# Backend Switch Command Design

**Date:** 2026-02-05
**Status:** Approved

## Overview

Add `/backend` slash command to switch between local LLM providers (ollama, llamacpp) at runtime with lazy instantiation.

## Config Schema Extension

Extend `models` with optional `local_providers` object:

```yaml
models:
  local:
    provider: ollama
    model: qwen2.5:14b
    endpoint: http://localhost:11434

  local_providers:
    llamacpp:
      endpoint: http://localhost:8080
      # auth_token: optional
```

- `local` - Active local provider (backwards compatible)
- `local_providers` - Additional provider configs keyed by name

## Command

```
/backend              Show current local provider
/backend ollama       Switch to ollama
/backend llamacpp     Switch to llamacpp
```

### Command Type

```typescript
| { type: 'backend'; provider?: string }
```

## ModelRouter Changes

```typescript
// Swap local client at runtime
setLocalClient(client: ModelClient, providerName: string): void

// Get current local provider name for display
getLocalProviderName(): string | undefined
```

## Flow

1. User runs `/backend llamacpp`
2. Command parsed, handler receives `{ type: 'backend', provider: 'llamacpp' }`
3. Handler looks up `config.models.local_providers.llamacpp`
4. If not found → error "Backend 'llamacpp' not configured"
5. Instantiate `LlamaCppClient` with config
6. Call `router.setLocalClient(client, 'llamacpp')`
7. Report "Switched to llamacpp"

## Error Handling

| Scenario | Response |
|----------|----------|
| `/backend` (no arg) | "Local backend: ollama" |
| Unknown provider | "Unknown backend 'foo'. Available: ollama, llamacpp" |
| Not configured | "Backend 'llamacpp' not configured in local_providers" |
| Server down | Fail on first chat (existing error handling) |

## Files Changed

| File | Change |
|------|--------|
| `src/config/schema.ts` | Add `local_providers` to modelsSchema |
| `src/models/router.ts` | Add `setLocalClient()`, `getLocalProviderName()` |
| `src/frontends/tui/commands.ts` | Add backend command parsing |
| `src/frontends/tui/minimal.ts` | Handle backend command |
| `src/daemon/index.ts` | Store config, add client factory function |