diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-ui.yml b/.github/workflows/release-ui.yml
index 2f13e7e7..57195dca 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-ui.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-ui.yml
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ env:
 
 jobs:
   release-ui:
-    # Automated via reusable call (main releases); manual runs allowed on dev.
-    if: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_call' || github.ref == 'refs/heads/dev' }}
+    # Automated via reusable call (main releases); manual runs allowed on dev/main.
+    if: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_call' || github.ref == 'refs/heads/dev' || github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' }}
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
diff --git a/.opencode/commands/release-notes.md b/.opencode/commands/release-notes.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e0c7734c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.opencode/commands/release-notes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+description: Creates release notes
+agent: build
+---
+
+Check how I do prepare release notes here - https://github.com/NeuralNomadsAI/CodeNomad/releases/tag/v0.7.0
+Use the same format to create release notes from users perspective for new release by looking at changes from last tagged release to tip of branch
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 1d49000c..d361270c 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "codenomad-workspace",
-  "version": "0.9.0",
+  "version": "0.9.1",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "codenomad-workspace",
-      "version": "0.9.0",
+      "version": "0.9.1",
       "dependencies": {
         "7zip-bin": "^5.2.0",
         "google-auth-library": "^10.5.0"
@@ -7384,7 +7384,7 @@
     },
     "packages/electron-app": {
       "name": "@neuralnomads/codenomad-electron-app",
-      "version": "0.9.0",
+      "version": "0.9.1",
       "dependencies": {
         "@codenomad/ui": "file:../ui",
         "@neuralnomads/codenomad": "file:../server"
@@ -7418,7 +7418,7 @@
     },
     "packages/server": {
       "name": "@neuralnomads/codenomad",
-      "version": "0.9.0",
+      "version": "0.9.1",
       "dependencies": {
         "@fastify/cors": "^8.5.0",
         "@fastify/reply-from": "^9.8.0",
@@ -7455,14 +7455,14 @@
     },
     "packages/tauri-app": {
       "name": "@codenomad/tauri-app",
-      "version": "0.9.0",
+      "version": "0.9.1",
       "devDependencies": {
         "@tauri-apps/cli": "^2.9.4"
       }
     },
     "packages/ui": {
       "name": "@codenomad/ui",
-      "version": "0.9.0",
+      "version": "0.9.1",
       "dependencies": {
         "@git-diff-view/solid": "^0.0.8",
         "@kobalte/core": "0.13.11",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c24a5e70..8e3a3340 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "codenomad-workspace",
-  "version": "0.9.0",
+  "version": "0.9.1",
   "private": true,
   "description": "CodeNomad monorepo workspace",
   "workspaces": {
diff --git a/packages/cloudflare/release-config.json b/packages/cloudflare/release-config.json
index 8d1da1a7..c2b2d832 100644
--- a/packages/cloudflare/release-config.json
+++ b/packages/cloudflare/release-config.json
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "minServerVersion": "0.8.1",
+  "minServerVersion": "0.9.1",
   "latestServerUrl": "https://github.com/NeuralNomadsAI/CodeNomad/releases/latest"
 }
diff --git a/packages/electron-app/electron/main/process-manager.ts b/packages/electron-app/electron/main/process-manager.ts
index 20134f98..80cbd71e 100644
--- a/packages/electron-app/electron/main/process-manager.ts
+++ b/packages/electron-app/electron/main/process-manager.ts
@@ -177,8 +177,11 @@ export class CliProcessManager extends EventEmitter {
 
     return new Promise((resolve) => {
       const killTimeout = setTimeout(() => {
+        console.warn(
+          `[cli] stop timed out after 30000ms; sending SIGKILL (pid=${child.pid ?? "unknown"})`,
+        )
         child.kill("SIGKILL")
-      }, 4000)
+      }, 30000)
 
       child.on("exit", () => {
         clearTimeout(killTimeout)
@@ -376,4 +379,3 @@ export class CliProcessManager extends EventEmitter {
     throw new Error("Unable to locate CodeNomad CLI build (dist/bin.js). Run npm run build --workspace @neuralnomads/codenomad.")
   }
 }
-
diff --git a/packages/electron-app/package.json b/packages/electron-app/package.json
index 03431b22..cf752f00 100644
--- a/packages/electron-app/package.json
+++ b/packages/electron-app/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@neuralnomads/codenomad-electron-app",
-  "version": "0.9.0",
+  "version": "0.9.1",
   "description": "CodeNomad - AI coding assistant",
   "author": {
     "name": "Neural Nomads",
diff --git a/packages/server/package-lock.json b/packages/server/package-lock.json
index 27f4104b..65779937 100644
--- a/packages/server/package-lock.json
+++ b/packages/server/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@neuralnomads/codenomad",
-  "version": "0.9.0",
+  "version": "0.9.1",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@neuralnomads/codenomad",
-      "version": "0.9.0",
+      "version": "0.9.1",
       "dependencies": {
         "@fastify/cors": "^8.5.0",
         "@fastify/reply-from": "^9.8.0",
diff --git a/packages/server/package.json b/packages/server/package.json
index 1b10afc9..7ee1c9fe 100644
--- a/packages/server/package.json
+++ b/packages/server/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@neuralnomads/codenomad",
-  "version": "0.9.0",
+  "version": "0.9.1",
   "description": "CodeNomad Server",
   "author": {
     "name": "Neural Nomads",
diff --git a/packages/server/src/config/schema.ts b/packages/server/src/config/schema.ts
index 09dadf66..1efa49b9 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/config/schema.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/config/schema.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ const PreferencesSchema = z.object({
   lastUsedBinary: z.string().optional(),
   environmentVariables: z.record(z.string()).default({}),
   modelRecents: z.array(ModelPreferenceSchema).default([]),
+  modelThinkingSelections: z.record(z.string(), z.string()).default({}),
   diffViewMode: z.enum(["split", "unified"]).default("split"),
   toolOutputExpansion: z.enum(["expanded", "collapsed"]).default("expanded"),
   diagnosticsExpansion: z.enum(["expanded", "collapsed"]).default("expanded"),
diff --git a/packages/server/src/index.ts b/packages/server/src/index.ts
index ac0c34e0..389b6198 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/index.ts
@@ -286,21 +286,33 @@ async function main() {
       return
     }
     shuttingDown = true
-    logger.info("Received shutdown signal, closing server")
-    try {
-      await server.stop()
-      logger.info("HTTP server stopped")
-    } catch (error) {
-      logger.error({ err: error }, "Failed to stop HTTP server")
-    }
+    logger.info("Received shutdown signal, stopping workspaces and server")
 
-    try {
-      instanceEventBridge.shutdown()
-      await workspaceManager.shutdown()
-      logger.info("Workspace manager shutdown complete")
-    } catch (error) {
-      logger.error({ err: error }, "Workspace manager shutdown failed")
-    }
+    const shutdownWorkspaces = (async () => {
+      try {
+        instanceEventBridge.shutdown()
+      } catch (error) {
+        logger.warn({ err: error }, "Instance event bridge shutdown failed")
+      }
+
+      try {
+        await workspaceManager.shutdown()
+        logger.info("Workspace manager shutdown complete")
+      } catch (error) {
+        logger.error({ err: error }, "Workspace manager shutdown failed")
+      }
+    })()
+
+    const shutdownHttp = (async () => {
+      try {
+        await server.stop()
+        logger.info("HTTP server stopped")
+      } catch (error) {
+        logger.error({ err: error }, "Failed to stop HTTP server")
+      }
+    })()
+
+    await Promise.allSettled([shutdownWorkspaces, shutdownHttp])
 
