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+# Phase 01: Model Interface & Switching - Context
+
+**Gathered:** 2026-01-27
+**Status:** Ready for planning
+
+<domain>
+## Phase Boundary
+
+Connect to LMStudio for local model inference, auto-detect available models, intelligently switch between models based on task and availability, and manage model context efficiently (conversation history, system prompt, token budget).
+
+</domain>
+
+<decisions>
+## Implementation Decisions
+
+### Model Selection Strategy
+- Primary factor: Available resources (CPU, RAM, GPU)
+- Preference: Most efficient model that fits constraints
+- Categorize models by both capability tier AND resource needs
+- Fallback: Try minimal model even if slow when no model fits constraints
+
+### Context Management Policy
+- Trigger compression at 70% of context window
+- Use hybrid approach: summarize very old messages, keep some middle ones intact, preserve all recent messages
+- Priority during compression: Always preserve user instructions and explicit requests
+- Adapts to different model context sizes based on percentage
+
+### Switching Behavior
+- Silent switching: No user notifications when changing models
+- Dynamic switching: Can switch mid-task if current model struggles
+- Smart context transfer: Send context relevant to why switching occurred
+- Queue new tasks: Prepare new model in background, use for next message
+
+### Failure Handling
+- Auto-start LM Studio if not running
+- Try next best model automatically if model fails to load
+- Switch and retry immediately if model gives no response or errors
+- Graceful degradation: Switch to minimal resource usage mode when exhausted
+
+### Claude's Discretion
+- Exact model capability tier definitions
+- Context compression algorithms and thresholds within hybrid approach
+- What constitutes "struggling" for dynamic switching
+- Graceful degradation specifics (which features to disable)
+
+</decisions>
+
+<specifics>
+## Specific Ideas
+
+No specific requirements — open to standard approaches for local model management.
+
+</specifics>
+
+<deferred>
+## Deferred Ideas
+
+None — discussion stayed within phase scope
+
+</deferred>
+
+---
+
+*Phase: 01-model-interface*
+*Context gathered: 2026-01-27*
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