouldEnsureGatewayForArgs(args) {
+			cleanupFn, _, _, err := c.ensureGatewayReady(bin)
+			if err != nil {
+				return windowsHint(err)
+			}
+			if cleanupFn != nil {
+				cleanup = cleanupFn
+			}
+		}
+		defer cleanup()
+
 		cmd := exec.Command(bin, args...)
 		cmd.Env = openclawEnv()
 		cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
@@ -125,41 +135,11 @@ func (c *Openclaw) Run(model string, args []string) error {
 
 	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "\n%sStarting your assistant — this may take a moment...%s\n\n", ansiGray, ansiReset)
 
-	token, port := c.gatewayInfo()
-	addr := fmt.Sprintf("localhost:%d", port)
-
-	// If the gateway is already running (e.g. via the daemon), restart it
-	// so it picks up any config changes (model, provider, etc.).
-	if portOpen(addr) {
-		restart := exec.Command(bin, "daemon", "restart")
-		restart.Env = openclawEnv()
-		if err := restart.Run(); err != nil {
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s  Warning: daemon restart failed: %v%s\n", ansiYellow, err, ansiReset)
-		}
-		if !waitForPort(addr, 10*time.Second) {
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s  Warning: gateway did not come back after restart%s\n", ansiYellow, ansiReset)
-		}
-	}
-
-	// If the gateway isn't running, start it as a background child process.
-	if !portOpen(addr) {
-		gw := exec.Command(bin, "gateway", "run", "--force")
-		gw.Env = openclawEnv()
-		if err := gw.Start(); err != nil {
-			return windowsHint(fmt.Errorf("failed to start gateway: %w", err))
-		}
-		defer func() {
-			if gw.Process != nil {
-				_ = gw.Process.Kill()
-				_ = gw.Wait()
-			}
-		}()
-	}
-
-	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%sStarting gateway...%s\n", ansiGray, ansiReset)
-	if !waitForPort(addr, 30*time.Second) {
-		return windowsHint(fmt.Errorf("gateway did not start on %s", addr))
+	cleanup, token, port, err := c.ensureGatewayReady(bin)
+	if err != nil {
+		return windowsHint(err)
 	}
+	defer cleanup()
 
 	printOpenclawReady(bin, token, port, firstLaunch)
 
@@ -179,6 +159,66 @@ func (c *Openclaw) Run(model string, args []string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func shouldEnsureGatewayForArgs(args []string) bool {
+	return len(args) > 0 && args[0] == "tui"
+}
+
+func (c *Openclaw) ensureGatewayReady(bin string) (func(), string, int, error) {
+	token, port := c.gatewayInfo()
+	addr := fmt.Sprintf("localhost:%d", port)
+
+	// If the gateway is already running (e.g. via the daemon), restart it
+	// so it picks up any config changes (model, provider, etc.).
+	if portOpen(addr) {
+		restart := exec.Command(bin, "daemon", "restart")
+		restart.Env = openclawEnv()
+		if err := restart.Run(); err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s  Warning: daemon restart failed: %v%s\n", ansiYellow, err, ansiReset)
+		}
+		if !waitForPort(addr, 10*time.Second) {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s  Warning: gateway did not come back after restart%s\n", ansiYellow, ansiReset)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// If the daemon is installed but not currently listening, try to bring it
+	// up before falling back to a foreground child process.
+	if openclawCanInstallDaemon() && !portOpen(addr) {
+		start := exec.Command(bin, "daemon", "start")
+		start.Env = openclawEnv()
+		if err := start.Run(); err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s  Warning: daemon start failed: %v%s\n", ansiYellow, err, ansiReset)
+		} else if waitForPort(addr, 10*time.Second) {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%sStarting gateway...%s\n", ansiGray, ansiReset)
+			return func() {}, token, port, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	cleanup := func() {}
+
+	// If the gateway still isn't running, start it as a background child process.
+	if !portOpen(addr) {
+		gw := exec.Command(bin, "gateway", "run", "--force")
+		gw.Env = openclawEnv()
+		if err := gw.Start(); err != nil {
+			return nil, "", 0, fmt.Errorf("failed to start gateway: %w", err)
+		}
+		cleanup = func() {
+			if gw.Process != nil {
+				_ = gw.Process.Kill()
+				_ = gw.Wait()
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%sStarting gateway...%s\n", ansiGray, ansiReset)
+	if !waitForPort(addr, 30*time.Second) {
+		cleanup()
+		return nil, "", 0, fmt.Errorf("gateway did not start on %s", addr)
+	}
+
+	return cleanup, token, port, nil
+}
+
 // runChannelSetupPreflight prompts users to connect a messaging channel before
 // starting the built-in gateway+TUI flow. In interactive sessions, it loops
 // until a channel is configured, unless the user chooses "Set up later".
@@ -339,9 +379,30 @@ func openclawEnv() []string {
 			env = append(env, e)
 		}
 	}
+	if _, ok := os.LookupEnv("OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR"); !ok {
+		if dir := openclawPluginStageDir(); dir != "" {
+			env = append(env, "OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR="+dir)
+		}
+	}
 	return env
 }
 
+func openclawInstallEnv() []string {
+	env := openclawEnv()
+	if _, ok := os.LookupEnv("OPENCLAW_EAGER_BUNDLED_PLUGIN_DEPS"); !ok {
+		env = append(env, "OPENCLAW_EAGER_BUNDLED_PLUGIN_DEPS=1")
+	}
+	return env
+}
+
+func openclawPluginStageDir() string {
+	home, err := os.UserHomeDir()
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return filepath.Join(home, ".openclaw", "plugin-runtime-deps")
+}
+
 // portOpen checks if a TCP port is currently accepting connections.
 func portOpen(addr string) bool {
 	conn, err := net.DialTimeout("tcp", addr, 500*time.Millisecond)
@@ -565,6 +626,7 @@ func ensureOpenclawInstalled() (string, error) {
 