     // no-op: remote UI manifest replaces GitHub release monitor
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/workspaces/manager.ts b/packages/server/src/workspaces/manager.ts
index 1b1d863f..623667b7 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/workspaces/manager.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/workspaces/manager.ts
@@ -187,16 +187,27 @@ export class WorkspaceManager {
 
   async shutdown() {
     this.options.logger.info("Shutting down all workspaces")
+
+    const stopTasks: Array<Promise<void>> = []
+
     for (const [id, workspace] of this.workspaces) {
-      if (workspace.pid) {
-        this.options.logger.info({ workspaceId: id }, "Stopping workspace during shutdown")
-        await this.runtime.stop(id).catch((error) => {
-          this.options.logger.error({ workspaceId: id, err: error }, "Failed to stop workspace during shutdown")
-        })
-      } else {
+      if (!workspace.pid) {
         this.options.logger.debug({ workspaceId: id }, "Workspace already stopped")
+        continue
       }
+
+      this.options.logger.info({ workspaceId: id }, "Stopping workspace during shutdown")
+      stopTasks.push(
+        this.runtime.stop(id).catch((error) => {
+          this.options.logger.error({ workspaceId: id, err: error }, "Failed to stop workspace during shutdown")
+        }),
+      )
     }
+
+    if (stopTasks.length > 0) {
+      await Promise.allSettled(stopTasks)
+    }
+
     this.workspaces.clear()
     this.opencodeAuth.clear()
     this.options.logger.info("All workspaces cleared")
diff --git a/packages/tauri-app/package.json b/packages/tauri-app/package.json
index 4c26c3cf..423e64d6 100644
--- a/packages/tauri-app/package.json
+++ b/packages/tauri-app/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@codenomad/tauri-app",
-  "version": "0.9.0",
+  "version": "0.9.1",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "tauri dev",
diff --git a/packages/tauri-app/src-tauri/src/cli_manager.rs b/packages/tauri-app/src-tauri/src/cli_manager.rs
index 14475910..a1b8013a 100644
--- a/packages/tauri-app/src-tauri/src/cli_manager.rs
+++ b/packages/tauri-app/src-tauri/src/cli_manager.rs
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ fn workspace_root() -> Option<PathBuf> {
 
 const SESSION_COOKIE_NAME: &str = "codenomad_session";
 
+const CLI_STOP_GRACE_SECS: u64 = 30;
+
 fn navigate_main(app: &AppHandle, url: &str) {
     if let Some(win) = app.webview_windows().get("main") {
         let mut display = url.to_string();
@@ -276,6 +278,7 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
     pub fn stop(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let mut child_opt = self.child.lock();
         if let Some(mut child) = child_opt.take() {
+            log_line(&format!("stopping CLI pid={}", child.id()));
             #[cfg(unix)]
             unsafe {
                 libc::kill(child.id() as i32, libc::SIGTERM);
@@ -290,7 +293,12 @@ impl CliProcessManager {
                 match child.try_wait() {
                     Ok(Some(_)) => break,
                     Ok(None) => {
-                        if start.elapsed() > Duration::from_secs(4) {
+                        if start.elapsed() > Duration::from_secs(CLI_STOP_GRACE_SECS) {
+                            log_line(&format!(
+                                "stop timed out after {}s; sending SIGKILL pid={}",
+                                CLI_STOP_GRACE_SECS,
+                                child.id()
+                            ));
                             #[cfg(unix)]
                             unsafe {
                                 libc::kill(child.id() as i32, libc::SIGKILL);
diff --git a/packages/tauri-app/src-tauri/src/main.rs b/packages/tauri-app/src-tauri/src/main.rs
index e92cce9d..81645233 100644
--- a/packages/tauri-app/src-tauri/src/main.rs
+++ b/packages/tauri-app/src-tauri/src/main.rs
@@ -163,7 +163,8 @@ fn main() {
         .build(tauri::generate_context!())
         .expect("error while building tauri application")
         .run(|app_handle, event| match event {
-            tauri::RunEvent::ExitRequested { .. } => {
+            tauri::RunEvent::ExitRequested { api, .. } => {
+                api.prevent_exit();
                 let app = app_handle.clone();
                 std::thread::spawn(move || {
                     if let Some(state) = app.try_state::<AppState>() {
@@ -173,18 +174,18 @@ fn main() {
                 });
             }
             tauri::RunEvent::WindowEvent {
-                event: tauri::WindowEvent::Destroyed,
+                event: tauri::WindowEvent::CloseRequested { api, .. },
                 ..
             } => {
-                if app_handle.webview_windows().len() <= 1 {
-                    let app = app_handle.clone();
-                    std::thread::spawn(move || {
-                        if let Some(state) = app.try_state::<AppState>() {
-                            let _ = state.manager.stop();
-                        }
-                        app.exit(0);
-                    });
-                }
+                // Ensure we have time to stop the CLI process before the app exits.
+                api.prevent_close();
+                let app = app_handle.clone();
+                std::thread::spawn(move || {
+                    if let Some(state) = app.try_state::<AppState>() {
+                        let _ = state.manager.stop();
+                    }
+                    app.exit(0);
+                });
             }
             _ => {}
         });
diff --git a/packages/ui/package.json b/packages/ui/package.json
index 2cae67fa..3226937a 100644
--- a/packages/ui/package.json
+++ b/packages/ui/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@codenomad/ui",
-  "version": "0.9.0",
+  "version": "0.9.1",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/App.tsx b/packages/ui/src/App.tsx
index 78488de8..382cbe46 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/App.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/App.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import InstanceShell from "./components/instance/instance-shell2"
 import { RemoteAccessOverlay } from "./components/remote-access-overlay"
 import { InstanceMetadataProvider } from "./lib/contexts/instance-metadata-context"
 import { initMarkdown } from "./lib/markdown"
+import { initGithubStars } from "./stores/github-stars"
 
 import { useTheme } from "./lib/theme"
 import { useCommands } from "./lib/hooks/use-commands"
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ const App: Component = () => {
   })
 
   onMount(() => {
+    void initGithubStars()
     updateInstanceTabBarHeight()
     const handleResize = () => updateInstanceTabBarHeight()
     window.addEventListener("resize", handleResize)
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/agent-selector.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/agent-selector.tsx
index 25112669..6541a88e 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/agent-selector.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/agent-selector.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { agents, fetchAgents, sessions } from "../stores/sessions"
 import { ChevronDown } from "lucide-solid"
 import type { Agent } from "../types/session"
 import { getLogger } from "../lib/logger"
+import Kbd from "./kbd"
 const log = getLogger("session")
 
