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Source: https://docs.datzi.ai/concepts/models

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Models CLI

See /concepts/model-failover for auth profile rotation, cooldowns, and how that interacts with fallbacks. Quick provider overview + examples: /concepts/model-providers.

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How model selection works

Datzi selects models in this order:
  1. Primary model (agents.defaults.model.primary or agents.defaults.model).
  2. Fallbacks in agents.defaults.model.fallbacks (in order).
  3. Provider auth failover happens inside a provider before moving to the next model.
Related:
  • agents.defaults.models is the allowlist/catalog of models Datzi can use (plus aliases).
  • agents.defaults.imageModel is used only when the primary model can’t accept images.
  • Per-agent defaults can override agents.defaults.model via agents.list[].model plus bindings ( see /concepts/multi-agent).

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Quick model picks (anecdotal)

  • GLM: a bit better for coding/tool calling.
  • MiniMax: better for writing and vibes.
If you don’t want to hand-edit config, run the onboarding wizard: 
datzi onboard
It can set up model + auth for common providers, including OpenAI Code (Codex) subscription (OAuth) and Anthropic (API key recommended; claude setup-token also supported).

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Config keys (overview)

  • agents.defaults.model.primary and agents.defaults.model.fallbacks
  • agents.defaults.imageModel.primary and agents.defaults.imageModel.fallbacks
  • agents.defaults.models (allowlist + aliases + provider params)
  • models.providers (custom providers written into models.json)
Model refs are normalized to lowercase. Provider aliases like z.ai/* normalize to zai/*. Provider configuration examples (including OpenCode Zen) live in /gateway/configuration.

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“Model is not allowed” (and why replies stop)

If agents.defaults.models is set, it becomes the allowlist for /model and for session overrides. When a user selects a model that isn’t in that allowlist, Datzi returns: 
Model "provider/model" is not allowed. Use /model to list available models.
This happens before a normal reply is generated, so the message can feel like it “didn’t respond.” The fix is to either:
  • Add the model to agents.defaults.models, or
  • Clear the allowlist (remove agents.defaults.models), or
  • Pick a model from /model list.
Example allowlist config: 
{
  agent: {
    model: {
      primary: 'ollama/qwen3-coder:14b'
    },
    models: {
      'ollama/qwen3-coder:14b': {
        alias: 'Sonnet'
      },
      'ollama/qwen3-coder:32b': {
        alias: 'Opus'
      }
    }
  }
}

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Switching models in chat (/model)

You can switch models for the current session without restarting: 
/model
/model list
/model 3
/model ollama/deepseek-r1:32b
/model status
Notes:
  • /model (and /model list) is a compact, numbered picker (model family + available providers).
  • On Discord, /model and /models open an interactive picker with provider and model dropdowns plus a Submit step.
  • /model <#> selects from that picker.
  • /model status is the detailed view (auth candidates and, when configured, provider endpoint baseUrl + api mode).
  • Model refs are parsed by splitting on the first /. Use provider/model when typing /model <ref>.
  • If the model ID itself contains / (OpenRouter-style), you must include the provider prefix (example: /model openrouter/moonshotai/kimi-k2).
  • If you omit the provider, Datzi treats the input as an alias or a model for the default provider (only works when there is no / in the model ID).
Full command behavior/config: Slash commands.

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CLI commands

datzi models list
datzi models status
datzi models set <provider/model>
datzi models set-image <provider/model>

datzi models aliases list
datzi models aliases add <alias> <provider/model>
datzi models aliases remove <alias>

datzi models fallbacks list
datzi models fallbacks add <provider/model>
datzi models fallbacks remove <provider/model>
datzi models fallbacks clear

datzi models image-fallbacks list
datzi models image-fallbacks add <provider/model>
datzi models image-fallbacks remove <provider/model>
datzi models image-fallbacks clear
datzi models (no subcommand) is a shortcut for models status.

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models list

Shows configured models by default. Useful flags:
  • --all: full catalog
  • --local: local providers only
  • --provider <name>: filter by provider
  • --plain: one model per line
  • --json: machine‑readable output

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models status

Shows the resolved primary model, fallbacks, image model, and an auth overview of configured providers. It also surfaces OAuth expiry status for profiles found in the auth store (warns within 24h by default). --plain prints only the resolved primary model. OAuth status is always shown (and included in --json output). If a configured provider has no credentials, models status prints a Missing auth section. JSON includes auth.oauth (warn window + profiles) and auth.providers (effective auth per provider). Use --check for automation (exit 1 when missing/expired, 2 when expiring). Preferred Anthropic auth is the Claude Code CLI setup-token (run anywhere; paste on the gateway host if needed): 
claude setup-token
datzi models status

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Models registry (models.json)

Custom providers in models.providers are written into models.json under the agent directory (default ~/.datzi/agents/<agentId>/models.json). This file is merged by default unless models.mode is set to replace.

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Authentication