 	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "\nInstalling OpenClaw...\n")
 	cmd := exec.Command("npm", "install", "-g", "openclaw@latest")
+	cmd.Env = openclawInstallEnv()
 	cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
 	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
 	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
@@ -738,89 +800,13 @@ func clearSessionModelOverride(primary string) {
 	_ = os.WriteFile(path, out, 0o600)
 }
 
-const (
-	webSearchNpmPackage = "@ollama/openclaw-web-search"
-	webSearchMinVersion = "0.2.1"
-)
-
-// ensureWebSearchPlugin installs the openclaw-web-search extension into the
-// user-level extensions directory (~/.openclaw/extensions/) if it isn't already
-// present, or re-installs if the installed version is older than webSearchMinVersion.
-// Returns true if the extension is available.
-func ensureWebSearchPlugin() bool {
-	home, err := os.UserHomeDir()
-	if err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
-
-	pluginDir := filepath.Join(home, ".openclaw", "extensions", "openclaw-web-search")
-	if webSearchPluginUpToDate(pluginDir) {
-		return true
-	}
-
-	npmBin, err := exec.LookPath("npm")
-	if err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
-
-	if err := os.MkdirAll(pluginDir, 0o755); err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
-
-	// Download the tarball via `npm pack`, extract it flat into the plugin dir.
-	pack := exec.Command(npmBin, "pack", webSearchNpmPackage, "--pack-destination", pluginDir)
-	out, err := pack.Output()
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s  Warning: could not download web search plugin: %v%s\n", ansiYellow, err, ansiReset)
-		return false
-	}
-
-	tgzName := strings.TrimSpace(string(out))
-	tgzPath := filepath.Join(pluginDir, tgzName)
-	defer os.Remove(tgzPath)
-
-	tar := exec.Command("tar", "xzf", tgzPath, "--strip-components=1", "-C", pluginDir)
-	if err := tar.Run(); err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s  Warning: could not extract web search plugin: %v%s\n", ansiYellow, err, ansiReset)
-		return false
-	}
-
-	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s  ✓ Installed Ollama web search %s\n", ansiGreen, ansiReset)
-	return true
-}
-
-// webSearchPluginUpToDate returns true if the plugin is installed and its
-// package.json version is >= webSearchMinVersion.
-func webSearchPluginUpToDate(pluginDir string) bool {
-	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(pluginDir, "package.json"))
-	if err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	var pkg struct {
-		Version string `json:"version"`
-	}
-	if json.Unmarshal(data, &pkg) != nil || pkg.Version == "" {
-		return false
-	}
-	return !versionLessThan(pkg.Version, webSearchMinVersion)
-}
-
-// versionLessThan compares two semver version strings (major.minor.patch).
-// Inputs may omit the "v" prefix; it is added automatically for semver.Compare.
-func versionLessThan(a, b string) bool {
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(a, "v") {
-		a = "v" + a
-	}
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(b, "v") {
-		b = "v" + b
-	}
-	return semver.Compare(a, b) < 0
-}
-
-// registerWebSearchPlugin adds plugins.entries.openclaw-web-search to the OpenClaw
-// config so the gateway activates it on next start. Best-effort; silently returns
-// on any error.
-func registerWebSearchPlugin() {
+// configureOllamaWebSearch keeps launch-managed OpenClaw installs on the
+// bundled Ollama web_search provider. Older launch builds installed an
+// external openclaw-web-search plugin that added custom ollama_web_search and
+// ollama_web_fetch tools. Current OpenClaw versions ship Ollama web_search as
+// the bundled "ollama" plugin instead, so we migrate stale config and ensure
+// fresh installs select the bundled provider.
+func configureOllamaWebSearch() {
 	home, err := os.UserHomeDir()
 	if err != nil {
 		return
@@ -835,6 +821,8 @@ func registerWebSearchPlugin() {
 		return
 	}
 