 
@@ -99,15 +100,20 @@ export default function AgentSelector(props: AgentSelectorProps) {
           data-agent-selector
           class="selector-trigger"
         >
-          <Select.Value<Agent>>
-            {(state) => (
-              <div class="selector-trigger-label">
-                <span class="selector-trigger-primary">
-                  Agent: {state.selectedOption()?.name ?? "None"}
-                </span>
-              </div>
-            )}
-          </Select.Value>
+          <div class="flex-1 min-w-0">
+            <Select.Value<Agent>>
+              {(state) => (
+                <div class="selector-trigger-label selector-trigger-label--stacked">
+                  <span class="selector-trigger-primary selector-trigger-primary--align-left">
+                    Agent: {state.selectedOption()?.name ?? "None"}
+                  </span>
+                </div>
+              )}
+            </Select.Value>
+          </div>
+          <span class="selector-trigger-hint selector-trigger-hint--top" aria-hidden="true">
+            <Kbd shortcut="cmd+shift+a" />
+          </span>
           <Select.Icon class="selector-trigger-icon">
             <ChevronDown class="w-3 h-3" />
           </Select.Icon>
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/brand-icons.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/brand-icons.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c8a0bd88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/brand-icons.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import type { Component } from "solid-js"
+
+type BrandIconProps = {
+  class?: string
+  title?: string
+}
+
+export const GitHubMarkIcon: Component<BrandIconProps> = (props) => (
+  <svg
+    viewBox="0 0 98 96"
+    xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+    aria-hidden={props.title ? undefined : "true"}
+    role={props.title ? "img" : "presentation"}
+    class={props.class}
+  >
+    {props.title ? <title>{props.title}</title> : null}
+    <path
+      fill="currentColor"
+      d="M41.4395 69.3848C28.8066 67.8535 19.9062 58.7617 19.9062 46.9902C19.9062 42.2051 21.6289 37.0371 24.5 33.5918C23.2559 30.4336 23.4473 23.7344 24.8828 20.959C28.7109 20.4805 33.8789 22.4902 36.9414 25.2656C40.5781 24.1172 44.4062 23.543 49.0957 23.543C53.7852 23.543 57.6133 24.1172 61.0586 25.1699C64.0254 22.4902 69.2891 20.4805 73.1172 20.959C74.457 23.543 74.6484 30.2422 73.4043 33.4961C76.4668 37.1328 78.0937 42.0137 78.0937 46.9902C78.0937 58.7617 69.1934 67.6621 56.3691 69.2891C59.623 71.3945 61.8242 75.9883 61.8242 81.252L61.8242 91.2051C61.8242 94.0762 64.2168 95.7031 67.0879 94.5547C84.4102 87.9512 98 70.6289 98 49.1914C98 22.1074 75.9883 0 48.9043 0C21.8203 0 0 22.1074 0 49.1914C0 70.4375 13.4941 88.0469 31.6777 94.6504C34.2617 95.6074 36.75 93.8848 36.75 91.3008L36.75 83.6445C35.4102 84.2188 33.6875 84.6016 32.1562 84.6016C25.8398 84.6016 22.1074 81.1563 19.4277 74.7441C18.375 72.1602 17.2266 70.6289 15.0254 70.3418C13.877 70.2461 13.4941 69.7676 13.4941 69.1934C13.4941 68.0449 15.4082 67.1836 17.3223 67.1836C20.0977 67.1836 22.4902 68.9063 24.9785 72.4473C26.8926 75.2227 28.9023 76.4668 31.2949 76.4668C33.6875 76.4668 35.2187 75.6055 37.4199 73.4043C39.0469 71.7773 40.291 70.3418 41.4395 69.3848Z"
+    />
+  </svg>
+)
+
+export const DiscordSymbolIcon: Component<BrandIconProps> = (props) => (
+  <svg
+    viewBox="0 0 64 48"
+    xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+    aria-hidden={props.title ? undefined : "true"}
+    role={props.title ? "img" : "presentation"}
+    class={props.class}
+  >
+    {props.title ? <title>{props.title}</title> : null}
+    <path
+      fill="currentColor"
+      d="M40.575 0C39.9562 1.09866 39.4006 2.2352 38.8954 3.397C34.0967 2.67719 29.2096 2.67719 24.3982 3.397C23.9057 2.2352 23.3374 1.09866 22.7186 0C18.2104 0.770324 13.8157 2.12155 9.64839 4.02841C1.38951 16.2652 -0.845688 28.1863 0.265599 39.9432C5.10222 43.517 10.5197 46.2447 16.2909 47.9874C17.5916 46.2447 18.7407 44.3883 19.7257 42.4562C17.8568 41.7616 16.0509 40.8903 14.3208 39.88C14.7755 39.5517 15.2175 39.2107 15.6468 38.8824C25.7873 43.6559 37.5316 43.6559 47.6847 38.8824C48.1141 39.236 48.5561 39.577 49.0107 39.88C47.2806 40.9029 45.4748 41.7616 43.5931 42.4688C44.5781 44.4009 45.7273 46.2573 47.028 48C52.7991 46.2573 58.2167 43.5422 63.0533 39.9684C64.3666 26.3299 60.8055 14.5099 53.6452 4.04104C49.4905 2.13418 45.0959 0.782952 40.5876 0.0252565L40.575 0ZM21.1401 32.7072C18.0209 32.7072 15.4321 29.8785 15.4321 26.3804C15.4321 22.8824 17.9199 20.041 21.1275 20.041C24.3351 20.041 26.886 22.895 26.8354 26.3804C26.7849 29.8658 24.3224 32.7072 21.1401 32.7072ZM42.1788 32.7072C39.047 32.7072 36.4834 29.8785 36.4834 26.3804C36.4834 22.8824 38.9712 20.041 42.1788 20.041C45.3864 20.041 47.9246 22.895 47.8741 26.3804C47.8236 29.8658 45.3611 32.7072 42.1788 32.7072Z"
+    />
+  </svg>
+)
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/folder-selection-view.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/folder-selection-view.tsx
index c4e445e6..14fd32eb 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/folder-selection-view.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/folder-selection-view.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 import { Component, createSignal, Show, For, onMount, onCleanup, createEffect } from "solid-js"
-import { Folder, Clock, Trash2, FolderPlus, Settings, ChevronRight, MonitorUp } from "lucide-solid"
+import { Folder, Clock, Trash2, FolderPlus, Settings, ChevronRight, MonitorUp, Star } from "lucide-solid"
 import { useConfig } from "../stores/preferences"
 import AdvancedSettingsModal from "./advanced-settings-modal"
 import DirectoryBrowserDialog from "./directory-browser-dialog"
 import Kbd from "./kbd"
 import { openNativeFolderDialog, supportsNativeDialogs } from "../lib/native/native-functions"
 import VersionPill from "./version-pill"
+import { DiscordSymbolIcon, GitHubMarkIcon } from "./brand-icons"
+import { githubStars } from "../stores/github-stars"
+import { formatCompactCount } from "../lib/formatters"
 
 const codeNomadLogo = new URL("../images/CodeNomad-Icon.png", import.meta.url).href
 
