refactor(llm): Unify auto-bootstrapped prover instances and custom instances

apps/gui/next-env.d.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /// <reference types="next" />
 /// <reference types="next/image-types/global" />
-import "./.next/types/routes.d.ts";
+import "./.next/dev/types/routes.d.ts";
 
 // NOTE: This file should not be edited
 // see https://nextjs.org/docs/app/api-reference/config/typescript for more information.

apps/gui/src/app/config/page.tsx

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export default function ConfigPage() {
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
   const [error, setError] = useState("");
 
-  const [selectedInstanceId, setSelectedInstanceId] = useState<string | "new">("new");
+  const [selectedInstanceId, setSelectedInstanceId] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [editName, setEditName] = useState("");
   const [editProvider, setEditProvider] = useState("google-genai");
   const [editKey, setEditKey] = useState("");
@@ -37,7 +37,13 @@ export default function ConfigPage() {
   const [editIsActive, setEditIsActive] = useState(false);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (selectedInstanceId === "new") {
+    if (selectedInstanceId === null) {
+      setEditName("");
+      setEditProvider("google-genai");
+      setEditKey("");
+      setEditModel("gemini-2.5-flash");
+      setEditIsActive(false);
+    } else if (selectedInstanceId === "new") {
       setEditName("");
       const defaultProvider = "google-genai";
       setEditProvider(defaultProvider);
@@ -144,14 +150,14 @@ export default function ConfigPage() {
   };
 
   const handleDelete = async () => {
-    if (selectedInstanceId === "new") return;
+    if (selectedInstanceId === "new" || selectedInstanceId === null) return;
     if (!confirm("Are you sure you want to delete this provider instance?")) return;
 
     try {
       setLoading(true);
       setError("");
       await deleteProviderInstance(selectedInstanceId);
-      setSelectedInstanceId("new");
+      setSelectedInstanceId(null);
       await loadInstances();
       await loadMappings();
     } catch (err) {
@@ -234,123 +240,129 @@ export default function ConfigPage() {
 
