free-coding-models 0.3.26 → 0.3.29

package/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,6 +1,28 @@
 # Changelog
 ---
 
+## [0.3.29] - 2026-03-27
+
+### Added
+- **Fluorescent green UPDATE AVAILABLE banner** — impossible-to-miss fluo green (🚀⬆️) banner at the bottom of the TUI when a new version is detected; click it to update instantly
+- **Command Palette update entry** — `⬆️ UPDATE NOW` is always the first result in Ctrl+P when an update is available
+- **Shift+U hotkey** — press Shift+U from the main table to trigger an immediate update
+- **Mouse-clickable update banner** — click the fluo green banner to install the latest version and relaunch
+- **Background version re-check every 5 minutes** — if a new version is published while the TUI is open, the banner appears live without restarting
+- **Aggressive pre-TUI update prompt** — fluorescent green header, and "Continue without update" warns that reminders will follow
+- **Last release date in footer** — light pink `Last release: Mar 27, 2026, 09:42 PM` shows when the package was last published to npm, so users know how fresh the model data is
+- **Demo2 GIF** — added `demo2.gif` to README for visual showcase of the TUI
+
+### Fixed
+- **Auto-update now detects the correct package manager** — bun, pnpm, and yarn users no longer get duplicate npm installs (fixes #46)
+- Update banner in footer shows the correct install command for your package manager
+
+## [0.3.28] - 2026-03-27
+
+_(Skipped — published as 0.3.28 without changelog in commit message, all changes are in 0.3.29)_
+
+## [0.3.27] - 2026-03-27
+
 ## [0.3.26] - 2026-03-27
 
 ### Added

package/README.md

@@ -130,7 +130,9 @@ If the active CLI tool is missing, FCM now catches it before launch, offers a ti
 
 > 💡 You can also run `free-coding-models --goose --tier S` to pre-filter to S-tier models for Goose before the TUI even opens.
 
-
+<p align="center">
+  <img src="demo2.gif" alt="free-coding-models TUI demo" width="100%">
+</p>
 
 ## 🚀 Usage
 
@@ -245,6 +247,7 @@ When a tool mode is active (via `Z`), models incompatible with that tool are hig
 | `G` | Cycle global theme (`Auto → Dark → Light`) |
 | `Ctrl+P` | Open ⚡️ command palette (search + run actions) |
 | `R/S/C/M/O/L/A/H/V/B/U` | Sort columns |
+| `Shift+U` | Update to latest version (when update available) |
 | `P` | Settings (API keys, providers, updates, theme) |
 | `Q` | Smart Recommend overlay |
 | `N` | Changelog |
@@ -265,6 +268,7 @@ When a tool mode is active (via `Z`), models incompatible with that tool are hig
 | **Right-click model row** | Toggle favorite |
 | **Scroll wheel** | Navigate table / overlays / palette |
 | **Click footer hotkey** | Trigger that action |
+| **Click update banner** | Install latest version and relaunch |
 | **Click command palette item** | Select item (double-click to confirm) |
 | **Click recommend option** | Select option (double-click to confirm) |
 | **Click outside modal** | Close command palette |
@@ -290,8 +294,10 @@ When a tool mode is active (via `Z`), models incompatible with that tool are hig
 - **OpenCode Zen models** — 8 free models exclusive to OpenCode CLI/Desktop, powered by the Zen AI gateway
 - **Width guardrail** — shows a warning instead of a broken table in narrow terminals
 - **Readable everywhere** — semantic theme palette keeps table rows, overlays, badges, and help screens legible in dark and light terminals
-- **Global theme switch** — `G` cycles `auto`, `dark`, and `light` live without restarting
+- **Global theme switch** — `G` cycles `auto`, `dark`, + `light` live without restarting
 - **Auto-retry** — timeout models keep getting retried
+- **Aggressive update nudging** — fluorescent green banner when an update is available, impossible to miss, Shift+U hotkey, command palette entry, background re-check every 5 min, mid-session updates the banner live without restarting
+- **Last release timestamp** — light pink footer shows `Last release: Mar 27, 2026, 09:42 PM` from npm so users know how fresh the data is
 
