feat(agent): route background reviews via config

cli-config.yaml.example

@@ -397,6 +397,15 @@ prompt_caching:
 #                           # extra_body:
 #                           #   enable_thinking: false
 
+# Background memory/skill review uses the active conversation runtime by default.
+# Set this to route those non-user-visible review turns to a cheaper or isolated
+# endpoint.
+#
+# background_review:
+#   provider: ""            # empty/unset = inherit active conversation provider
+#   model: ""               # empty/unset = inherit active conversation model
+#   max_iterations: 8
+
 # =============================================================================
 # Persistent Memory
 # =============================================================================

run_agent.py

@@ -1593,6 +1593,26 @@ def __init__(
         # broad pseudo-public config object on the agent instance.
         self._aux_compression_context_length_config = None
 
+        self._background_review_model = None
+        self._background_review_provider = None
+        self._background_review_max_iterations = 8
+        try:
+            _bg_review_config = _agent_cfg.get("background_review", {})
+            if not isinstance(_bg_review_config, dict):
+                _bg_review_config = {}
+            _bg_review_model = _bg_review_config.get("model")
+            _bg_review_provider = _bg_review_config.get("provider")
+            if _bg_review_model:
+                self._background_review_model = str(_bg_review_model).strip()
+            if _bg_review_provider:
+                self._background_review_provider = str(_bg_review_provider).strip()
+            self._background_review_max_iterations = max(
+                1,
+                int(_bg_review_config.get("max_iterations", 8)),
+            )
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
         # Persistent memory (MEMORY.md + USER.md) -- loaded from disk
         self._memory_store = None
         self._memory_enabled = False
@@ -3226,11 +3246,11 @@ def _run_review():
                      contextlib.redirect_stdout(_devnull), \
                      contextlib.redirect_stderr(_devnull):
                     review_agent = AIAgent(
-                        model=self.model,
-                        max_iterations=8,
+                        model=self._background_review_model or self.model,
+                        max_iterations=self._background_review_max_iterations,
                         quiet_mode=True,
                         platform=self.platform,
-                        provider=self.provider,
+                        provider=self._background_review_provider or self.provider,
                         parent_session_id=self.session_id,
                     )
                     review_agent._memory_write_origin = "background_review"

tests/run_agent/test_background_review_summary.py

@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@
 """
 
 import json
+import threading
+from unittest.mock import patch
 
+import run_agent
 from run_agent import AIAgent
 
 
@@ -128,3 +131,65 @@ def test_removed_or_replaced_relabels_by_target():
 
     assert "User profile updated" in actions
     assert "Memory updated" in actions
+
+
+def test_spawn_background_review_uses_configured_runtime(monkeypatch):
+    """Background review agents can be routed away from the active model."""
+    with (
+        patch("run_agent.get_tool_definitions", return_value=[]),
+        patch("run_agent.check_toolset_requirements", return_value={}),
+        patch("run_agent.OpenAI"),
+        patch(
+            "hermes_cli.config.load_config",
+            return_value={
+                "background_review": {
+                    "model": "qwen3.6-35b-q8",
+                    "provider": "artemis-direct",
+                    "max_iterations": 4,
+                }
+            },
+        ),
+    ):
+        agent = AIAgent(
+            model="qwen3.6-27b",
+            provider="voyager",
+            api_key="test-key",
+            base_url="http://localhost:8080/v1",
+            quiet_mode=True,
+            skip_context_files=True,
+            skip_memory=True,
+        )
+
+    captured = {}
+
+    class FakeReviewAgent:
+        def __init__(self, **kwargs):
+            captured.update(kwargs)
+            self._session_messages = []
+
+        def run_conversation(self, **kwargs):
+            captured["conversation"] = kwargs
+
+        def close(self):
+            captured["closed"] = True
+
+    class ImmediateThread:
+        def __init__(self, target, daemon, name):
+            self._target = target
+            captured["thread"] = {"daemon": daemon, "name": name}
+
+        def start(self):
+            self._target()
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(run_agent, "AIAgent", FakeReviewAgent)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(threading, "Thread", ImmediateThread)
+
+    snapshot = [{"role": "user", "content": "hello"}]
+    agent._spawn_background_review(snapshot, review_skills=True)
+
+    assert captured["model"] == "qwen3.6-35b-q8"
+    assert captured["provider"] == "artemis-direct"
+    assert captured["max_iterations"] == 4
+    assert captured["parent_session_id"] == agent.session_id
+    assert captured["conversation"]["conversation_history"] == snapshot
+    assert captured["closed"] is True