               {/* 70% area */}
               <div className="flex flex-col bg-white">
-                <form onSubmit={handleSave} className="flex h-full flex-col justify-between">
-                  <div className="flex flex-1 flex-col gap-5 p-6">
-                    <h3 className="m-0 mb-2 text-lg font-semibold text-[#111]">
-                      {selectedInstanceId === "new"
-                        ? "Create New Provider Instance"
-                        : `Configure: ${editName}`}
-                    </h3>
-
-                    <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-                      <label htmlFor="formName" className="text-xs font-medium text-gray-700">
-                        Friendly Name
-                      </label>
-                      <input
-                        id="formName"
-                        type="text"
-                        value={editName}
-                        onChange={(e) => setEditName(e.target.value)}
-                        placeholder="e.g. Gemini - Production"
-                        required
-                        className="w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none transition-[border-color,box-shadow] focus:border-blue-500 focus:ring-3 focus:ring-blue-500/15"
-                      />
-                    </div>
-
-                    <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-                      <label htmlFor="formProvider" className="text-xs font-medium text-gray-700">
-                        Provider Type
-                      </label>
-                      <select
-                        id="formProvider"
-                        value={editProvider}
-                        onChange={(e) => handleProviderChange(e.target.value)}
-                        className="w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none transition-[border-color,box-shadow] focus:border-blue-500 focus:ring-3 focus:ring-blue-500/15"
-                      >
-                        {availableProviders.map((p) => (
-                          <option key={p.id} value={p.id}>
-                            {p.displayName}
-                          </option>
-                        ))}
-                      </select>
-                      {editProvider && availableProviders.length > 0 && (
-                        <span className="mt-1 block rounded border border-gray-200 bg-gray-100 px-3 py-2 text-xs text-gray-600">
-                          {availableProviders.find((p) => p.id === editProvider)?.description}
-                        </span>
-                      )}
-                    </div>
-
-                    <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-                      <label htmlFor="formKey" className="text-xs font-medium text-gray-700">
-                        API Key
-                      </label>
-                      <input
-                        id="formKey"
-                        type="password"
-                        value={editKey}
-                        onChange={(e) => setEditKey(e.target.value)}
-                        placeholder={
-                          selectedInstanceId === "new"
-                            ? "AIzaSy..."
-                            : "•••••••• (unchanged)"
-                        }
-                        required={selectedInstanceId === "new"}
-                        className="w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none transition-[border-color,box-shadow] focus:border-blue-500 focus:ring-3 focus:ring-blue-500/15"
-                      />
-                    </div>
-
-                    <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-                      <label htmlFor="formModel" className="text-xs font-medium text-gray-700">
-                        Model Name
-                      </label>
-                      <input
-                        id="formModel"
-                        type="text"
-                        value={editModel}
-                        onChange={(e) => setEditModel(e.target.value)}
-                        placeholder="e.g. gemini-2.5-flash, gemini-2.5-pro"
-                        className="w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none transition-[border-color,box-shadow] focus:border-blue-500 focus:ring-3 focus:ring-blue-500/15"
-                      />
-                    </div>
-
-                    <div className="mt-1 flex flex-row items-center gap-2">
-                      <input
-                        id="formActive"
-                        type="checkbox"
-                        checked={editIsActive}
-                        onChange={(e) => setEditIsActive(e.target.checked)}
-                        className="h-4 w-4 cursor-pointer"
-                      />
-                      <label htmlFor="formActive" className="cursor-pointer text-xs font-medium text-gray-700">
-                        Set as Active Instance
-                      </label>
-                    </div>
+                {selectedInstanceId === null ? (
+                  <div className="flex flex-1 flex-col items-center justify-center p-6 text-center text-sm text-gray-400">
+                    Press + to add or select an existing Instance to edit
                   </div>
+                ) : (
+                  <form onSubmit={handleSave} className="flex h-full flex-col justify-between">
+                    <div className="flex flex-1 flex-col gap-5 p-6">
+                      <h3 className="m-0 mb-2 text-lg font-semibold text-[#111]">
+                        {selectedInstanceId === "new"
+                          ? "Create New Provider Instance"
+                          : `Configure: ${editName}`}
+                      </h3>
 