 ---
 

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "free-coding-models",
-  "version": "0.3.26",
+  "version": "0.3.29",
   "description": "Find the fastest coding LLM models in seconds — ping free models from multiple providers, pick the best one for OpenCode, Cursor, or any AI coding assistant.",
   "keywords": [
     "nvidia",

package/src/app.js

@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ import { runFiableMode, filterByTierOrExit, fetchOpenRouterFreeModels } from '..
 import { PROVIDER_METADATA, ENV_VAR_NAMES, isWindows, isMac } from '../src/provider-metadata.js'
 import { parseTelemetryEnv, isTelemetryDebugEnabled, telemetryDebug, ensureTelemetryConfig, getTelemetryDistinctId, getTelemetrySystem, getTelemetryTerminal, isTelemetryEnabled, sendUsageTelemetry, sendBugReport } from '../src/telemetry.js'
 import { ensureFavoritesConfig, toFavoriteKey, syncFavoriteFlags, toggleFavoriteModel } from '../src/favorites.js'
-import { checkForUpdateDetailed, checkForUpdate, runUpdate, promptUpdateNotification } from '../src/updater.js'
+import { checkForUpdateDetailed, checkForUpdate, runUpdate, promptUpdateNotification, fetchLastReleaseDate } from './updater.js'
 import { promptApiKey } from '../src/setup.js'
 import { stripAnsi, maskApiKey, displayWidth, padEndDisplay, tintOverlayLines, keepOverlayTargetVisible, sliceOverlayLines, calculateViewport, sortResultsWithPinnedFavorites, adjustScrollOffset } from '../src/render-helpers.js'
 import { renderTable, PROVIDER_COLOR } from '../src/render-table.js'
@@ -295,6 +295,8 @@ export async function runApp(cliArgs, config) {
   // 📖 Dynamic OpenRouter free model discovery — fetch live free models from API
   // 📖 Replaces static openrouter entries in MODELS with fresh data.
   // 📖 Fallback: if fetch fails, the static list from sources.js stays intact + warning shown.
+  const lastReleaseDate = await fetchLastReleaseDate()
+  state.lastReleaseDate = lastReleaseDate
   const dynamicModels = await fetchOpenRouterFreeModels()
   if (dynamicModels) {
     // 📖 Remove all existing openrouter entries from MODELS
@@ -381,6 +383,7 @@ export async function runApp(cliArgs, config) {
     lastUserActivityAt: now,      // 📖 Any keypress refreshes this timer; inactivity can force slow mode.
     resumeSpeedOnActivity: false, // 📖 Set after idle slowdown so the next activity restarts a 60s speed burst.
     startupLatestVersion: latestVersion, // 📖 Startup auto-check result reused by the footer banner after "skip update".
+    lastReleaseDate: null,               // 📖 Human-readable last npm publish date (fetched asynchronously).
     versionAlertsEnabled: !isDevMode, // 📖 Dev checkouts should not tell contributors to upgrade the global npm package.
     mode,                         // 📖 'opencode' or 'openclaw' — controls Enter action
     tierFilterMode: 0,            // 📖 Index into TIER_CYCLE (0=All, 1=S+, 2=S, ...)
@@ -673,10 +676,10 @@ export async function runApp(cliArgs, config) {
 
   // 📖 Ensure we always leave alt screen cleanly (Ctrl+C, crash, normal exit)
   const exit = (code = 0) => {
-    // 📖 Save cache before exiting so next run starts faster
     saveCache(state.results, state.pingMode)
     clearInterval(ticker)
     clearTimeout(state.pingIntervalObj)
+    clearInterval(state.versionRecheckTimer)
     process.stdout.write(ALT_LEAVE)
     if (process.stdout.isTTY) {
       process.stdout.flush && process.stdout.flush()
@@ -743,6 +746,7 @@ export async function runApp(cliArgs, config) {
   const stopUi = ({ resetRawMode = false } = {}) => {
     if (ticker) clearInterval(ticker)
     clearTimeout(state.pingIntervalObj)
+    clearInterval(state.versionRecheckTimer)
     if (onKeyPress) process.stdin.removeListener('keypress', onKeyPress)
     if (onMouseData) process.stdin.removeListener('data', onMouseData)
     if (process.stdin.isTTY && resetRawMode) process.stdin.setRawMode(false)
@@ -996,7 +1000,8 @@ export async function runApp(cliArgs, config) {
           state.startupLatestVersion,
           state.versionAlertsEnabled,
           state.favoritesPinnedAndSticky,
-          state.customTextFilter
+          state.customTextFilter,
+          state.lastReleaseDate
         )
       }
       tableContent = state.commandPaletteFrozenTable
@@ -1030,7 +1035,8 @@ export async function runApp(cliArgs, config) {
         state.startupLatestVersion,
         state.versionAlertsEnabled,
         state.favoritesPinnedAndSticky,
-        state.customTextFilter
+        state.customTextFilter,
+        state.lastReleaseDate
       )
     }
 