@@ -188,6 +191,11 @@ const FolderSelectionView: Component<FolderSelectionViewProps> = (props) => {
     if (isLoading()) return
     props.onSelectFolder(path, selectedBinary())
   }
+
+  const openExternalLink = (url: string) => {
+    if (typeof window === "undefined") return
+    window.open(url, "_blank", "noopener,noreferrer")
+  }
  
   async function handleBrowse() {
     if (isLoading()) return
@@ -242,170 +250,228 @@ const FolderSelectionView: Component<FolderSelectionViewProps> = (props) => {
         style="background-color: var(--surface-secondary)"
       >
         <div
-          class="w-full max-w-3xl h-full px-4 sm:px-8 pb-2 flex flex-col overflow-hidden"
+          class="w-full max-w-5xl h-full px-4 sm:px-8 pb-2 flex flex-col overflow-hidden"
           aria-busy={isLoading() ? "true" : "false"}
         >
           <Show when={props.onOpenRemoteAccess}>
             <div class="absolute top-4 right-6">
               <button
                 type="button"
-                class="selector-button selector-button-secondary inline-flex items-center justify-center"
+                class="selector-button selector-button-secondary w-auto p-2 inline-flex items-center justify-center"
                 onClick={() => props.onOpenRemoteAccess?.()}
               >
                 <MonitorUp class="w-4 h-4" />
               </button>
             </div>
           </Show>
-        <div class="mb-6 text-center shrink-0">
-          <div class="mb-3 flex justify-center">
-            <img src={codeNomadLogo} alt="CodeNomad logo" class="h-32 w-auto sm:h-48" loading="lazy" />
-          </div>
-          <h1 class="mb-2 text-3xl font-semibold text-primary">CodeNomad</h1>
-          <p class="text-base text-secondary">Select a folder to start coding with AI</p>
-          <div class="mt-2 flex justify-center">
-            <VersionPill />
-          </div>
-        </div>
-
- 
-          <div class="space-y-4 flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden flex flex-col">
-
-            <Show
-
-
-              when={folders().length > 0}
-              fallback={
-                <div class="panel panel-empty-state flex-1">
-                  <div class="panel-empty-state-icon">
-                    <Clock class="w-12 h-12 mx-auto" />
-                  </div>
-                  <p class="panel-empty-state-title">No Recent Folders</p>
-                  <p class="panel-empty-state-description">Browse for a folder to get started</p>
-                </div>
-              }
-            >
-              <div class="panel flex flex-col flex-1 min-h-0">
-                <div class="panel-header">
-                  <h2 class="panel-title">Recent Folders</h2>
-                  <p class="panel-subtitle">
-                    {folders().length} {folders().length === 1 ? "folder" : "folders"} available
-                  </p>
-                </div>
-                <div class="panel-list panel-list--fill flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-auto" ref={(el) => (recentListRef = el)}>
-                  <For each={folders()}>
-                    {(folder, index) => (
-                      <div
-                        class="panel-list-item"
-                        classList={{
-                          "panel-list-item-highlight": focusMode() === "recent" && selectedIndex() === index(),
-                          "panel-list-item-disabled": isLoading(),
-                        }}
-                      >
-                        <div class="flex items-center gap-2 w-full px-1">
-                          <button
-                            data-folder-index={index()}
-                            class="panel-list-item-content flex-1"
-                            disabled={isLoading()}
-                            onClick={() => handleFolderSelect(folder.path)}
-                            onMouseEnter={() => {
-                              if (isLoading()) return
-                              setFocusMode("recent")
-                              setSelectedIndex(index())
-                            }}
-                          >
-                            <div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 w-full">
-                              <div class="flex-1 min-w-0">
-                                <div class="flex items-center gap-2 mb-1">
-                                  <Folder class="w-4 h-4 flex-shrink-0 icon-muted" />
-                                  <span class="text-sm font-medium truncate text-primary">
-                                    {folder.path.split("/").pop()}
-                                  </span>
-                                </div>
-                                <div class="text-xs font-mono truncate pl-6 text-muted">
-                                  {getDisplayPath(folder.path)}
-                                </div>
-                                <div class="text-xs mt-1 pl-6 text-muted">
-                                  {formatRelativeTime(folder.lastAccessed)}
-                                </div>
-                              </div>
-                              <Show when={focusMode() === "recent" && selectedIndex() === index()}>
-                                <kbd class="kbd">↵</kbd>
-                              </Show>
-                            </div>
-                          </button>
-                          <button
-                            onClick={(e) => handleRemove(folder.path, e)}
-                            disabled={isLoading()}
-                            class="p-2 transition-all hover:bg-red-100 dark:hover:bg-red-900/30 opacity-70 hover:opacity-100 rounded"
-                            title="Remove from recent"
-                          >
-                            <Trash2 class="w-3.5 h-3.5 transition-colors icon-muted hover:text-red-600 dark:hover:text-red-400" />
-                          </button>
-                        </div>
-                      </div>
-                    )}
-                  </For>
-                </div>
-              </div>
-            </Show>
-
-            <div class="panel shrink-0">
-              <div class="panel-header hidden sm:block">
-                <h2 class="panel-title">Browse for Folder</h2>
-                <p class="panel-subtitle">Select any folder on your computer</p>
-              </div>
-
-              <div class="panel-body">
-                <button
-                  onClick={() => void handleBrowse()}
-                  disabled={props.isLoading}
-                  class="button-primary w-full flex items-center justify-center text-sm disabled:cursor-not-allowed"
-                  onMouseEnter={() => setFocusMode("new")}
-                >
-                  <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
-                    <FolderPlus class="w-4 h-4" />
-                    <span>{props.isLoading ? "Opening..." : "Browse Folders"}</span>
-                  </div>
-                  <Kbd shortcut="cmd+n" class="ml-2" />
-                </button>
-              </div>
-
-              {/* Advanced settings section */}
-              <div class="panel-section w-full">
-                <button
-                  onClick={() => props.onAdvancedSettingsOpen?.()}
-                  class="panel-section-header w-full justify-between"
-                >
-                  <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
-                    <Settings class="w-4 h-4 icon-muted" />
-                    <span class="text-sm font-medium text-secondary">Advanced Settings</span>
-                  </div>
-                  <ChevronRight class="w-4 h-4 icon-muted" />
-                </button>
-              </div>
+          <div class="mb-6 text-center shrink-0">
+            <div class="mb-3 flex justify-center">
+              <img src={codeNomadLogo} alt="CodeNomad logo" class="h-32 w-auto sm:h-48" loading="lazy" />
             </div>
+            <h1 class="mb-2 text-3xl font-semibold text-primary">CodeNomad</h1>
+            <div class="mt-3 flex justify-center gap-2">
+              <a
+                href="https://github.com/NeuralNomadsAI/CodeNomad"
+                target="_blank"
+                rel="noreferrer"
+                class="selector-button selector-button-secondary w-auto p-2 inline-flex items-center justify-center"
+                aria-label="CodeNomad GitHub"
+                title="CodeNomad GitHub"
+                onClick={(event) => {
+                  event.preventDefault()
+                  openExternalLink("https://github.com/NeuralNomadsAI/CodeNomad")
+                }}
+              >
+                <GitHubMarkIcon class="w-4 h-4" />
+              </a>
+              <a
+                href="https://github.com/NeuralNomadsAI/CodeNomad"
+                target="_blank"
+                rel="noreferrer"
+                class="selector-button selector-button-secondary w-auto px-3 py-1.5 inline-flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5"
+                aria-label="CodeNomad GitHub Stars"
+                title="CodeNomad GitHub Stars"
+                onClick={(event) => {
+                  event.preventDefault()
+                  openExternalLink("https://github.com/NeuralNomadsAI/CodeNomad")
+                }}
+              >
+                <Star class="w-4 h-4" />
+                <Show when={githubStars() !== null}>
+                  <span class="text-xs font-medium">{formatCompactCount(githubStars()!)}</span>
+                </Show>
+              </a>
+              <a
+                href="https://discord.com/channels/1391832426048651334/1458412028325793887/1464701235683917945"
+                target="_blank"
+                rel="noreferrer"
+                class="selector-button selector-button-secondary w-auto p-2 inline-flex items-center justify-center"
+                aria-label="CodeNomad Discord"
+                title="CodeNomad Discord"
+                onClick={(event) => {
+                  event.preventDefault()
+                  openExternalLink(
+                    "https://discord.com/channels/1391832426048651334/1458412028325793887/1464701235683917945",
+                  )
+                }}
+              >
+                <DiscordSymbolIcon class="w-4 h-4" />
+              </a>
+            </div>
+            <p class="mt-3 text-base text-secondary">Select a folder to start coding with AI</p>
           </div>
 