-                  <div className="flex items-center justify-between border-t border-gray-200 bg-gray-50 px-6 py-4">
-                    <div>
-                      {selectedInstanceId !== "new" && (
-                        <button
-                          type="button"
-                          onClick={handleDelete}
-                          disabled={loading}
-                          className="cursor-pointer rounded-md bg-red-500 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-red-600 disabled:opacity-50"
+                      <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+                        <label htmlFor="formName" className="text-xs font-medium text-gray-700">
+                          Friendly Name
+                        </label>
+                        <input
+                          id="formName"
+                          type="text"
+                          value={editName}
+                          onChange={(e) => setEditName(e.target.value)}
+                          placeholder="e.g. Gemini - Production"
+                          required
+                          className="w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none transition-[border-color,box-shadow] focus:border-blue-500 focus:ring-3 focus:ring-blue-500/15"
+                        />
+                      </div>
+
+                      <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+                        <label htmlFor="formProvider" className="text-xs font-medium text-gray-700">
+                          Provider Type
+                        </label>
+                        <select
+                          id="formProvider"
+                          value={editProvider}
+                          onChange={(e) => handleProviderChange(e.target.value)}
+                          className="w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none transition-[border-color,box-shadow] focus:border-blue-500 focus:ring-3 focus:ring-blue-500/15"
                         >
-                          Delete
+                          {availableProviders.map((p) => (
+                            <option key={p.id} value={p.id}>
+                              {p.displayName}
+                            </option>
+                          ))}
+                        </select>
+                        {editProvider && availableProviders.length > 0 && (
+                          <span className="mt-1 block rounded border border-gray-200 bg-gray-100 px-3 py-2 text-xs text-gray-600">
+                            {availableProviders.find((p) => p.id === editProvider)?.description}
+                          </span>
+                        )}
+                      </div>
+
+                      <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+                        <label htmlFor="formKey" className="text-xs font-medium text-gray-700">
+                          API Key
+                        </label>
+                        <input
+                          id="formKey"
+                          type="password"
+                          value={editKey}
+                          onChange={(e) => setEditKey(e.target.value)}
+                          placeholder={
+                            selectedInstanceId === "new"
+                              ? "AIzaSy..."
+                              : "•••••••• (unchanged)"
+                          }
+                          required={selectedInstanceId === "new"}
+                          className="w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none transition-[border-color,box-shadow] focus:border-blue-500 focus:ring-3 focus:ring-blue-500/15"
+                        />
+                      </div>
+
+                      <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+                        <label htmlFor="formModel" className="text-xs font-medium text-gray-700">
+                          Model Name
+                        </label>
+                        <input
+                          id="formModel"
+                          type="text"
+                          value={editModel}
+                          onChange={(e) => setEditModel(e.target.value)}
+                          placeholder="e.g. gemini-2.5-flash, gemini-2.5-pro"
+                          className="w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none transition-[border-color,box-shadow] focus:border-blue-500 focus:ring-3 focus:ring-blue-500/15"
+                        />
+                      </div>
+
+                      <div className="mt-1 flex flex-row items-center gap-2">
+                        <input
+                          id="formActive"
+                          type="checkbox"
+                          checked={editIsActive}
+                          onChange={(e) => setEditIsActive(e.target.checked)}
+                          className="h-4 w-4 cursor-pointer"
+                        />
+                        <label htmlFor="formActive" className="cursor-pointer text-xs font-medium text-gray-700">
+                          Set as Active Instance
+                        </label>
+                      </div>
+                    </div>
+
+                    <div className="flex items-center justify-between border-t border-gray-200 bg-gray-50 px-6 py-4">
+                      <div>
+                        {selectedInstanceId !== "new" && (
+                          <button
+                            type="button"
+                            onClick={handleDelete}
+                            disabled={loading}
+                            className="cursor-pointer rounded-md bg-red-500 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-red-600 disabled:opacity-50"
+                          >
+                            Delete
+                          </button>
+                        )}
+                      </div>
+                      <div>
+                        <button
+                          type="submit"
+                          disabled={loading}
+                          className="cursor-pointer rounded-md bg-blue-600 px-5 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-blue-700 disabled:opacity-50"
+                        >
+                          {loading ? "Saving..." : "Save"}
                         </button>
-                      )}
+                      </div>
                     </div>
-                    <div>
-                      <button
-                        type="submit"
-                        disabled={loading}
-                        className="cursor-pointer rounded-md bg-blue-600 px-5 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-blue-700 disabled:opacity-50"
-                      >
-                        {loading ? "Saving..." : "Save"}
-                      </button>
-                    </div>
-                  </div>
-                </form>
+                  </form>
+                )}
               </div>
             </div>
           </section>
@@ -382,7 +394,7 @@ export default function ConfigPage() {
                     onChange={(e) => handleUpdateMapping(task.key, e.target.value)}
                     className="w-full rounded border border-gray-300 bg-white px-2 py-1.5 text-xs"
                   >
-                    <option value="">-- Use Active Key (Default) --</option>
+                    <option value="">Use Default Provider</option>
                     {instances.map((inst) => (
                       <option key={inst.id} value={inst.id}>
                         {inst.name} ({inst.providerName}){inst.isActive ? " [Active]" : ""}

apps/gui/src/lib/simulation.ts

@@ -123,13 +123,6 @@ class SimulationManager {
       ? ProviderManager.list().find((p) => p.id === providerInstanceId)
       : ProviderManager.getActive();
 