+	stalePluginConfigured := false
+
 	plugins, _ := config["plugins"].(map[string]any)
 	if plugins == nil {
 		plugins = make(map[string]any)
@@ -843,68 +831,100 @@ func registerWebSearchPlugin() {
 	if entries == nil {
 		entries = make(map[string]any)
 	}
-	entries["openclaw-web-search"] = map[string]any{"enabled": true}
-	plugins["entries"] = entries
-
-	// Pin trust so the gateway doesn't warn about untracked plugins.
-	allow, _ := plugins["allow"].([]any)
-	hasAllow := false
-	for _, v := range allow {
-		if s, ok := v.(string); ok && s == "openclaw-web-search" {
-			hasAllow = true
-			break
-		}
-	}
-	if !hasAllow {
-		allow = append(allow, "openclaw-web-search")
-	}
-	plugins["allow"] = allow
-
-	// Record install provenance so the loader can verify the plugin origin.
-	installs, _ := plugins["installs"].(map[string]any)
-	if installs == nil {
-		installs = make(map[string]any)
-	}
-	pluginDir := filepath.Join(home, ".openclaw", "extensions", "openclaw-web-search")
-	installs["openclaw-web-search"] = map[string]any{
-		"source":      "npm",
-		"spec":        webSearchNpmPackage,
-		"installPath": pluginDir,
-	}
-	plugins["installs"] = installs
-
-	config["plugins"] = plugins
-
-	// Add plugin tools to tools.alsoAllow so they survive the coding profile's
-	// policy pipeline (which has an explicit allow list of core tools only).
 	tools, _ := config["tools"].(map[string]any)
 	if tools == nil {
 		tools = make(map[string]any)
 	}
-
-	alsoAllow, _ := tools["alsoAllow"].([]any)
-	needed := []string{"ollama_web_search", "ollama_web_fetch"}
-	have := make(map[string]bool, len(alsoAllow))
-	for _, v := range alsoAllow {
-		if s, ok := v.(string); ok {
-			have[s] = true
-		}
-	}
-	for _, name := range needed {
-		if !have[name] {
-			alsoAllow = append(alsoAllow, name)
-		}
-	}
-	tools["alsoAllow"] = alsoAllow
-
-	// Disable built-in web search/fetch since our plugin replaces them.
 	web, _ := tools["web"].(map[string]any)
 	if web == nil {
 		web = make(map[string]any)
 	}
-	web["search"] = map[string]any{"enabled": false}
-	web["fetch"] = map[string]any{"enabled": false}
+	search, _ := web["search"].(map[string]any)
+	if search == nil {
+		search = make(map[string]any)
+	}
+	fetch, _ := web["fetch"].(map[string]any)
+	if fetch == nil {
+		fetch = make(map[string]any)
+	}
+
+	alsoAllow, _ := tools["alsoAllow"].([]any)
+	var filteredAlsoAllow []any
+	for _, v := range alsoAllow {
+		s, ok := v.(string)
+		if !ok {
+			filteredAlsoAllow = append(filteredAlsoAllow, v)
+			continue
+		}
+		if s == "ollama_web_search" || s == "ollama_web_fetch" {
+			stalePluginConfigured = true
+			continue
+		}
+		filteredAlsoAllow = append(filteredAlsoAllow, v)
+	}
+	if len(filteredAlsoAllow) > 0 {
+		tools["alsoAllow"] = filteredAlsoAllow
+	} else {
+		delete(tools, "alsoAllow")
+	}
+
+	if _, ok := entries["openclaw-web-search"]; ok {
+		delete(entries, "openclaw-web-search")
+		stalePluginConfigured = true
+	}
+	ollamaEntry, _ := entries["ollama"].(map[string]any)
+	if ollamaEntry == nil {
+		ollamaEntry = make(map[string]any)
+	}
+	ollamaEntry["enabled"] = true
+	entries["ollama"] = ollamaEntry
+	plugins["entries"] = entries
+
+	if allow, ok := plugins["allow"].([]any); ok {
+		var nextAllow []any
+		hasOllama := false
+		for _, v := range allow {
+			s, ok := v.(string)
+			if ok && s == "openclaw-web-search" {
+				stalePluginConfigured = true
+				continue
+			}
+			if ok && s == "ollama" {
+				hasOllama = true
+			}
+			nextAllow = append(nextAllow, v)
+		}
+		if !hasOllama {
+			nextAllow = append(nextAllow, "ollama")
+		}
+		plugins["allow"] = nextAllow
+	}
+
+	if installs, ok := plugins["installs"].(map[string]any); ok {
+		if _, exists := installs["openclaw-web-search"]; exists {
+			delete(installs, "openclaw-web-search")
+			stalePluginConfigured = true
+		}
+		if len(installs) > 0 {
+			plugins["installs"] = installs
+		} else {
+			delete(plugins, "installs")
+		}
+	}
+
+	if stalePluginConfigured || search["provider"] == nil {
+		search["provider"] = "ollama"
+	}
+	if stalePluginConfigured {
+		fetch["enabled"] = true
+	}
+	search["enabled"] = true
+	web["search"] = search
+	if len(fetch) > 0 {
+		web["fetch"] = fetch
+	}
 	tools["web"] = web
+	config["plugins"] = plugins
 	config["tools"] = tools
 
 	out, err := json.MarshalIndent(config, "", "  ")

