release: v1.1.4 - Phase 4 insight preservation and local-first config

Changed:
- Local-first config loading (./.env takes priority over ~/.quorum/.env)

Fixed:
- Phase 4 now receives full Phase 3 discussion context
- Prompt encourages preserving thresholds/frameworks from discussion
- Socratic: "be concise" → "be thorough"
- Selected models filtered against available models

Author: Detrol

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -9,6 +9,32 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ---
 
+## [1.1.4] - 2025-12-22
+
+### Changed
+
+- **Local-first config loading** - When `./.env` exists in current directory, use it exclusively
+  - Previously loaded both `~/.quorum/.env` and `./.env` and merged them
+  - Now uses local-first priority: local `.env` if present, otherwise global `~/.quorum/.env`
+  - Prevents confusing merged model lists when running from different project directories
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **Phase 4 Insight Preservation** - Final positions now include full discussion context
+  - Previously, Phase 3 discussion was not passed to Phase 4, causing models to lose valuable insights
+  - Now `_discussion_messages` stores the complete Phase 3 discussion and passes it to `get_final_position_prompt()`
+  - Prompt updated to encourage including "specific thresholds, frameworks, or conditions" from discussion
+  - Removed "be concise" instruction that triggered information loss
+
+- **Socratic Method Prompt** - Changed "Be concise but complete" to "Be thorough and complete"
+  - Prevents respondents from over-compressing their answers
+
+- **Selected models filtering** - Cached selected models are now filtered against available models
+  - Previously, switching configs could show stale models from old config
+  - Now `selected_models` in `~/.quorum/settings.json` is filtered to only show available models
+
+---
+
 ## [1.1.3] - 2025-12-21
 
 ### Changed

frontend/package-lock.json

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { Box, Text } from "ink";
 import { useStore } from "../store/index.js";
 import { t } from "../i18n/index.js";
 
-const VERSION = "1.1.3";
+const VERSION = "1.1.4";
 
 export function Header() {
   const { selectedModels, discussionMethod, availableModels } = useStore();

frontend/src/components/Header.tsx

@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ def get_advocate_verdict_prompt(discussion_history: str) -> str:
 2. Explain your reasoning step by step
 3. Acknowledge uncertainty where it exists
 4. If the question reveals a flaw in your thinking, admit it honestly
-5. Be concise but complete
+5. Be thorough and complete
 
 CONTEXT FROM INITIAL ANSWERS:
 {all_initial_answers}
@@ -717,15 +717,19 @@ def get_standard_discussion_prompt(
 ORIGINAL QUESTION:
 {original_question}
 
-State YOUR final position after considering all perspectives.
+DISCUSSION SUMMARY:
+{discussion_summary}
+
+State YOUR final position, incorporating what you learned from the discussion.
 
 IMPORTANT:
+- Include specific thresholds, frameworks, or conditions that emerged from the discussion
+- Reference key points of agreement or disagreement
 - State your position only - do NOT ask for user input
 - Do NOT end with "let me know if you want more details"
-- This is your FINAL conclusion
 
 Format EXACTLY as:
-POSITION: [your final answer - be concise]
+POSITION: [your refined final answer, incorporating discussion insights]
 CONFIDENCE: [HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW]
 
 Where:
@@ -821,18 +825,20 @@ def get_critique_prompt(
     )
 
 
-def get_final_position_prompt(original_question: str) -> str:
+def get_final_position_prompt(original_question: str, discussion_summary: str = "") -> str:
     """Get the final position prompt (Phase 4).
 
     Args:
         original_question: The original question being discussed.
+        discussion_summary: Summary of Phase 3 discussion to provide context.
 
     Returns:
         Formatted final position prompt.
     """
     return FINAL_POSITION_PROMPT.format(
         language_instruction=get_language_instruction(),
         original_question=original_question,
+        discussion_summary=discussion_summary if discussion_summary else "[No discussion summary available]",
     )
 
 

src/quorum/agents.py

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 from pydantic import Field, field_validator
 from pydantic_settings import BaseSettings, SettingsConfigDict
+from pydantic_settings.sources import DotEnvSettingsSource
 
 # API key validation patterns and lengths
 API_KEY_MIN_LENGTH = 20  # Minimum reasonable API key length
@@ -169,15 +170,49 @@ def add_to_input_history(input_text: str, max_items: int = 100) -> None:
     _write_secure_file(INPUT_HISTORY_CACHE, json.dumps({"history": history}))
 
 
+def _get_active_env_file() -> Path:
+    """Get the active .env file using local-first priority.
+
+    If ./.env exists in current directory, use it exclusively.
+    Otherwise fall back to ~/.quorum/.env for global config.
+    """
+    local_env = Path(".env")
+    if local_env.exists():
+        return local_env
+    return CACHE_DIR / ".env"
+
+
 class Settings(BaseSettings):
     """Application settings loaded from environment variables."""
 
     model_config = SettingsConfigDict(
-        env_file=(CACHE_DIR / ".env", ".env"),  # ~/.quorum/.env first, then ./.env
         env_file_encoding="utf-8",
         extra="ignore",
     )
 