-    if (!activeInstance) {
-      const envKey = process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY;
-      if (envKey) {
-        activeInstance = ProviderManager.create("Default (Env)", "google-genai", envKey);
-      }
-    }
-
     if (!activeInstance) {
       return {
         id: "",
@@ -659,12 +652,6 @@ class SimulationManager {
         if (!inst) {
           inst = active;
         }
-        if (!inst) {
-          const envKey = process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY;
-          if (envKey) {
-            inst = ProviderManager.create("Default (Env)", "google-genai", envKey);
-          }
-        }
 
         if (!inst) {
           throw new Error(`No active LLM Provider Instance found for task "${task}". Please configure a key in Settings first.`);

packages/llm/src/provider-manager.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,17 @@ import path from "path";
 import fs from "fs";
 import type { LLMProviderInstance } from "./llm.js";
 
+let dbPathOverride: string | null = null;
+let hasBootstrapped = false;
+
+export function setDbPathOverride(p: string | null) {
+  dbPathOverride = p;
+}
+
+export function resetHasBootstrapped() {
+  hasBootstrapped = false;
+}
+
 function getWorkspaceRoot() {
   let current = process.cwd();
   while (current !== "/" && current !== path.parse(current).root) {
@@ -20,12 +31,17 @@ function getWorkspaceRoot() {
 }
 
 function getSettingsDb() {
-  const wsRoot = getWorkspaceRoot();
-  const dbDir = path.resolve(wsRoot, "data");
-  if (!fs.existsSync(dbDir)) {
-    fs.mkdirSync(dbDir, { recursive: true });
+  let dbPath: string;
+  if (dbPathOverride) {
+    dbPath = dbPathOverride;
+  } else {
+    const wsRoot = getWorkspaceRoot();
+    const dbDir = path.resolve(wsRoot, "data");
+    if (!fs.existsSync(dbDir)) {
+      fs.mkdirSync(dbDir, { recursive: true });
+    }
+    dbPath = path.join(dbDir, "settings.db");
   }
-  const dbPath = path.join(dbDir, "settings.db");
   const db = new Database(dbPath);
   
   db.prepare(`
@@ -44,6 +60,39 @@ function getSettingsDb() {
   } catch {
     // ignore
   }
+
+  // Auto-bootstrap environment variables if DB contains 0 instances
+  try {
+    if (!hasBootstrapped) {
+      const totalCount = db.prepare(`SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM provider_instances`).get() as { count: number };
+      if (totalCount.count === 0) {
+        const googleKey = process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY;
+        const openRouterKey = process.env.OPENROUTER_API_KEY;
+        let hasInserted = false;
+
+        if (googleKey && googleKey.trim()) {
+          const id = "provider-default-google";
+          db.prepare(`
+            INSERT INTO provider_instances (id, name, providerName, apiKey, isActive, modelName)
+            VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+          `).run(id, "Gemini (Env)", "google-genai", googleKey.trim(), 1, "gemini-2.5-flash");
+          hasInserted = true;
+        }
+
+        if (openRouterKey && openRouterKey.trim()) {
+          const id = "provider-default-openrouter";
+          const isActive = hasInserted ? 0 : 1;
+          db.prepare(`
+            INSERT INTO provider_instances (id, name, providerName, apiKey, isActive, modelName)
+            VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+          `).run(id, "OpenRouter (Env)", "openrouter", openRouterKey.trim(), isActive, "google/gemini-2.5-flash");
+        }
+      }
+      hasBootstrapped = true;
+    }
+  } catch {
+    // ignore write lock issues or other DB errors during bootstrap
+  }
   
   return db;
 }
@@ -153,28 +202,25 @@ export class ProviderManager {
       } | undefined;
 