-          <div class="mt-1 panel panel-footer shrink-0 hidden sm:block">
-            <div class="panel-footer-hints">
-              <Show when={folders().length > 0}>
-                <div class="flex items-center gap-1.5">
-                  <kbd class="kbd">↑</kbd>
-                  <kbd class="kbd">↓</kbd>
-                  <span>Navigate</span>
-                </div>
-                <div class="flex items-center gap-1.5">
-                  <kbd class="kbd">Enter</kbd>
-                  <span>Select</span>
-                </div>
-                <div class="flex items-center gap-1.5">
-                  <kbd class="kbd">Del</kbd>
-                  <span>Remove</span>
+          <div class="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden flex flex-col gap-4">
+            <div class="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden flex flex-col lg:flex-row gap-4">
+              {/* Right column: recent folders */}
+              <div class="order-1 lg:order-2 flex flex-col gap-4 flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden">
+              <Show
+                when={folders().length > 0}
+                fallback={
+                  <div class="panel panel-empty-state flex-1">
+                    <div class="panel-empty-state-icon">
+                      <Clock class="w-12 h-12 mx-auto" />
+                    </div>
+                    <p class="panel-empty-state-title">No Recent Folders</p>
+                    <p class="panel-empty-state-description">Browse for a folder to get started</p>
+                  </div>
+                }
+              >
+                <div class="panel flex flex-col flex-1 min-h-0">
+                  <div class="panel-header">
+                    <h2 class="panel-title">Recent Folders</h2>
+                    <p class="panel-subtitle">
+                      {folders().length} {folders().length === 1 ? "folder" : "folders"} available
+                    </p>
+                  </div>
+                  <div
+                    class="panel-list panel-list--fill flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-auto"
+                    ref={(el) => (recentListRef = el)}
+                  >
+                    <For each={folders()}>
+                      {(folder, index) => (
+                        <div
+                          class="panel-list-item"
+                          classList={{
+                            "panel-list-item-highlight": focusMode() === "recent" && selectedIndex() === index(),
+                            "panel-list-item-disabled": isLoading(),
+                          }}
+                        >
+                          <div class="flex items-center gap-2 w-full px-1">
+                            <button
+                              data-folder-index={index()}
+                              class="panel-list-item-content flex-1"
+                              disabled={isLoading()}
+                              onClick={() => handleFolderSelect(folder.path)}
+                              onMouseEnter={() => {
+                                if (isLoading()) return
+                                setFocusMode("recent")
+                                setSelectedIndex(index())
+                              }}
+                            >
+                              <div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 w-full">
+                                <div class="flex-1 min-w-0">
+                                  <div class="flex items-center gap-2 mb-1">
+                                    <Folder class="w-4 h-4 flex-shrink-0 icon-muted" />
+                                    <span class="text-sm font-medium truncate text-primary">
+                                      {folder.path.split("/").pop()}
+                                    </span>
+                                  </div>
+                                  <div class="text-xs font-mono truncate pl-6 text-muted">
+                                    {getDisplayPath(folder.path)}
+                                  </div>
+                                  <div class="text-xs mt-1 pl-6 text-muted">
+                                    {formatRelativeTime(folder.lastAccessed)}
+                                  </div>
+                                </div>
+                                <Show when={focusMode() === "recent" && selectedIndex() === index()}>
+                                  <kbd class="kbd">↵</kbd>
+                                </Show>
+                              </div>
+                            </button>
+                            <button
+                              onClick={(e) => handleRemove(folder.path, e)}
+                              disabled={isLoading()}
+                              class="p-2 transition-all hover:bg-red-100 dark:hover:bg-red-900/30 opacity-70 hover:opacity-100 rounded"
+                              title="Remove from recent"
+                            >
+                              <Trash2 class="w-3.5 h-3.5 transition-colors icon-muted hover:text-red-600 dark:hover:text-red-400" />
+                            </button>
+                          </div>
+                        </div>
+                      )}
+                    </For>
+                  </div>
                 </div>
               </Show>
-              <div class="flex items-center gap-1.5">
-                <Kbd shortcut="cmd+n" />
-                <span>Browse</span>
+
+              </div>
+
+              {/* Left column: version + browse + advanced settings */}
+              <div class="order-2 lg:order-1 flex flex-col gap-4 flex-1 min-h-0">
+              <div class="panel shrink-0">
+                <div class="panel-header hidden sm:block">
+                  <h2 class="panel-title">Browse for Folder</h2>
+                  <p class="panel-subtitle">Select any folder on your computer</p>
+                </div>
+
+                <div class="panel-body">
+                  <button
+                    onClick={() => void handleBrowse()}
+                    disabled={props.isLoading}
+                    class="button-primary w-full flex items-center justify-center text-sm disabled:cursor-not-allowed"
+                    onMouseEnter={() => setFocusMode("new")}
+                  >
+                    <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
+                      <FolderPlus class="w-4 h-4" />
+                      <span>{props.isLoading ? "Opening..." : "Browse Folders"}</span>
+                    </div>
+                    <Kbd shortcut="cmd+n" class="ml-2" />
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+
+                {/* Advanced settings section */}
+                <div class="panel-section w-full">
+                  <button onClick={() => props.onAdvancedSettingsOpen?.()} class="panel-section-header w-full justify-between">
+                    <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
+                      <Settings class="w-4 h-4 icon-muted" />
+                      <span class="text-sm font-medium text-secondary">Advanced Settings</span>
+                    </div>
+                    <ChevronRight class="w-4 h-4 icon-muted" />
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+
+              <div class="panel shrink-0">
+                <div class="panel-body flex items-center justify-center">
+                  <VersionPill />
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+
+            </div>
+
+            <div class="panel panel-footer shrink-0 hidden sm:block">
+              <div class="panel-footer-hints">
+                <Show when={folders().length > 0}>
+                  <div class="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+                    <kbd class="kbd">↑</kbd>
+                    <kbd class="kbd">↓</kbd>
+                    <span>Navigate</span>
+                  </div>
+                  <div class="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+                    <kbd class="kbd">Enter</kbd>
+                    <span>Select</span>
+                  </div>
+                  <div class="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+                    <kbd class="kbd">Del</kbd>
+                    <span>Remove</span>
+                  </div>
+                </Show>
+                <div class="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+                  <Kbd shortcut="cmd+n" />
+                  <span>Browse</span>
+                </div>
               </div>
             </div>
           </div>
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/instance/instance-shell2.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/instance/instance-shell2.tsx
index a2a83f7e..15753435 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/instance/instance-shell2.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/instance/instance-shell2.tsx
@@ -48,15 +48,16 @@ import { clearSessionRenderCache } from "../message-block"
 import { isOpen as isCommandPaletteOpen, hideCommandPalette, showCommandPalette } from "../../stores/command-palette"
 import SessionList from "../session-list"
 import KeyboardHint from "../keyboard-hint"
+import Kbd from "../kbd"
 import InstanceWelcomeView from "../instance-welcome-view"
 import InfoView from "../info-view"
 import InstanceServiceStatus from "../instance-service-status"
 import AgentSelector from "../agent-selector"
 import ModelSelector from "../model-selector"
+import ThinkingSelector from "../thinking-selector"
 import CommandPalette from "../command-palette"
 import PermissionNotificationBanner from "../permission-notification-banner"
 import PermissionApprovalModal from "../permission-approval-modal"
-import Kbd from "../kbd"
 import { TodoListView } from "../tool-call/renderers/todo"
 import ContextUsagePanel from "../session/context-usage-panel"
 import SessionView from "../session/session-view"
@@ -432,6 +433,14 @@ const InstanceShell2: Component<InstanceShellProps> = (props) => {
     return true
   }
 