cmd/launch/openclaw_test.go

@@ -251,6 +251,359 @@ func TestOpenclawRun_SetupLaterContinuesToGatewayAndTUI(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestOpenclawRun_FirstLaunchOnboardUsesLaunchManagedHealthFlow(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("uses a POSIX shell test binary")
+	}
+
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	setTestHome(t, tmpDir)
+	t.Setenv("PATH", tmpDir)
+
+	bin := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "openclaw")
+	script := fmt.Sprintf(`#!/bin/sh
+printf '%%s\n' "$*" >> "$HOME/invocations.log"
+if [ "$1" = "onboard" ]; then
+  /usr/bin/env | /usr/bin/sort > "$HOME/onboard-env.log"
+  /bin/mkdir -p "$HOME/.openclaw"
+  /bin/cat > "$HOME/.openclaw/openclaw.json" <<'EOF'
+{"wizard":{"lastRunAt":"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"},"gateway":{"port":18789,"mode":"local"}}
+EOF
+fi
+exit 0
+`)
+	if err := os.WriteFile(bin, []byte(script), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	oldConfirmPrompt := DefaultConfirmPrompt
+	DefaultConfirmPrompt = func(prompt string, options ConfirmOptions) (bool, error) {
+		if prompt != "I understand the risks. Continue?" {
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected prompt: %q", prompt)
+		}
+		return true, nil
+	}
+	defer func() { DefaultConfirmPrompt = oldConfirmPrompt }()
+
+	c := &Openclaw{}
+	if err := c.Run("llama3.2", []string{"status"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(tmpDir, "invocations.log"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	lines := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(string(data)), "\n")
+	if len(lines) < 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected onboard + passthrough invocations, got %v", lines)
+	}
+	onboardInvocation := ""
+	for _, line := range lines {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(line, "onboard ") {
+			onboardInvocation = line
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if onboardInvocation == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected onboard invocation, got %v", lines)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(onboardInvocation, "--skip-health") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected onboard invocation to include --skip-health, got %q", onboardInvocation)
+	}
+
+	envData, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(tmpDir, "onboard-env.log"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	env := envSliceToMap(strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(string(envData)), "\n"))
+	if env["OPENCLAW_EAGER_BUNDLED_PLUGIN_DEPS"] != "1" {
+		t.Fatalf("OPENCLAW_EAGER_BUNDLED_PLUGIN_DEPS = %q, want %q", env["OPENCLAW_EAGER_BUNDLED_PLUGIN_DEPS"], "1")
+	}
+	if env["OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR"] != filepath.Join(tmpDir, ".openclaw", "plugin-runtime-deps") {
+		t.Fatalf("OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR = %q, want %q", env["OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR"], filepath.Join(tmpDir, ".openclaw", "plugin-runtime-deps"))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOpenclawRun_FirstLaunchTUIArgsEnsureGatewayBeforePassthrough(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("uses a POSIX shell test binary")
+	}
+
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	setTestHome(t, tmpDir)
+	t.Setenv("PATH", tmpDir)
+
+	ln, err := net.Listen("tcp", "127.0.0.1:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer ln.Close()
+	port := ln.Addr().(*net.TCPAddr).Port
+
+	bin := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "openclaw")
+	script := fmt.Sprintf(`#!/bin/sh
+printf '%%s\n' "$*" >> "$HOME/invocations.log"
+if [ "$1" = "onboard" ]; then
+  /bin/mkdir -p "$HOME/.openclaw"
+  /bin/cat > "$HOME/.openclaw/openclaw.json" <<'EOF'
+{"wizard":{"lastRunAt":"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"},"gateway":{"port":%d,"mode":"local"}}
+EOF
+fi
+exit 0
+`, port)
+	if err := os.WriteFile(bin, []byte(script), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	oldConfirmPrompt := DefaultConfirmPrompt
+	DefaultConfirmPrompt = func(prompt string, options ConfirmOptions) (bool, error) {
+		if prompt != "I understand the risks. Continue?" {
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected prompt: %q", prompt)
+		}
+		return true, nil
+	}
+	defer func() { DefaultConfirmPrompt = oldConfirmPrompt }()
+
+	c := &Openclaw{}
+	if err := c.Run("llama3.2", []string{"tui"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(tmpDir, "invocations.log"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	lines := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(string(data)), "\n")
+	if len(lines) < 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected at least 3 invocations (update, onboard, daemon restart, tui), got %v", lines)
+	}
+	onboardIdx, daemonRestartIdx, tuiIdx := -1, -1, -1
+	for i, line := range lines {
+		if onboardIdx == -1 && strings.HasPrefix(line, "onboard ") {
+			onboardIdx = i
+		}
+		if daemonRestartIdx == -1 && line == "daemon restart" {
+			daemonRestartIdx = i
+		}
+		if tuiIdx == -1 && line == "tui" {
+			tuiIdx = i
+		}
+	}
+	if onboardIdx == -1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected an onboarding invocation, got %v", lines)
+	}
+	if daemonRestartIdx == -1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected a daemon restart before tui, got %v", lines)
+	}
+	if tuiIdx == -1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected a tui invocation, got %v", lines)
+	}
+	if !(onboardIdx < daemonRestartIdx && daemonRestartIdx < tuiIdx) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected onboarding, then daemon restart, then tui; got %v", lines)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOpenclawEnsureGatewayReady_UsesDaemonStartFallback(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("uses a POSIX shell test binary")
+	}
+
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	setTestHome(t, tmpDir)
+	t.Setenv("PATH", tmpDir)
+
+	portProbe, err := net.Listen("tcp", "127.0.0.1:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	port := portProbe.Addr().(*net.TCPAddr).Port
+	_ = portProbe.Close()
+
+	configDir := filepath.Join(tmpDir, ".openclaw")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(configDir, 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(configDir, "openclaw.json"), []byte(fmt.Sprintf(`{
+		"wizard": {"lastRunAt": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"},
+		"gateway": {"port": %d, "mode": "local"}
+	}`, port)), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	bin := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "openclaw")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(bin, []byte("#!/bin/sh\nprintf '%s\\n' \"$*\" >> \"$HOME/invocations.log\"\n"), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	oldCanInstallDaemon := openclawCanInstallDaemon
+	openclawCanInstallDaemon = func() bool { return true }
+	defer func() { openclawCanInstallDaemon = oldCanInstallDaemon }()
+
+	triggeredBy := make(chan string, 1)
+	listenerReady := make(chan net.Listener, 1)
+	go func() {
+		invocationsPath := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "invocations.log")
+		deadline := time.Now().Add(5 * time.Second)
+		for time.Now().Before(deadline) {
+			data, err := os.ReadFile(invocationsPath)
+			if err == nil {
+				lines := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(string(data)), "\n")
+				for _, line := range lines {
+					if line != "daemon start" && line != "gateway run --force" {
+						continue
+					}
+					ln, err := net.Listen("tcp", fmt.Sprintf("127.0.0.1:%d", port))
+					if err != nil {
+						return
+					}
+					go func() {
+						for {
+							conn, err := ln.Accept()
+							if err != nil {
+								return
+							}
+							_ = conn.Close()
+						}
+					}()
+					triggeredBy <- line
+					listenerReady <- ln
+					return
+				}
+			}
+			time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	c := &Openclaw{}
+	cleanup, _, gotPort, err := c.ensureGatewayReady(bin)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ensureGatewayReady() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	defer cleanup()
+	if gotPort != port {
+		t.Fatalf("ensureGatewayReady() port = %d, want %d", gotPort, port)
+	}
+
+	var ln net.Listener