       if (!row) {
-        // Check if there are any rows at all
-        const totalCount = db.prepare(`SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM provider_instances`).get() as { count: number };
-        if (totalCount.count === 0) {
-          // Database is completely empty! Check if GOOGLE_API_KEY env is set.
-          const envKey = process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY;
-          if (envKey && envKey.trim()) {
-            // Auto-bootstrap default active instance from env
-            const id = "provider-default-env";
-            db.prepare(`
-              INSERT INTO provider_instances (id, name, providerName, apiKey, isActive, modelName)
-              VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
-            `).run(id, "Default (Env)", "google-genai", envKey, 1, "gemini-2.5-flash");
-
-            return {
-              id,
-              name: "Default (Env)",
-              providerName: "google-genai",
-              apiKey: envKey,
-              isActive: true,
-              modelName: "gemini-2.5-flash",
-            };
-          }
+        // If there's no active row but some rows exist, return the first one as active, or update it
+        const firstRow = db.prepare(`SELECT * FROM provider_instances LIMIT 1`).get() as {
+          id: string;
+          name: string;
+          providerName: string;
+          apiKey: string;
+          isActive: number;
+          modelName?: string;
+        } | undefined;
+        if (firstRow) {
+          db.prepare(`UPDATE provider_instances SET isActive = 1 WHERE id = ?`).run(firstRow.id);
+          return {
+            id: firstRow.id,
+            name: firstRow.name,
+            providerName: firstRow.providerName,
+            apiKey: firstRow.apiKey,
+            isActive: true,
+            modelName: firstRow.modelName || undefined,
+          };
         }
         return null;
       }
@@ -189,17 +235,28 @@ export class ProviderManager {
       };
     } catch {
       // Lock or write issue fallback: return an in-memory active key if env key exists
-      const envKey = process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY;
-      if (envKey) {
+      const googleKey = process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY;
+      if (googleKey && googleKey.trim()) {
         return {
           id: "provider-default-env-fallback",
-          name: "Default (Env Fallback)",
+          name: "Gemini (Env Fallback)",
           providerName: "google-genai",
-          apiKey: envKey,
+          apiKey: googleKey.trim(),
           isActive: true,
           modelName: "gemini-2.5-flash",
         };
       }
+      const openRouterKey = process.env.OPENROUTER_API_KEY;
+      if (openRouterKey && openRouterKey.trim()) {
+        return {
+          id: "provider-default-env-fallback",
+          name: "OpenRouter (Env Fallback)",
+          providerName: "openrouter",
+          apiKey: openRouterKey.trim(),
+          isActive: true,
+          modelName: "google/gemini-2.5-flash",
+        };
+      }
       return null;
     } finally {
       db.close();

packages/llm/src/providers/google-genai.ts

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export class GeminiProvider implements ILLMProvider {
 
     if (!key) {
       const active = ProviderManager.getActive();
-      if (active) {
+      if (active && active.providerName === GeminiProvider.providerId) {
         key = active.apiKey;
         if (!model) {
           model = active.modelName;

packages/llm/src/providers/openrouter.ts

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export class OpenRouterProvider implements ILLMProvider {
 
     if (!key) {
       const active = ProviderManager.getActive();
-      if (active) {
+      if (active && active.providerName === OpenRouterProvider.providerId) {
         key = active.apiKey;
         if (!model) {
           model = active.modelName;