@@ -1074,7 +1080,7 @@ export async function runApp(cliArgs, config) {
     pinFavorites: state.favoritesPinnedAndSticky,
   })
 
-      process.stdout.write(ALT_HOME + renderTable(state.results, state.pendingPings, state.frame, state.cursor, state.sortColumn, state.sortDirection, state.pingInterval, state.lastPingTime, state.mode, state.tierFilterMode, state.scrollOffset, state.terminalRows, state.terminalCols, state.originFilterMode, null, state.pingMode, state.pingModeSource, state.hideUnconfiguredModels, state.widthWarningStartedAt, state.widthWarningDismissed, state.widthWarningShowCount, state.settingsUpdateState, state.settingsUpdateLatestVersion, false, state.startupLatestVersion, state.versionAlertsEnabled, state.favoritesPinnedAndSticky, state.customTextFilter))
+      process.stdout.write(ALT_HOME + renderTable(state.results, state.pendingPings, state.frame, state.cursor, state.sortColumn, state.sortDirection, state.pingInterval, state.lastPingTime, state.mode, state.tierFilterMode, state.scrollOffset, state.terminalRows, state.terminalCols, state.originFilterMode, null, state.pingMode, state.pingModeSource, state.hideUnconfiguredModels, state.widthWarningStartedAt, state.widthWarningDismissed, state.widthWarningShowCount, state.settingsUpdateState, state.settingsUpdateLatestVersion, false, state.startupLatestVersion, state.versionAlertsEnabled, state.favoritesPinnedAndSticky, state.customTextFilter, state.lastReleaseDate))
   if (process.stdout.isTTY) {
     process.stdout.flush && process.stdout.flush()
   }
@@ -1149,6 +1155,19 @@ export async function runApp(cliArgs, config) {
   // 📖 Save cache after initial pings complete for faster next startup
   saveCache(state.results, state.pingMode)
 
+  // 📖 Background version re-check: poll npm registry every 5 minutes.
+  // 📖 If a new version appears (wasn't there at startup), update the banner live.
+  const VERSION_RECHECK_INTERVAL_MS = 5 * 60 * 1000
+  state.versionRecheckTimer = setInterval(async () => {
+    if (isDevMode || !state.versionAlertsEnabled) return
+    try {
+      const fresh = await checkForUpdate()
+      if (fresh) {
+        state.startupLatestVersion = fresh
+      }
+    } catch {}
+  }, VERSION_RECHECK_INTERVAL_MS)
+
   // 📖 Keep interface running forever - user can select anytime or Ctrl+C to exit
   // 📖 The pings continue running in background with dynamic interval
   // 📖 User can press W to decrease interval (faster pings) or = to increase (slower)

package/src/key-handler.js

@@ -843,6 +843,21 @@ export function createKeyHandler(ctx) {
       })
     }
 
+    // 📖 Inject a high-priority update entry at the top when a newer version is known.
+    const updateVersion = state.startupLatestVersion
+    if (updateVersion && state.versionAlertsEnabled) {
+      state.commandPaletteResults.unshift({
+        id: 'action-update-now',
+        label: `⬆️ UPDATE NOW — v${updateVersion} available (recommended!)`,
+        type: 'command',
+        depth: 0,
+        hasChildren: false,
+        isExpanded: false,
+        updateVersion,
+        keywords: ['update', 'upgrade', 'version', 'install'],
+      })
+    }
+
     if (state.commandPaletteCursor >= state.commandPaletteResults.length) {
       state.commandPaletteCursor = Math.max(0, state.commandPaletteResults.length - 1)
     }
@@ -869,6 +884,14 @@ export function createKeyHandler(ctx) {
   function executeCommandPaletteEntry(entry) {
     if (!entry?.id) return
 