+	select {
+	case which := <-triggeredBy:
+		if which != "daemon start" {
+			t.Fatalf("expected daemon start fallback, got %q", which)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("timed out waiting for gateway startup trigger")
+	}
+	select {
+	case ln = <-listenerReady:
+		defer ln.Close()
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("timed out waiting for test listener")
+	}
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(tmpDir, "invocations.log"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	lines := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(string(data)), "\n")
+	if len(lines) == 0 || lines[0] != "daemon start" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected daemon start invocation, got %v", lines)
+	}
+	for _, line := range lines {
+		if line == "gateway run --force" {
+			t.Fatalf("did not expect gateway run fallback when daemon start succeeds, got %v", lines)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOpenclawEnv_StagesBundledPluginRuntimeDeps(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	setTestHome(t, tmpDir)
+	t.Setenv("OPENAI_API_KEY", "should-be-cleared")
+
+	env := envSliceToMap(openclawEnv())
+
+	if env["OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR"] != filepath.Join(tmpDir, ".openclaw", "plugin-runtime-deps") {
+		t.Fatalf("OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR = %q, want %q", env["OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR"], filepath.Join(tmpDir, ".openclaw", "plugin-runtime-deps"))
+	}
+	if _, ok := env["OPENAI_API_KEY"]; ok {
+		t.Fatal("expected OPENAI_API_KEY to be cleared from openclaw environment")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOpenclawInstallEnv_PreservesExplicitStageDirAndAddsEagerDeps(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR", "/tmp/custom-stage")
+
+	env := envSliceToMap(openclawInstallEnv())
+
+	if env["OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR"] != "/tmp/custom-stage" {
+		t.Fatalf("OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR = %q, want %q", env["OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR"], "/tmp/custom-stage")
+	}
+	if env["OPENCLAW_EAGER_BUNDLED_PLUGIN_DEPS"] != "1" {
+		t.Fatalf("OPENCLAW_EAGER_BUNDLED_PLUGIN_DEPS = %q, want %q", env["OPENCLAW_EAGER_BUNDLED_PLUGIN_DEPS"], "1")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEnsureOpenclawInstalled_UsesBundledPluginInstallEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("uses a POSIX shell test binary")
+	}
+
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	setTestHome(t, tmpDir)
+	t.Setenv("PATH", tmpDir)
+
+	writeScript := func(path, content string) {
+		t.Helper()
+		if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(content), 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	openclawPath := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "openclaw")
+	npmScript := fmt.Sprintf(`#!/bin/sh
+/usr/bin/env | /usr/bin/sort > "$HOME/npm-env.log"
+/bin/cat > %q <<'EOF'
+#!/bin/sh
+exit 0
+EOF
+/bin/chmod +x %q
+exit 0
+`, openclawPath, openclawPath)
+	writeScript(filepath.Join(tmpDir, "npm"), npmScript)
+	writeScript(filepath.Join(tmpDir, "git"), "#!/bin/sh\nexit 0\n")
+
+	oldConfirmPrompt := DefaultConfirmPrompt
+	DefaultConfirmPrompt = func(prompt string, options ConfirmOptions) (bool, error) {
+		if prompt != "OpenClaw is not installed. Install with npm?" {
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected prompt: %q", prompt)
+		}
+		return true, nil
+	}
+	defer func() { DefaultConfirmPrompt = oldConfirmPrompt }()
+
+	openclawFreshInstall = false
+	bin, err := ensureOpenclawInstalled()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ensureOpenclawInstalled() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if bin != "openclaw" {
+		t.Fatalf("ensureOpenclawInstalled() bin = %q, want %q", bin, "openclaw")
+	}
+
+	envData, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(tmpDir, "npm-env.log"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	env := envSliceToMap(strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(string(envData)), "\n"))
+	if env["OPENCLAW_EAGER_BUNDLED_PLUGIN_DEPS"] != "1" {
+		t.Fatalf("OPENCLAW_EAGER_BUNDLED_PLUGIN_DEPS = %q, want %q", env["OPENCLAW_EAGER_BUNDLED_PLUGIN_DEPS"], "1")
+	}
+	if env["OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR"] != filepath.Join(tmpDir, ".openclaw", "plugin-runtime-deps") {
+		t.Fatalf("OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR = %q, want %q", env["OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_STAGE_DIR"], filepath.Join(tmpDir, ".openclaw", "plugin-runtime-deps"))
+	}
+}
+
 func TestOpenclawEdit(t *testing.T) {
 	c := &Openclaw{}
 	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
@@ -1227,6 +1580,18 @@ func TestOpenclawChannelsConfigured(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+func envSliceToMap(entries []string) map[string]string {
+	env := make(map[string]string, len(entries))
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		key, value, ok := strings.Cut(entry, "=")
+		if !ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		env[key] = value
+	}
+	return env
+}
+
 func TestOpenclawChannelSetupPreflight(t *testing.T) {
 	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
 		t.Skip("uses a POSIX shell test binary")
@@ -2242,95 +2607,7 @@ func TestIntegrationOnboarded(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
-func TestVersionLessThan(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		a, b string
-		want bool
-	}{
-		{"0.1.7", "0.2.1", true},
-		{"0.2.0", "0.2.1", true},
-		{"0.2.1", "0.2.1", false},
-		{"0.2.2", "0.2.1", false},
-		{"1.0.0", "0.2.1", false},
-		{"0.2.1", "1.0.0", true},
-		{"v0.1.7", "0.2.1", true},
-		{"0.2.1", "v0.2.1", false},
-	}
-	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(tt.a+"_vs_"+tt.b, func(t *testing.T) {
-			if got := versionLessThan(tt.a, tt.b); got != tt.want {
-				t.Errorf("versionLessThan(%q, %q) = %v, want %v", tt.a, tt.b, got, tt.want)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestWebSearchPluginUpToDate(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Run("missing directory", func(t *testing.T) {
-		if webSearchPluginUpToDate(filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "nonexistent")) {
-			t.Error("expected false for missing directory")
-		}
-	})
-
-	t.Run("missing package.json", func(t *testing.T) {
-		dir := t.TempDir()
-		if webSearchPluginUpToDate(dir) {
-			t.Error("expected false for missing package.json")
-		}
-	})
-
-	t.Run("old version", func(t *testing.T) {
-		dir := t.TempDir()
-		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "package.json"), []byte(`{"version":"0.1.7"}`), 0o644); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		if webSearchPluginUpToDate(dir) {
-			t.Error("expected false for old version 0.1.7")
-		}
-	})
-
-	t.Run("exact minimum version", func(t *testing.T) {
-		dir := t.TempDir()
-		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "package.json"), []byte(`{"version":"0.2.1"}`), 0o644); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		if !webSearchPluginUpToDate(dir) {
-			t.Error("expected true for exact minimum version 0.2.1")
-		}
-	})
-
-	t.Run("newer version", func(t *testing.T) {
-		dir := t.TempDir()
-		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "package.json"), []byte(`{"version":"1.0.0"}`), 0o644); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		if !webSearchPluginUpToDate(dir) {
-			t.Error("expected true for newer version 1.0.0")
-		}
-	})
-
-	t.Run("invalid json", func(t *testing.T) {
-		dir := t.TempDir()
-		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "package.json"), []byte(`not json`), 0o644); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		if webSearchPluginUpToDate(dir) {
-			t.Error("expected false for invalid json")
-		}
-	})
-
-	t.Run("empty version", func(t *testing.T) {
-		dir := t.TempDir()
-		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "package.json"), []byte(`{"version":""}`), 0o644); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		if webSearchPluginUpToDate(dir) {
-			t.Error("expected false for empty version")
-		}
-	})
-}
-
-func TestRegisterWebSearchPlugin(t *testing.T) {
+func TestConfigureOllamaWebSearch(t *testing.T) {
 	home := t.TempDir()
 	setTestHome(t, home)
 