packages/llm/tests/provider-manager.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+import { describe, test, expect, beforeEach, afterEach } from "vitest";
+import fs from "fs";
+import path from "path";
+import { ProviderManager, setDbPathOverride, resetHasBootstrapped } from "../src/index.js";
+
+describe("ProviderManager Bootstrapping & CRUD Unit Tests", () => {
+  let tempDbPath: string;
+  let originalGoogle: string | undefined;
+  let originalOpenRouter: string | undefined;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    originalGoogle = process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY;
+    originalOpenRouter = process.env.OPENROUTER_API_KEY;
+    delete process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY;
+    delete process.env.OPENROUTER_API_KEY;
+
+    resetHasBootstrapped();
+
+    // Generate a unique temp database path for this test run
+    tempDbPath = path.resolve(process.cwd(), `test-settings-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(36).substring(2)}.db`);
+    setDbPathOverride(tempDbPath);
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    setDbPathOverride(null);
+    if (fs.existsSync(tempDbPath)) {
+      try {
+        fs.unlinkSync(tempDbPath);
+      } catch {
+        // ignore
+      }
+    }
+    if (originalGoogle !== undefined) {
+      process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY = originalGoogle;
+    } else {
+      delete process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY;
+    }
+    if (originalOpenRouter !== undefined) {
+      process.env.OPENROUTER_API_KEY = originalOpenRouter;
+    } else {
+      delete process.env.OPENROUTER_API_KEY;
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("auto-bootstraps Gemini and OpenRouter when database is empty and environment variables are present", () => {
+    process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY = "mock-google-key-123";
+    process.env.OPENROUTER_API_KEY = "mock-openrouter-key-456";
+
+    const list = ProviderManager.list();
+    expect(list.length).toBe(2);
+
+    const gemini = list.find((p) => p.providerName === "google-genai");
+    expect(gemini).toBeDefined();
+    expect(gemini?.name).toBe("Gemini (Env)");
+    expect(gemini?.apiKey).toBe("mock-google-key-123");
+    expect(gemini?.modelName).toBe("gemini-2.5-flash");
+    expect(gemini?.isActive).toBe(true); // first inserted is active
+
+    const openrouter = list.find((p) => p.providerName === "openrouter");
+    expect(openrouter).toBeDefined();
+    expect(openrouter?.name).toBe("OpenRouter (Env)");
+    expect(openrouter?.apiKey).toBe("mock-openrouter-key-456");
+    expect(openrouter?.modelName).toBe("google/gemini-2.5-flash");
+    expect(openrouter?.isActive).toBe(false); // second inserted is inactive
+  });
+
+  test("treats bootstrapped instances as normal provider instances (editable and deletable)", () => {
+    process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY = "mock-google-key-123";
+
+    // Trigger bootstrap
+    const list = ProviderManager.list();
+    expect(list.length).toBe(1);
+    const bootstrapped = list[0];
+    expect(bootstrapped.name).toBe("Gemini (Env)");
+    expect(bootstrapped.isActive).toBe(true);
+
+    // Edit name and key
+    ProviderManager.update(bootstrapped.id, "My Gemini Key", "google-genai", "new-secret-key", "gemini-2.5-pro");
+    
+    const listAfterUpdate = ProviderManager.list();
+    expect(listAfterUpdate.length).toBe(1);
+    expect(listAfterUpdate[0].name).toBe("My Gemini Key");
+    expect(listAfterUpdate[0].apiKey).toBe("new-secret-key");
+    expect(listAfterUpdate[0].modelName).toBe("gemini-2.5-pro");
+
+    // Delete instance
+    ProviderManager.delete(bootstrapped.id);
+    const listAfterDelete = ProviderManager.list();
+    expect(listAfterDelete.length).toBe(0);
+  });
+});

web/docs/src/content/docs/architecture/llm-providers.md

@@ -73,9 +73,10 @@ If no specific provider instance is mapped to a task, the task automatically rou
 
 To maintain backwards-compatibility and support headless runs, live evaluation suites, and automated unit tests without requiring database pre-configuration, the config manager supports **self-bootstrapping**:
 
-1. When the provider manager queries the active key instance, if `data/settings.db` contains **0 registered keys**, it checks the process environment for `GOOGLE_API_KEY` or `OPENROUTER_API_KEY`.
-2. If `process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY` is present, it automatically creates, saves, and activates a default provider instance (`Default (Env)`) in `settings.db`.
-3. If database write locks occur (e.g., during high-concurrency Vitest test suites), the system seamlessly returns a temporary in-memory `LLMProviderInstance` to keep execution fluent and error-free.
+1. When any database connection is initialized via the provider manager, if `data/settings.db` contains **0 registered keys**, it checks the process environment for `GOOGLE_API_KEY` and `OPENROUTER_API_KEY`.
+2. If `process.env.GOOGLE_API_KEY` is present, it automatically creates, saves, and activates a default provider instance (`Gemini (Env)`) in `settings.db`.
+3. If `process.env.OPENROUTER_API_KEY` is present, it automatically creates and saves a default provider instance (`OpenRouter (Env)`) in `settings.db`.
+4. If database write locks occur (e.g., during high-concurrency Vitest test suites), the system seamlessly returns a temporary in-memory `LLMProviderInstance` (`Gemini (Env Fallback)` or `OpenRouter (Env Fallback)`) to keep execution fluent and error-free.
 
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