+    // 📖 Update action: stop TUI cleanly and run the npm update + relaunch.
+    if (entry.id === 'action-update-now' && entry.updateVersion) {
+      closeCommandPalette()
+      stopUi({ resetRawMode: true })
+      runUpdate(entry.updateVersion)
+      return
+    }
+
     if (entry.id.startsWith('action-set-ping-') && entry.pingMode) {
       setPingMode(entry.pingMode, 'manual')
       return
@@ -982,6 +1005,10 @@ export function createKeyHandler(ctx) {
     if (!key) return
     noteUserActivity()
 
+    // 📖 Ctrl+C: always exit immediately, checked FIRST to prevent any other key binding from swallowing it.
+    // 📖 Also handles the raw \x03 byte as a fallback for terminals where readline doesn't set key.ctrl properly.
+    if ((key.ctrl && key.name === 'c') || str === '\x03') { exit(0); return }
+
     // 📖 Ctrl+P toggles the command palette from the main table only.
     if (key.ctrl && key.name === 'p') {
       if (state.commandPaletteOpen) {
@@ -1555,12 +1582,12 @@ export function createKeyHandler(ctx) {
     // 📖 Help overlay: full keyboard navigation + key swallowing while overlay is open.
     if (state.helpVisible) {
       const pageStep = Math.max(1, (state.terminalRows || 1) - 2)
-      if (key.name === 'escape' || key.name === 'k') {
+      if (key.name === 'escape' || (key.ctrl && key.name === 'h')) {
         state.helpVisible = false
         return
       }
-      if (key.name === 'up') { state.helpScrollOffset = Math.max(0, state.helpScrollOffset - 1); return }
-      if (key.name === 'down') { state.helpScrollOffset += 1; return }
+      if (key.name === 'up' || key.name === 'k') { state.helpScrollOffset = Math.max(0, state.helpScrollOffset - 1); return }
+      if (key.name === 'down' || key.name === 'j') { state.helpScrollOffset += 1; return }
       if (key.name === 'pageup') { state.helpScrollOffset = Math.max(0, state.helpScrollOffset - pageStep); return }
       if (key.name === 'pagedown') { state.helpScrollOffset += pageStep; return }
       if (key.name === 'home') { state.helpScrollOffset = 0; return }
@@ -2100,6 +2127,13 @@ export function createKeyHandler(ctx) {
       return
     }
 
+    // 📖 Shift+U: trigger immediate update when a newer version is known.
+    if (key.name === 'u' && key.shift && state.startupLatestVersion && state.versionAlertsEnabled) {
+      stopUi({ resetRawMode: true })
+      runUpdate(state.startupLatestVersion)
+      return
+    }
+
     // 📖 Sorting keys: R=rank, O=origin, M=model, L=latest ping, A=avg ping, S=SWE-bench, C=context, H=health, V=verdict, B=stability, U=uptime, G=usage
     // 📖 T is reserved for tier filter cycling. Y toggles favorites display mode.
     // 📖 X clears the active custom text filter.
@@ -2169,8 +2203,8 @@ export function createKeyHandler(ctx) {
       return
     }
 
-    // 📖 Help overlay key: K = toggle help overlay
-    if (key.name === 'k') {
+    // 📖 Help overlay key: Ctrl+H = toggle help overlay
+    if (key.ctrl && key.name === 'h') {
       state.helpVisible = !state.helpVisible
       if (state.helpVisible) state.helpScrollOffset = 0
       return
@@ -2194,8 +2228,8 @@ export function createKeyHandler(ctx) {
       return
     }
 
-    if (key.name === 'up') {
-      // 📖 Main list wrap navigation: top -> bottom on Up.
+    if (key.name === 'up' || key.name === 'k') {
+      // 📖 Main list wrap navigation: top -> bottom on Up / K (vim-style).
       const count = state.visibleSorted.length
       if (count === 0) return
       state.cursor = state.cursor > 0 ? state.cursor - 1 : count - 1
@@ -2203,8 +2237,8 @@ export function createKeyHandler(ctx) {
       return
     }
 