@@ -2345,7 +2622,7 @@ func TestRegisterWebSearchPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
-		registerWebSearchPlugin()
+		configureOllamaWebSearch()
 
 		data, err := os.ReadFile(configPath)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -2361,40 +2638,30 @@ func TestRegisterWebSearchPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal("plugins section missing")
 		}
 
-		// Check entries
 		entries, _ := plugins["entries"].(map[string]any)
-		entry, _ := entries["openclaw-web-search"].(map[string]any)
+		entry, _ := entries["ollama"].(map[string]any)
 		if enabled, _ := entry["enabled"].(bool); !enabled {
-			t.Error("expected entries.openclaw-web-search.enabled = true")
+			t.Error("expected entries.ollama.enabled = true")
+		}
+		if _, ok := entries["openclaw-web-search"]; ok {
+			t.Error("expected stale openclaw-web-search entry to be absent")
 		}
 
-		// Check allow list
-		allow, _ := plugins["allow"].([]any)
-		found := false
-		for _, v := range allow {
-			if s, ok := v.(string); ok && s == "openclaw-web-search" {
-				found = true
-			}
+		if _, ok := plugins["allow"]; ok {
+			t.Error("did not expect plugins.allow to be created when no allowlist exists")
 		}
-		if !found {
-			t.Error("expected plugins.allow to contain openclaw-web-search")
+		if _, ok := plugins["installs"]; ok {
+			t.Error("did not expect plugins.installs to be created")
 		}
 
-		// Check install provenance
-		installs, _ := plugins["installs"].(map[string]any)
-		record, _ := installs["openclaw-web-search"].(map[string]any)
-		if record == nil {
-			t.Fatal("expected plugins.installs.openclaw-web-search")
+		tools, _ := config["tools"].(map[string]any)
+		web, _ := tools["web"].(map[string]any)
+		search, _ := web["search"].(map[string]any)
+		if got, _ := search["provider"].(string); got != "ollama" {
+			t.Errorf("search provider = %q, want %q", got, "ollama")
 		}
-		if source, _ := record["source"].(string); source != "npm" {
-			t.Errorf("install source = %q, want %q", source, "npm")
-		}
-		if spec, _ := record["spec"].(string); spec != webSearchNpmPackage {
-			t.Errorf("install spec = %q, want %q", spec, webSearchNpmPackage)
-		}
-		expectedPath := filepath.Join(home, ".openclaw", "extensions", "openclaw-web-search")
-		if installPath, _ := record["installPath"].(string); installPath != expectedPath {
-			t.Errorf("installPath = %q, want %q", installPath, expectedPath)
+		if enabled, _ := search["enabled"].(bool); !enabled {
+			t.Error("expected tools.web.search.enabled = true")
 		}
 	})
 
@@ -2403,8 +2670,8 @@ func TestRegisterWebSearchPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
-		registerWebSearchPlugin()
-		registerWebSearchPlugin()
+		configureOllamaWebSearch()
+		configureOllamaWebSearch()
 
 		data, err := os.ReadFile(configPath)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -2416,30 +2683,39 @@ func TestRegisterWebSearchPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		plugins, _ := config["plugins"].(map[string]any)
-		allow, _ := plugins["allow"].([]any)
-		count := 0
-		for _, v := range allow {
-			if s, ok := v.(string); ok && s == "openclaw-web-search" {
-				count++
-			}
+		entries, _ := plugins["entries"].(map[string]any)
+		if len(entries) != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("expected only bundled ollama entry, got %v", entries)
 		}
-		if count != 1 {
-			t.Errorf("expected exactly 1 openclaw-web-search in allow, got %d", count)
+		if _, ok := entries["ollama"]; !ok {
+			t.Fatalf("expected entries.ollama to exist, got %v", entries)
 		}
 	})
 