+  const focusVariantSelectorControl = () => {
+    const input = leftDrawerContentEl()?.querySelector<HTMLInputElement>("[data-thinking-selector]")
+    if (!input) return false
+    input.focus()
+    setTimeout(() => triggerKeyboardEvent(input, { key: "ArrowDown", code: "ArrowDown", keyCode: 40 }), 10)
+    return true
+  }
+
   createEffect(() => {
     const pending = pendingSidebarAction()
     if (!pending) return
@@ -444,7 +453,12 @@ const InstanceShell2: Component<InstanceShellProps> = (props) => {
       setPendingSidebarAction(null)
       return
     }
-    const handled = action === "focus-agent-selector" ? focusAgentSelectorControl() : focusModelSelectorControl()
+    const handled =
+      action === "focus-agent-selector"
+        ? focusAgentSelectorControl()
+        : action === "focus-model-selector"
+          ? focusModelSelectorControl()
+          : focusVariantSelectorControl()
     if (handled) {
       setPendingSidebarAction(null)
     }
@@ -901,21 +915,14 @@ const InstanceShell2: Component<InstanceShellProps> = (props) => {
                   onAgentChange={(agent) => props.handleSidebarAgentChange(activeSession().id, agent)}
                 />
 
-                <div class="sidebar-selector-hints" aria-hidden="true">
-                  <span class="hint sidebar-selector-hint sidebar-selector-hint--left">
-                    <Kbd shortcut="cmd+shift+a" />
-                  </span>
-                  <span class="hint sidebar-selector-hint sidebar-selector-hint--right">
-                    <Kbd shortcut="cmd+shift+m" />
-                  </span>
-                </div>
-
                 <ModelSelector
                   instanceId={props.instance.id}
                   sessionId={activeSession().id}
                   currentModel={activeSession().model}
                   onModelChange={(model) => props.handleSidebarModelChange(activeSession().id, model)}
                 />
+
+                <ThinkingSelector instanceId={props.instance.id} currentModel={activeSession().model} />
               </div>
             </>
           )}
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/model-selector.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/model-selector.tsx
index 2f940f86..675d63af 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/model-selector.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/model-selector.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { providers, fetchProviders } from "../stores/sessions"
 import { ChevronDown } from "lucide-solid"
 import type { Model } from "../types/session"
 import { getLogger } from "../lib/logger"
+import Kbd from "./kbd"
 const log = getLogger("session")
 
 
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ export default function ModelSelector(props: ModelSelectorProps) {
             ref={triggerRef}
             class="selector-trigger"
           >
-            <div class="selector-trigger-label selector-trigger-label--stacked">
+            <div class="selector-trigger-label selector-trigger-label--stacked flex-1 min-w-0">
               <span class="selector-trigger-primary selector-trigger-primary--align-left">
                 Model: {currentModelValue()?.name ?? "None"}
               </span>
@@ -115,6 +116,9 @@ export default function ModelSelector(props: ModelSelectorProps) {
                 </span>
               )}
             </div>
+            <span class="selector-trigger-hint selector-trigger-hint--top" aria-hidden="true">
+              <Kbd shortcut="cmd+shift+m" />
+            </span>
             <Combobox.Icon class="selector-trigger-icon">
               <ChevronDown class="w-3 h-3" />
             </Combobox.Icon>
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/thinking-selector.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/thinking-selector.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bc0d5033
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/thinking-selector.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+import { Combobox } from "@kobalte/core/combobox"
+import { createEffect, createMemo } from "solid-js"
+import { providers, fetchProviders } from "../stores/sessions"
+import { ChevronDown } from "lucide-solid"
+import { getLogger } from "../lib/logger"
+import { getModelThinkingSelection, setModelThinkingSelection } from "../stores/preferences"
+import Kbd from "./kbd"
+
+const log = getLogger("session")
+
+interface ThinkingSelectorProps {
+  instanceId: string
+  currentModel: { providerId: string; modelId: string }
+}
+
+type ThinkingOption = {
+  key: string
+  label: string
+  value: string | undefined
+}
+
+export default function ThinkingSelector(props: ThinkingSelectorProps) {
+  const instanceProviders = () => providers().get(props.instanceId) || []
+
+  createEffect(() => {
+    if (instanceProviders().length === 0) {
+      fetchProviders(props.instanceId).catch((error) => log.error("Failed to fetch providers", error))
+    }
+  })
+
+  const variantKeys = createMemo(() => {
+    const { providerId, modelId } = props.currentModel
+    const provider = instanceProviders().find((p) => p.id === providerId)
+    const model = provider?.models.find((m) => m.id === modelId)
+    return model?.variantKeys ?? []
+  })
+
+  const options = createMemo<ThinkingOption[]>(() => {
+    const keys = variantKeys()
+    return [{ key: "__default__", label: "Default", value: undefined }, ...keys.map((k) => ({ key: k, label: k, value: k }))]
+  })
+
+  const currentValue = createMemo(() => {
+    const selected = getModelThinkingSelection(props.currentModel)
+    const keys = variantKeys()
+    if (selected && keys.includes(selected)) {
+      return options().find((opt) => opt.value === selected)
+    }
+    return options()[0]
+  })
+
+  const handleChange = (value: ThinkingOption | null) => {
+    if (!value) return
+    setModelThinkingSelection(props.currentModel, value.value)
+  }
+
+  const triggerPrimary = createMemo(() => {
+    const selected = currentValue()?.value
+    return selected ? `Thinking: ${selected}` : "Thinking: Default"
+  })
+
+  return (
+    <div class="sidebar-selector">
+      <Combobox<ThinkingOption>
+        value={currentValue()}
+        onChange={handleChange}
+        options={options()}
+        optionValue="key"
+        optionLabel="label"
+        placeholder="Thinking: Default"
+        itemComponent={(itemProps) => (
+          <Combobox.Item item={itemProps.item} class="selector-option">
+            <div class="selector-option-content">
+              <Combobox.ItemLabel class="selector-option-label">{itemProps.item.rawValue.label}</Combobox.ItemLabel>
+            </div>
+            <Combobox.ItemIndicator class="selector-option-indicator">
+              <svg class="w-4 h-4" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
+                <path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M5 13l4 4L19 7" />
+              </svg>
+            </Combobox.ItemIndicator>
+          </Combobox.Item>
+        )}
+      >
+        <Combobox.Control class="relative w-full" data-thinking-selector-control>
+          <Combobox.Input class="sr-only" data-thinking-selector />
+          <Combobox.Trigger class="selector-trigger">
+            <div class="selector-trigger-label selector-trigger-label--stacked flex-1 min-w-0">
+              <span class="selector-trigger-primary selector-trigger-primary--align-left">{triggerPrimary()}</span>
+            </div>
+            <span class="selector-trigger-hint" aria-hidden="true">
+              <Kbd shortcut="cmd+shift+t" />
+            </span>
+            <Combobox.Icon class="selector-trigger-icon">
+              <ChevronDown class="w-3 h-3" />
+            </Combobox.Icon>
+          </Combobox.Trigger>
+        </Combobox.Control>
+
+        <Combobox.Portal>
+          <Combobox.Content class="selector-popover">
+            <Combobox.Listbox class="selector-listbox" />
+          </Combobox.Content>
+        </Combobox.Portal>
+      </Combobox>
+    </div>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/lib/formatters.ts b/packages/ui/src/lib/formatters.ts
index 31920475..36839a24 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/lib/formatters.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/lib/formatters.ts
@@ -10,3 +10,20 @@ export function formatTokenTotal(value: number): string {
   }
   return value.toLocaleString()
 }
+
+export function formatCompactCount(value: number): string {
+  if (value >= 1_000_000_000) {
+    return `${(value / 1_000_000_000).toFixed(1)}B`
+  }
+  if (value >= 1_000_000) {
+    return `${(value / 1_000_000).toFixed(1)}M`
+  }
+  if (value >= 10_000) {
+    return `${Math.round(value / 1_000)}K`
+  }
+  if (value >= 1_000) {
+    const label = `${(value / 1_000).toFixed(1)}K`
+    return label.replace(/\.0K$/, "K")
+  }
+  return value.toLocaleString()
+}
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-app-lifecycle.ts b/packages/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-app-lifecycle.ts
index e113bfa0..0721b6dc 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-app-lifecycle.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-app-lifecycle.ts
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ export function useAppLifecycle(options: UseAppLifecycleOptions) {
         if (!instance) return
         emitSessionSidebarRequest({ instanceId: instance.id, action: "focus-agent-selector" })
       },
+      () => {
+        const instance = options.getActiveInstance()
+        if (!instance) return
+        emitSessionSidebarRequest({ instanceId: instance.id, action: "focus-variant-selector" })
+      },
     )
 