-    if (key.name === 'down') {
-      // 📖 Main list wrap navigation: bottom -> top on Down.
+    if (key.name === 'down' || key.name === 'j') {
+      // 📖 Main list wrap navigation: bottom -> top on Down / J (vim-style).
       const count = state.visibleSorted.length
       if (count === 0) return
       state.cursor = state.cursor < count - 1 ? state.cursor + 1 : 0
@@ -2212,11 +2246,6 @@ export function createKeyHandler(ctx) {
       return
     }
 
-    if (key.name === 'c' && key.ctrl) { // Ctrl+C
-      exit(0)
-      return
-    }
-
     // 📖 Esc can dismiss the narrow-terminal warning immediately without quitting the app.
     if (key.name === 'escape' && state.terminalCols > 0 && state.terminalCols < WIDTH_WARNING_MIN_COLS) {
       state.widthWarningDismissed = true
@@ -2691,6 +2720,12 @@ export function createMouseEventHandler(ctx) {
     if (layout.footerHotkeys && layout.footerHotkeys.length > 0) {
       const zone = layout.footerHotkeys.find(z => y === z.row && x >= z.xStart && x <= z.xEnd)
       if (zone) {
+        // 📖 Update banner click: stop TUI and run the npm update + relaunch.
+        if (zone.key === 'update-click' && state.startupLatestVersion && state.versionAlertsEnabled) {
+          stopUi({ resetRawMode: true })
+          runUpdate(state.startupLatestVersion)
+          return
+        }
         // 📖 Map the footer zone key to a synthetic keypress.
         // 📖 Most are single-character keys; special cases like ctrl+p need special handling.
         if (zone.key === 'ctrl+p') {

package/src/overlays.js

@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ export function createOverlayRenderers(state, deps) {
     lines.push('')
     lines.push(`  ${heading('Main TUI')}`)
     lines.push(`  ${heading('Navigation')}`)
-    lines.push(`  ${key('↑↓')}           Navigate rows`)
+    lines.push(`  ${key('↑↓ / J/K')}     Navigate rows  ${hint('(J/K = vim-style scroll)')}`)
     lines.push(`  ${key('Enter')}        Select model and launch`)
     lines.push(`              ${hint('If the active CLI is missing, FCM offers a one-click install prompt first.')}`)
     lines.push('')
@@ -923,7 +923,7 @@ export function createOverlayRenderers(state, deps) {
       // 📖 Profile system removed - API keys now persist permanently across all sessions
     lines.push(`  ${key('Shift+R')}  Reset view settings  ${hint('(tier filter, sort, provider filter → defaults)')}`)
     lines.push(`  ${key('N')}  Changelog  ${hint('(📋 browse all versions, Enter to view details)')}`)
-    lines.push(`  ${key('K')} / ${key('Esc')}  Show/hide this help`)
+    lines.push(`  ${key('Ctrl+H')} / ${key('Esc')}  Show/hide this help`)
     lines.push(`  ${key('Ctrl+C')}  Exit`)
     lines.push('')
     lines.push(`  ${heading('Settings (P)')}`)

package/src/render-table.js

@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ import { usagePlaceholderForProvider } from './ping.js'
 import { calculateViewport, sortResultsWithPinnedFavorites, padEndDisplay, displayWidth } from './render-helpers.js'
 import { getToolMeta, TOOL_METADATA, TOOL_MODE_ORDER, isModelCompatibleWithTool } from './tool-metadata.js'
 import { getColumnSpacing } from './ui-config.js'
+import { detectPackageManager, getManualInstallCmd } from './updater.js'
 
 const require = createRequire(import.meta.url)
 const { version: LOCAL_VERSION } = require('../package.json')
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ let _lastLayout = {
   hasAboveIndicator: false, // 📖 whether "... N more above ..." is shown
   hasBelowIndicator: false, // 📖 whether "... N more below ..." is shown
   footerHotkeys: [],  // 📖 Array of { key, row, xStart, xEnd } for footer click zones
+  updateBannerRow: 0, // 📖 1-based terminal row of the fluorescent update banner (0 = none)
 }
 export function getLastLayout() { return _lastLayout }
 
@@ -102,7 +104,7 @@ export const PROVIDER_COLOR = new Proxy({}, {
 })
 