-	t.Run("preserves existing config", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("migrates stale plugin config and preserves unrelated settings", func(t *testing.T) {
 		initial := map[string]any{
 			"plugins": map[string]any{
-				"allow": []any{"some-other-plugin"},
+				"allow": []any{"some-other-plugin", "openclaw-web-search"},
 				"entries": map[string]any{
-					"some-other-plugin": map[string]any{"enabled": true},
+					"some-other-plugin":   map[string]any{"enabled": true},
+					"openclaw-web-search": map[string]any{"enabled": true},
 				},
 				"installs": map[string]any{
 					"some-other-plugin": map[string]any{
 						"source":      "npm",
 						"installPath": "/some/path",
 					},
+					"openclaw-web-search": map[string]any{
+						"source":      "npm",
+						"installPath": "/old/path",
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			"tools": map[string]any{
+				"alsoAllow": []any{"ollama_web_search", "ollama_web_fetch", "browser"},
+				"web": map[string]any{
+					"search": map[string]any{"enabled": false},
+					"fetch":  map[string]any{"enabled": false},
 				},
 			},
 			"customField": "preserved",
@@ -2449,7 +2725,7 @@ func TestRegisterWebSearchPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
-		registerWebSearchPlugin()
+		configureOllamaWebSearch()
 
 		out, err := os.ReadFile(configPath)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -2469,28 +2745,61 @@ func TestRegisterWebSearchPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 		if entries["some-other-plugin"] == nil {
 			t.Error("existing plugin entry was lost")
 		}
+		if entries["openclaw-web-search"] != nil {
+			t.Error("stale openclaw-web-search entry should be removed")
+		}
+		if ollamaEntry, _ := entries["ollama"].(map[string]any); ollamaEntry == nil {
+			t.Fatal("expected bundled ollama entry to be enabled")
+		}
 
 		installs, _ := plugins["installs"].(map[string]any)
 		if installs["some-other-plugin"] == nil {
 			t.Error("existing install record was lost")
 		}
+		if installs["openclaw-web-search"] != nil {
+			t.Error("stale openclaw-web-search install record should be removed")
+		}
 
 		allow, _ := plugins["allow"].([]any)
-		hasOther, hasWebSearch := false, false
+		hasOther, hasStalePlugin, hasOllama := false, false, false
 		for _, v := range allow {
 			s, _ := v.(string)
 			if s == "some-other-plugin" {
 				hasOther = true
 			}
 			if s == "openclaw-web-search" {
-				hasWebSearch = true
+				hasStalePlugin = true
+			}
+			if s == "ollama" {
+				hasOllama = true
 			}
 		}
 		if !hasOther {
 			t.Error("existing allow entry was lost")
 		}
-		if !hasWebSearch {
-			t.Error("openclaw-web-search not added to allow")
+		if hasStalePlugin {
+			t.Error("stale openclaw-web-search allow entry should be removed")
+		}
+		if !hasOllama {
+			t.Error("expected plugins.allow to contain bundled ollama plugin")
+		}
+
+		tools, _ := config["tools"].(map[string]any)
+		alsoAllow, _ := tools["alsoAllow"].([]any)
+		if len(alsoAllow) != 1 || alsoAllow[0] != "browser" {
+			t.Errorf("expected stale custom web tools to be removed, got %v", alsoAllow)
+		}
+		web, _ := tools["web"].(map[string]any)
+		search, _ := web["search"].(map[string]any)
+		fetch, _ := web["fetch"].(map[string]any)
+		if got, _ := search["provider"].(string); got != "ollama" {
+			t.Errorf("search provider = %q, want %q", got, "ollama")
+		}
+		if enabled, _ := search["enabled"].(bool); !enabled {
+			t.Error("expected migrated tools.web.search.enabled = true")
+		}
+		if enabled, _ := fetch["enabled"].(bool); !enabled {
+			t.Error("expected migrated tools.web.fetch.enabled = true")
 		}
 	})
 }

docs/capabilities/structured-outputs.mdx

@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 title: Structured Outputs
 ---
 
+<Note>
+  Ollama's Cloud currently does not support structured outputs.
+</Note>
+
 Structured outputs let you enforce a JSON schema on model responses so you can reliably extract structured data, describe images, or keep every reply consistent.
 
 ## Generating structured JSON

docs/integrations/openclaw.mdx

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Ollama handles everything automatically:
 1. **Install** — If OpenClaw isn't installed, Ollama prompts to install it via npm
 2. **Security** — On the first launch, a security notice explains the risks of tool access
 3. **Model** — Pick a model from the selector (local or cloud)
-4. **Onboarding** — Ollama configures the provider, installs the gateway daemon, sets your model as the primary, and installs the web search and fetch plugin
+4. **Onboarding** — Ollama configures the provider, installs the gateway daemon, sets your model as the primary, and enables OpenClaw's bundled Ollama web search
 5. **Gateway** — Starts in the background and opens the OpenClaw TUI
 
 <Note>OpenClaw requires a larger context window. It is recommended to use a context window of at least 64k tokens if using local models. See [Context length](/context-length) for more information.</Note>
@@ -24,19 +24,19 @@ Ollama handles everything automatically:
 
 ## Web search and fetch
 
-OpenClaw ships with a web search and fetch plugin that gives local or cloud models the ability to search the web and extract readable page content.
+OpenClaw ships with a bundled Ollama `web_search` provider that lets local or cloud-backed Ollama setups search the web through the configured Ollama host.
 
 ```bash
 ollama launch openclaw
 ```
 
-Web search and fetch is enabled automatically when launching OpenClaw through Ollama. To install the plugin directly:
+Ollama web search is enabled automatically when launching OpenClaw through Ollama. To configure it manually:
 
 ```bash
-openclaw plugins install @ollama/openclaw-web-search
+openclaw configure --section web
 ```
 
-<Note>Web search for local models requires `ollama signin`.</Note>
+<Note>Ollama web search for local models requires `ollama signin`.</Note>
 