     registerEscapeShortcut(
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-commands.ts b/packages/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-commands.ts
index ee450bad..e99acbe2 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-commands.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-commands.ts
@@ -374,6 +374,20 @@ export function useCommands(options: UseCommandsOptions) {
       },
     })
 
+    commandRegistry.register({
+      id: "open-variant-selector",
+      label: "Select Model Variant",
+      description: "Choose a thinking effort for the current model",
+      category: "Agent & Model",
+      keywords: ["variant", "thinking", "reasoning", "effort"],
+      shortcut: { key: "T", meta: true, shift: true },
+      action: () => {
+        const instance = activeInstance()
+        if (!instance) return
+        emitSessionSidebarRequest({ instanceId: instance.id, action: "focus-variant-selector" })
+      },
+    })
+
     commandRegistry.register({
       id: "open-agent-selector",
       label: "Open Agent Selector",
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/lib/session-sidebar-events.ts b/packages/ui/src/lib/session-sidebar-events.ts
index a8529a24..de55cae3 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/lib/session-sidebar-events.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/lib/session-sidebar-events.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-export type SessionSidebarRequestAction = "focus-agent-selector" | "focus-model-selector" | "show-session-list"
+export type SessionSidebarRequestAction =
+  | "focus-agent-selector"
+  | "focus-model-selector"
+  | "focus-variant-selector"
+  | "show-session-list"
 
 export interface SessionSidebarRequestDetail {
   instanceId: string
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/lib/shortcuts/agent.ts b/packages/ui/src/lib/shortcuts/agent.ts
index 26b8297b..f99a0983 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/lib/shortcuts/agent.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/lib/shortcuts/agent.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import { keyboardRegistry } from "../keyboard-registry"
 
-export function registerAgentShortcuts(focusModelSelector: () => void, openAgentSelector: () => void) {
+export function registerAgentShortcuts(
+  focusModelSelector: () => void,
+  openAgentSelector: () => void,
+  focusVariantSelector: () => void,
+) {
   const isMac = () => navigator.platform.toLowerCase().includes("mac")
 
   keyboardRegistry.register({
@@ -20,4 +24,13 @@ export function registerAgentShortcuts(focusModelSelector: () => void, openAgent
     description: "open agent",
     context: "global",
   })
+
+  keyboardRegistry.register({
+    id: "focus-variant",
+    key: "T",
+    modifiers: { ctrl: !isMac(), meta: isMac(), shift: true },
+    handler: focusVariantSelector,
+    description: "focus thinking",
+    context: "global",
+  })
 }
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/stores/github-stars.ts b/packages/ui/src/stores/github-stars.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3c396765
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ui/src/stores/github-stars.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import { createSignal } from "solid-js"
+import { getLogger } from "../lib/logger"
+
+const log = getLogger("api")
+
+const STORAGE_KEY = "codenomad:github:stars"
+const REPO_API_URL = "https://api.github.com/repos/NeuralNomadsAI/CodeNomad"
+
+function readStoredStars(): number | null {
+  if (typeof window === "undefined") return null
+  const raw = window.localStorage.getItem(STORAGE_KEY)
+  if (!raw) return null
+  const value = Number(raw)
+  if (!Number.isFinite(value) || value < 0) return null
+  return Math.floor(value)
+}
+
+function storeStars(value: number): void {
+  if (typeof window === "undefined") return
+  window.localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, String(value))
+}
+
+const [githubStars, setGithubStars] = createSignal<number | null>(readStoredStars())
+
+let initialized = false
+
+export async function initGithubStars(): Promise<void> {
+  if (initialized) return
+  initialized = true
+
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch(REPO_API_URL, {
+      headers: {
+        Accept: "application/vnd.github+json",
+      },
+    })
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      throw new Error(`GitHub API returned ${response.status}`)
+    }
+
+    const data = (await response.json()) as { stargazers_count?: unknown }
+    const next = typeof data.stargazers_count === "number" ? data.stargazers_count : null
+    if (next === null || !Number.isFinite(next) || next < 0) {
+      return
+    }
+    const normalized = Math.floor(next)
+    setGithubStars(normalized)
+    storeStars(normalized)
+  } catch (error) {
+    log.warn("Failed to fetch GitHub stars", error)
+  }
+}
+
+export { githubStars }
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/stores/preferences.tsx b/packages/ui/src/stores/preferences.tsx
index 1ae244b4..9b48b53b 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/stores/preferences.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/stores/preferences.tsx
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ export interface Preferences {
   lastUsedBinary?: string
   environmentVariables: Record<string, string>
   modelRecents: ModelPreference[]
+  modelThinkingSelections: Record<string, string>
   diffViewMode: DiffViewMode
   toolOutputExpansion: ExpansionPreference
   diagnosticsExpansion: ExpansionPreference
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ const defaultPreferences: Preferences = {
   showTimelineTools: true,
   environmentVariables: {},
   modelRecents: [],
+  modelThinkingSelections: {},
   diffViewMode: "split",
   toolOutputExpansion: "expanded",
   diagnosticsExpansion: "expanded",
@@ -102,6 +104,11 @@ function normalizePreferences(pref?: Partial<Preferences> & { agentModelSelectio
   const sourceModelRecents = sanitized.modelRecents ?? defaultPreferences.modelRecents
   const modelRecents = sourceModelRecents.map((item) => ({ ...item }))
 
