`resolve_provider("auto")` checked `auth.json` `active_provider` BEFORE the
config.yaml `model.provider` and env-var API-key checks. So a user who was
OAuth-logged-into one provider (e.g. Anthropic) but had set an explicit
`model.provider` or exported an API key (e.g. `OPENAI_API_KEY`) was silently
routed to the stale OAuth provider — the override was invisible and surprising.
Reorder the auto-path so explicit intent wins (the order the issue asks for):
1. explicit CLI api_key/base_url
2. config.yaml `model.provider` (safety net — see below)
3. OPENAI_API_KEY / OPENROUTER_API_KEY env
4. OpenRouter credential pool
5. provider-specific API-key env vars
6. auth.json `active_provider` (OAuth) ← demoted to last-resort
7. AWS Bedrock credential chain
8. error
`active_provider` is still honored — it's just a last-resort fallback chosen
only when the user expressed no other preference, instead of overriding one.
The normal chat/gateway/TUI/ACP/status path already resolves config.provider
upstream in `resolve_requested_provider()` before "auto" is reached, so this
duplicate config check is the safety net for the lone direct caller
(`main.py` `resolve_provider("auto")`) and any future bypass. Because every
surface funnels through this one resolver, the fix propagates everywhere with
a single edit — no sibling path re-implements precedence.
Also add a one-shot WARN when resolution lands on `active_provider` while a
populated `model` config dict lacks a `provider` key — surfacing the silent
override the issue reported without breaking first-install.
Synthesizes the two competing PRs: #29615 (LifeJiggy — config-before-auth +
the silent-override framing) and #29809 (Minksgo — the env-before-auth
reorder). #29809 could not be merged directly (bundled unrelated, un-opt-in
cost-tagging telemetry); its reorder idea is incorporated here and credited.
Tests: tests/hermes_cli/test_provider_precedence.py — config/env beat stale
OAuth, OAuth still used as last resort, explicit request short-circuits, WARN
fires on silent fall-through. Full provider-resolution suites: 374 passed.
Fixes#29285
Co-authored-by: LifeJiggy <141562589+LifeJiggy@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Minksgo <153416856+Minksgo@users.noreply.github.com>