 ## Configure without launching
 
@@ -93,4 +93,3 @@ Link WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, or iMessage to chat with your local mod
 ```bash
 openclaw gateway stop
 ```
-

openai/openai.go

@@ -632,8 +632,8 @@ func FromChatRequest(r ChatCompletionRequest) (*api.ChatRequest, error) {
 	}
 
 	if effort != "" {
-		if !slices.Contains([]string{"high", "medium", "low", "none"}, effort) {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid reasoning value: '%s' (must be \"high\", \"medium\", \"low\", or \"none\")", effort)
+		if !slices.Contains([]string{"high", "medium", "low", "max", "none"}, effort) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid reasoning value: '%s' (must be \"high\", \"medium\", \"low\", \"max\", or \"none\")", effort)
 		}
 
 		if effort == "none" {

openai/openai_test.go

@@ -55,6 +55,57 @@ func TestFromChatRequest_Basic(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestFromChatRequest_ReasoningEffort(t *testing.T) {
+	effort := func(s string) *string { return &s }
+
+	cases := []struct {
+		name    string
+		effort  *string
+		want    any // expected ThinkValue.Value; nil means req.Think should be nil
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{name: "unset", effort: nil, want: nil},
+		{name: "high", effort: effort("high"), want: "high"},
+		{name: "medium", effort: effort("medium"), want: "medium"},
+		{name: "low", effort: effort("low"), want: "low"},
+		{name: "max", effort: effort("max"), want: "max"},
+		{name: "none disables", effort: effort("none"), want: false},
+		{name: "invalid", effort: effort("extreme"), wantErr: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			req := ChatCompletionRequest{
+				Model:           "test-model",
+				Messages:        []Message{{Role: "user", Content: "hi"}},
+				ReasoningEffort: tc.effort,
+			}
+			result, err := FromChatRequest(req)
+			if tc.wantErr {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Fatalf("expected error for effort=%v, got none", *tc.effort)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+			}
+			if tc.want == nil {
+				if result.Think != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("expected nil Think, got %+v", result.Think)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if result.Think == nil {
+				t.Fatalf("expected Think=%v, got nil", tc.want)
+			}
+			if result.Think.Value != tc.want {
+				t.Fatalf("got Think.Value=%v, want %v", result.Think.Value, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestFromChatRequest_WithImage(t *testing.T) {
 	imgData, _ := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(image)
 

openai/responses.go

@@ -525,6 +525,18 @@ func FromResponsesRequest(r ResponsesRequest) (*api.ChatRequest, error) {
 		options["num_predict"] = *r.MaxOutputTokens
 	}
 
+	var think *api.ThinkValue
+	if effort := r.Reasoning.Effort; effort != "" {
+		switch effort {
+		case "none":
+			think = &api.ThinkValue{Value: false}
+		case "low", "medium", "high", "max":
+			think = &api.ThinkValue{Value: effort}
+		default:
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid reasoning value: %q (must be \"high\", \"medium\", \"low\", \"max\", or \"none\")", effort)
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Convert tools from Responses API format to api.Tool format
 	var tools []api.Tool
 	for _, t := range r.Tools {
@@ -552,6 +564,7 @@ func FromResponsesRequest(r ResponsesRequest) (*api.ChatRequest, error) {
 		Options:  options,
 		Tools:    tools,
 		Format:   format,
+		Think:    think,
 	}, nil
 }
 

openai/responses_test.go

@@ -415,6 +415,86 @@ func TestFromResponsesRequest_Tools(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestFromResponsesRequest_ReasoningEffort(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		effort    string
+		wantThink any
+		wantErr   bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "unset",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "low",
+			effort:    "low",
+			wantThink: "low",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "medium",
+			effort:    "medium",
+			wantThink: "medium",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "high",
+			effort:    "high",
+			wantThink: "high",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "max",
+			effort:    "max",
+			wantThink: "max",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "none",
+			effort:    "none",
+			wantThink: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "invalid",
+			effort:  "extreme",
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			req := ResponsesRequest{
+				Model: "deepseek-v4-flash",
+				Input: ResponsesInput{Text: "hi"},
+			}
+			if tt.effort != "" {
+				req.Reasoning.Effort = tt.effort
+			}
+
+			chatReq, err := FromResponsesRequest(req)
+			if tt.wantErr {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			if tt.wantThink == nil {
+				if chatReq.Think != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("Think = %#v, want nil", chatReq.Think)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+
+			if chatReq.Think == nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Think = nil, want %v", tt.wantThink)
+			}
+			if chatReq.Think.Value != tt.wantThink {
+				t.Errorf("Think.Value = %v, want %v", chatReq.Think.Value, tt.wantThink)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestFromResponsesRequest_FunctionCallOutput(t *testing.T) {
 	// Test a complete tool call round-trip:
 	// 1. User message asking about weather

server/routes.go

@@ -375,8 +375,16 @@ func (s *Server) GenerateHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 
 	var builtinParser parsers.Parser
-	if shouldUseHarmony(m) && m.Config.Parser == "" {
-		m.Config.Parser = "harmony"
+	if shouldUseHarmony(m) {
+		// harmony's Reasoning field only understands low/medium/high; map "max" to "high"
+		if req.Think != nil {
+			if s, ok := req.Think.Value.(string); ok && s == "max" {
+				req.Think.Value = "high"
+			}
+		}
+		if m.Config.Parser == "" {
+			m.Config.Parser = "harmony"
+		}
 	}
 
 	if !req.Raw && m.Config.Parser != "" {
@@ -2320,8 +2328,16 @@ func (s *Server) ChatHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 	msgs = filterThinkTags(msgs, m)
 
-	if shouldUseHarmony(m) && m.Config.Parser == "" {
-		m.Config.Parser = "harmony"
+	if shouldUseHarmony(m) {
+		// harmony's Reasoning field only understands low/medium/high; map "max" to "high"
+		if req.Think != nil {
+			if s, ok := req.Think.Value.(string); ok && s == "max" {
+				req.Think.Value = "high"
+			}
+		}
+		if m.Config.Parser == "" {
+			m.Config.Parser = "harmony"
+		}
 	}
 
 	var builtinParser parsers.Parser