+  const modelThinkingSelections = {
+    ...defaultPreferences.modelThinkingSelections,
+    ...(sanitized.modelThinkingSelections ?? {}),
+  }
+
   return {
     showThinkingBlocks: sanitized.showThinkingBlocks ?? defaultPreferences.showThinkingBlocks,
     thinkingBlocksExpansion: sanitized.thinkingBlocksExpansion ?? defaultPreferences.thinkingBlocksExpansion,
@@ -109,6 +116,7 @@ function normalizePreferences(pref?: Partial<Preferences> & { agentModelSelectio
     lastUsedBinary: sanitized.lastUsedBinary ?? defaultPreferences.lastUsedBinary,
     environmentVariables,
     modelRecents,
+    modelThinkingSelections,
     diffViewMode: sanitized.diffViewMode ?? defaultPreferences.diffViewMode,
     toolOutputExpansion: sanitized.toolOutputExpansion ?? defaultPreferences.toolOutputExpansion,
     diagnosticsExpansion: sanitized.diagnosticsExpansion ?? defaultPreferences.diagnosticsExpansion,
@@ -118,6 +126,35 @@ function normalizePreferences(pref?: Partial<Preferences> & { agentModelSelectio
   }
 }
 
+function getModelKey(model: { providerId: string; modelId: string }): string {
+  return `${model.providerId}/${model.modelId}`
+}
+
+function getModelThinkingSelection(model: { providerId: string; modelId: string }): string | undefined {
+  if (!model.providerId || !model.modelId) return undefined
+  return preferences().modelThinkingSelections?.[getModelKey(model)]
+}
+
+function setModelThinkingSelection(model: { providerId: string; modelId: string }, value: string | undefined): void {
+  if (!model.providerId || !model.modelId) return
+  const key = getModelKey(model)
+  const current = preferences().modelThinkingSelections?.[key]
+  if (current === value) return
+
+  updateConfig((draft) => {
+    const selections = { ...(draft.preferences.modelThinkingSelections ?? {}) }
+    if (!value) {
+      delete selections[key]
+    } else {
+      selections[key] = value
+    }
+    draft.preferences = normalizePreferences({
+      ...draft.preferences,
+      modelThinkingSelections: selections,
+    })
+  })
+}
+
 const [internalConfig, setInternalConfig] = createSignal<ConfigData>(buildFallbackConfig())
 
 const config = createMemo<DeepReadonly<ConfigData>>(() => internalConfig())
@@ -527,6 +564,8 @@ export {
   addEnvironmentVariable,
   removeEnvironmentVariable,
   addRecentModelPreference,
+  getModelThinkingSelection,
+  setModelThinkingSelection,
   setAgentModelPreference,
   getAgentModelPreference,
   setDiffViewMode,
@@ -540,4 +579,3 @@ export {
  }
  
 
-
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/stores/session-actions.ts b/packages/ui/src/stores/session-actions.ts
index 5f06a16b..29f21129 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/stores/session-actions.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/stores/session-actions.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import { resolvePastedPlaceholders } from "../lib/prompt-placeholders"
 import { instances } from "./instances"
 
-import { addRecentModelPreference, setAgentModelPreference } from "./preferences"
-import { sessions, withSession } from "./session-state"
+import { addRecentModelPreference, getModelThinkingSelection, setAgentModelPreference } from "./preferences"
+import { providers, sessions, withSession } from "./session-state"
 import { getDefaultModel, isModelValid } from "./session-models"
 import { updateSessionInfo } from "./message-v2/session-info"
 import { messageStoreBus } from "./message-v2/bus"
@@ -11,6 +11,22 @@ import { requestData } from "../lib/opencode-api"
 
 const log = getLogger("actions")
 
+function getVariantKeysForModel(instanceId: string, model: { providerId: string; modelId: string }): string[] {
+  if (!model.providerId || !model.modelId) return []
+  const instanceProviders = providers().get(instanceId) || []
+  const provider = instanceProviders.find((p) => p.id === model.providerId)
+  const match = provider?.models.find((m) => m.id === model.modelId)
+  return match?.variantKeys ?? []
+}
+
+function getThinkingVariantToSend(instanceId: string, model: { providerId: string; modelId: string }): string | undefined {
+  const selected = getModelThinkingSelection(model)
+  if (!selected) return undefined
+  const keys = getVariantKeysForModel(instanceId, model)
+  if (keys.length === 0) return undefined
+  return keys.includes(selected) ? selected : undefined
+}
+
 const ID_LENGTH = 26
 const BASE62_CHARS = "0123456789ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz"
 
@@ -170,6 +186,12 @@ async function sendMessage(
           modelID: session.model.modelId,
         },
       }),
+    ...(session.model.providerId &&
+      session.model.modelId &&
+      (() => {
+        const variant = getThinkingVariantToSend(instanceId, session.model)
+        return variant ? { variant } : {}
+      })()),
   }
 
   log.info("sendMessage", {
@@ -215,6 +237,7 @@ async function executeCustomCommand(
     messageID: string
     agent?: string
     model?: string
+    variant?: string
   } = {
     command: commandName,
     arguments: args,
@@ -227,6 +250,8 @@ async function executeCustomCommand(
 
   if (session.model.providerId && session.model.modelId) {
     body.model = `${session.model.providerId}/${session.model.modelId}`
+    const variant = getThinkingVariantToSend(instanceId, session.model)
+    if (variant) body.variant = variant
   }
 
   await requestData(
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/stores/session-api.ts b/packages/ui/src/stores/session-api.ts
index a2c53276..063b6e49 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/stores/session-api.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/stores/session-api.ts
@@ -483,6 +483,7 @@ async function fetchProviders(instanceId: string): Promise<void> {
         providerId: provider.id,
         limit: model.limit,
         cost: model.cost,
+        variantKeys: Object.keys(model.variants ?? {}),
       })),
     }))
 
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/styles/components/selector.css b/packages/ui/src/styles/components/selector.css
index 742b1ae0..0c6ba1aa 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/styles/components/selector.css
+++ b/packages/ui/src/styles/components/selector.css
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
   @apply items-start;
 }
 
+.selector-trigger-label--top {
+  @apply self-start;
+}
+
 .selector-trigger-primary {
   @apply text-sm font-medium truncate;
   color: var(--text-primary);
@@ -46,6 +50,15 @@
   color: var(--text-muted);
 }
 
+.selector-trigger-hint {
+  @apply flex-shrink-0;
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+}
+
+.selector-trigger-hint--top {
+  @apply self-start mt-0.5;
+}
+
 .selector-popover {
   @apply rounded-md shadow-lg overflow-hidden min-w-[300px];
   background-color: var(--surface-base);
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/styles/panels/session-layout.css b/packages/ui/src/styles/panels/session-layout.css
index 3273b0ed..845f7c69 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/styles/panels/session-layout.css
+++ b/packages/ui/src/styles/panels/session-layout.css
@@ -115,29 +115,6 @@ session-sidebar-controls .selector-trigger-primary {
   @apply flex flex-col gap-1 w-full;
 }
 
-.sidebar-selector-hint {
-  @apply flex justify-center text-xs w-full;
-  color: var(--text-muted);
-}
-
-.sidebar-selector-hints {
-  @apply flex items-center gap-2 w-full;
-  justify-content: space-between;
-}
-
-.sidebar-selector-hint--left,
-.sidebar-selector-hint--right {
-  @apply flex-1;
-}
-
-.sidebar-selector-hint--left {
-  justify-content: flex-start;
-}
-
-.sidebar-selector-hint--right {
-  justify-content: flex-end;
-}
-
 .session-header-hints {
   @apply flex-shrink-0;
 }
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/types/session.ts b/packages/ui/src/types/session.ts
index 6ed17571..e26f0a06 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/types/session.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/types/session.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ export interface Model {
   id: string
   name: string
   providerId: string
+  variantKeys?: string[]
   limit?: {
     context?: number
     output?: number