pi-model-release-sort0.6.1

pi-model-release-sort

A pi package that orders the /model list by release date (newest first) instead of by provider name, and lets you hide the models you never use.

Install

pi install npm:pi-model-release-sort

Try it for a single run without installing:

pi -e npm:pi-model-release-sort

What it does

• /model (and its keyboard shortcut) list the newest models first. Models with no known date go to the end.
• Your current model and default model stay at the top, as in plain pi. They are never hidden.
• The "scoped" tab is sorted and filtered the same way.
• You can arrange the list by hand, one row at a time.
• You can hide single models, whole providers, or every model older than N months.

In the /model window

Open /model as usual. Each model shows its release date, and three extra keys work:

→ ✓ gpt-5.5 [openai-codex] · 2026-04-23
    gpt-6-astra [openai-codex] · 2026-09-04 · hidden
    gpt-5.6-luna [openai-codex] · 2026-07-09
  alt+h hide/unhide · alt+o order: newest · alt+a show hidden (3)

Key	What it does
alt+↑	Move the highlighted model one row up
alt+↓	Move the highlighted model one row down
alt+h	Hide the highlighted model (or unhide it, when hidden models are shown)
alt+o	Switch the order: newest → oldest → pi's order
alt+a	Show hidden models (marked hidden) or hide them again

The first move switches the order to custom: the list stays exactly as you arrange it. alt+o switches back to date order, and your arrangement is kept for the next time you pick custom. Models you haven't placed yet (for example a newly released one) appear at the top, marked new, so you can move them where you want.

Typing still searches, and every other key works as in plain pi. If your search only matches hidden models, the window tells you so. The keys can be changed in the settings file (see below).

Settings panel

Run /model-sort to open the settings panel. It has three tabs (switch with tab) and saves every change at once.

 Model list  [Models]  Providers   Options    12 of 40 hidden
> claude

→ shown   anthropic/claude-sonnet-5-5  2026-09-28
  hidden  anthropic/claude-opus-4-1  2025-08-05
  hidden  anthropic/claude-3-opus  2024-02-29 · by provider
  (1/18) ↓ more

  type to search · enter hide/show · ctrl+p hide/show provider
  ctrl+x hide all listed · ctrl+a show all listed · ctrl+o hide all below · tab next tab · esc close

Models: type to search, then

Key	What it does
enter	Hide or show the highlighted model (the cursor stays where it is)
ctrl+x	Hide every model in the list (only the search matches, if you searched)
ctrl+a	Show every model in the list again
ctrl+o	Hide every model below the cursor, e.g. everything older than the highlighted one
ctrl+p	Hide or show the highlighted model's whole provider
alt+↑ / alt+↓	Move the highlighted model one row, same as in /model

Your current and default model are never hidden by bulk actions. If a model is hidden by a provider or age rule, the panel says so instead of silently doing nothing.

Providers: enter hides or shows all models of a provider.

Options: ←/→ change the order and the "hide models older than" filter (off, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 months), forget your custom order, refresh the release dates, or reset everything (forgetting and reset ask for a second enter).

Subcommands

For scripts and quick changes (with autocomplete):

Command	What it does
/model-sort newest	Newest release first (default)
/model-sort oldest	Oldest release first
/model-sort off	pi's built-in order (hiding still applies)
/model-sort hide <provider/model>	Hide one model
/model-sort unhide <provider/model>	Show it again
/model-sort custom	Your own order (after you have moved models)
/model-sort clear-order	Forget your custom order
/model-sort hide-provider <provider>	Hide all models of a provider
/model-sort unhide-provider <provider>	Show them again
/model-sort older-than <months|off>	Hide models released more than N months ago
/model-sort status	Show the current settings
/model-sort refresh	Download release dates again
/model-sort reset	Restore the defaults

Settings are saved in ~/.pi/agent/model-release-sort.json:

{
  "order": "newest",
  "hiddenModels": ["openai/gpt-4o"],
  "hiddenProviders": ["openrouter"],
  "hideOlderThanMonths": 12,
  "customOrder": ["anthropic/claude-opus-5-5", "openai-codex/gpt-6.1-sol", "…"],
  "keys": { "hide": "alt+h", "order": "alt+o", "showHidden": "alt+a", "moveUp": "alt+up", "moveDown": "alt+down" }
}

order is newest, oldest, off (pi's order) or custom (uses customOrder, top to bottom). Defaults: order is "newest", nothing is hidden, keys as above. Key names use pi's format (alt+h, ctrl+shift+x, …). If a key does not reach pi in your terminal, pick another one.

Where release dates come from

pi's model data has no release dates, so they are taken from the public models.dev catalog (https://models.dev/api.json).

• Downloaded in the background at most once a day and cached in ~/.pi/agent/cache/model-release-dates.json.
• Matched by provider and model id, then by model id alone (so openai-codex/gpt-5.5 uses the date of openai/gpt-5.5).
• Offline: the cached dates are used. With no cache at all, pi's normal order is used.
• No other data is sent anywhere.

Compatibility

pi does not let extensions replace the built-in /model command. This package wraps internal methods of pi's ModelSelectorComponent (sortModels, loadModelsFromSnapshot, updateList, handleInput). Tested with pi 1.4.0. If a future pi release changes those methods, the package shows a warning and pi falls back to its normal order. Nothing breaks.

Contributing

Issues and pull requests are welcome. See CONTRIBUTING.md.

License

MIT