+    @classmethod
+    def settings_customise_sources(
+        cls,
+        settings_cls: type[BaseSettings],
+        init_settings,
+        env_settings,
+        dotenv_settings,
+        file_secret_settings,
+    ):
+        """Use local .env if exists, otherwise global ~/.quorum/.env.
+
+        Local-first priority: If ./.env exists in the current working directory,
+        use it exclusively. Otherwise fall back to ~/.quorum/.env for global config.
+        This prevents confusing merged configs when running from different directories.
+        """
+        env_file = _get_active_env_file()
+        dotenv_settings = DotEnvSettingsSource(
+            settings_cls,
+            env_file=env_file,
+            env_file_encoding="utf-8",
+        )
+        return (init_settings, env_settings, dotenv_settings, file_secret_settings)
+
     # API Keys
     openai_api_key: str | None = Field(default=None, alias="OPENAI_API_KEY")
     anthropic_api_key: str | None = Field(default=None, alias="ANTHROPIC_API_KEY")

src/quorum/config.py

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 # Version Information
 # =============================================================================
 
-__version__ = "1.1.3"
+__version__ = "1.1.4"
 """Quorum application version."""
 
 PROTOCOL_VERSION = "1.0.0"

src/quorum/constants.py

@@ -667,9 +667,24 @@ async def _handle_get_user_settings(self, params: dict) -> dict:
         """Handle get_user_settings request.
 
         Returns cached user settings (selected_models, method, synthesizer, etc).
+        Filters selected_models to only include models available in current config.
         """
         from .config import get_user_settings
-        return get_user_settings()
+        from .providers import list_all_models_sync
+
+        settings = get_user_settings()
+
+        # Filter selected_models to only include currently available models
+        if "selected_models" in settings:
+            all_models = list_all_models_sync()
+            available_ids = {
+                m.id for models in all_models.values() for m in models
+            }
+            settings["selected_models"] = [
+                m for m in settings["selected_models"] if m in available_ids
+            ]
+
+        return settings
 
     async def _handle_save_user_settings(self, params: dict) -> dict:
         """Handle save_user_settings request.

src/quorum/ipc.py

@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ async def _run_server() -> None:
             write,
             InitializationOptions(
                 server_name="quorum",
-                server_version="1.1.3",
+                server_version="1.1.4",
                 capabilities=server.get_capabilities(
                     notification_options=NotificationOptions(),
                     experimental_capabilities={},

src/quorum/mcp/__init__.py

@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self._initial_responses: dict[str, str] = {}
         self._critiques: dict[str, CritiqueResponse] = {}
         self._final_positions: list[FinalPosition] = []
+        self._discussion_messages: list[str] = []  # Store Phase 3 discussion for Phase 4
 
     async def run_stream(self, task: str) -> AsyncIterator[MessageType]:
         """Run 5-phase consensus discussion."""
@@ -344,7 +345,9 @@ async def _run_phase3_discussion(self, task: str) -> AsyncIterator[ThinkingIndic
             user_msg = f"Question: {task}\n\nContribute to the discussion."
             response = await self._get_model_response(model_id, prompt, user_msg)
 
-            discussion_history.append(f"{self._display_name(model_id)}:\n{response}")
+            message_text = f"{self._display_name(model_id)}:\n{response}"
+            discussion_history.append(message_text)
+            self._discussion_messages.append(message_text)  # Store for Phase 4
 
             yield self._create_team_message(model_id, response)
 
@@ -354,7 +357,9 @@ async def _run_phase3_discussion(self, task: str) -> AsyncIterator[ThinkingIndic
 
     async def _run_phase4_final_positions(self, task: str) -> list[FinalPosition]:
         """Phase 4: Get final positions with confidence from all models."""
-        final_prompt = get_final_position_prompt(task)
+        # Build discussion summary from Phase 3
+        discussion_summary = "\n\n".join(self._discussion_messages) if self._discussion_messages else ""
+        final_prompt = get_final_position_prompt(task, discussion_summary)
 
         async def get_final_position(model_id: str) -> FinalPosition:
             try:

src/quorum/methods/standard.py

@@ -181,8 +181,12 @@ class TestSettings:
     """
 
     @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
-    def clear_env(self, monkeypatch):
-        """Clear all API key environment variables for isolated tests."""
+    def clear_env(self, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+        """Clear all API key environment variables for isolated tests.
+
+        Also mocks _get_active_env_file to return a non-existent path,
+        preventing tests from picking up real .env files.
+        """
         env_vars = [
             "OPENAI_API_KEY", "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY", "GOOGLE_API_KEY", "XAI_API_KEY",
             "OPENAI_MODELS", "ANTHROPIC_MODELS", "GOOGLE_MODELS", "XAI_MODELS",
@@ -192,6 +196,14 @@ def clear_env(self, monkeypatch):
         for var in env_vars:
             monkeypatch.delenv(var, raising=False)
 
+        # Mock _get_active_env_file to return non-existent path
+        # This prevents tests from loading real .env files
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            quorum.config,
+            "_get_active_env_file",
+            lambda: tmp_path / ".env.nonexistent",
+        )
+
     def test_get_models_empty(self):
         """Test getting models when none configured."""
         settings = Settings(_env_file=None)