 // ─── renderTable: mode param controls footer hint text (opencode vs openclaw) ─────────
-export function renderTable(results, pendingPings, frame, cursor = null, sortColumn = 'avg', sortDirection = 'asc', pingInterval = PING_INTERVAL, lastPingTime = Date.now(), mode = 'opencode', tierFilterMode = 0, scrollOffset = 0, terminalRows = 0, terminalCols = 0, originFilterMode = 0, legacyStatus = null, pingMode = 'normal', pingModeSource = 'auto', hideUnconfiguredModels = false, widthWarningStartedAt = null, widthWarningDismissed = false, widthWarningShowCount = 0, settingsUpdateState = 'idle', settingsUpdateLatestVersion = null, legacyFlag = false, startupLatestVersion = null, versionAlertsEnabled = true, favoritesPinnedAndSticky = false, customTextFilter = null) {
+export function renderTable(results, pendingPings, frame, cursor = null, sortColumn = 'avg', sortDirection = 'asc', pingInterval = PING_INTERVAL, lastPingTime = Date.now(), mode = 'opencode', tierFilterMode = 0, scrollOffset = 0, terminalRows = 0, terminalCols = 0, originFilterMode = 0, legacyStatus = null, pingMode = 'normal', pingModeSource = 'auto', hideUnconfiguredModels = false, widthWarningStartedAt = null, widthWarningDismissed = false, widthWarningShowCount = 0, settingsUpdateState = 'idle', settingsUpdateLatestVersion = null, legacyFlag = false, startupLatestVersion = null, versionAlertsEnabled = true, favoritesPinnedAndSticky = false, customTextFilter = null, lastReleaseDate = null) {
   // 📖 Filter out hidden models for display
   const visibleResults = results.filter(r => !r.hidden)
 
@@ -741,7 +743,9 @@ export function renderTable(results, pendingPings, frame, cursor = null, sortCol
       { text: '  •  ', key: null },
       { text: 'P Settings', key: 'p' },
       { text: '  •  ', key: null },
-      { text: 'K Help', key: 'k' },
+      { text: 'J/K Navigate', key: null },
+      { text: '  •  ', key: null },
+      { text: 'Ctrl+H Help', key: 'ctrl+h' },
     ]
     const footerRow1 = lines.length + 1 // 📖 1-based terminal row (line hasn't been pushed yet)
     let xPos = 1
@@ -769,7 +773,9 @@ export function renderTable(results, pendingPings, frame, cursor = null, sortCol
     themeColors.dim(`  •  `) +
     hotkey('P', ' Settings') +
     themeColors.dim(`  •  `) +
-    hotkey('K', ' Help')
+    themeColors.dim('J/K Navigate') +
+    themeColors.dim(`  •  `) +
+    themeColors.dim('Ctrl+H Help')
   )
 
   // 📖 Line 2: command palette, recommend, feedback, theme
@@ -803,7 +809,7 @@ export function renderTable(results, pendingPings, frame, cursor = null, sortCol
     hotkey('G', ' Theme') + themeColors.dim(`  •  `) +
     hotkey('I', ' Feedback, bugs & requests')
   )
-  // 📖 Proxy status is now shown via the J badge in line 2 above — no need for a dedicated line
+  // 📖 Proxy status is now shown via the badge in line 2 above — no need for a dedicated line
   const footerLine =
     themeColors.footerLove('  Made with 💖 & ☕ by \x1b]8;;https://github.com/vava-nessa\x1b\\vava-nessa\x1b]8;;\x1b\\') +
     themeColors.dim('  •  ') +
@@ -823,12 +829,17 @@ export function renderTable(results, pendingPings, frame, cursor = null, sortCol
   lines.push(footerLine)
 
   if (versionStatus.isOutdated) {
-    const outdatedMessage = `  ⚠ Update available: v${LOCAL_VERSION} -> v${versionStatus.latestVersion}. If auto-update did not complete, run: npm install -g free-coding-models@latest`
+    const updateMsg = `  🚀⬆️ UPDATE AVAILABLE — v${LOCAL_VERSION} → v${versionStatus.latestVersion}  •  Click here or press Shift+U to update  🚀⬆️  `
     const paddedBanner = terminalCols > 0
-      ? outdatedMessage + ' '.repeat(Math.max(0, terminalCols - displayWidth(outdatedMessage)))
-      : outdatedMessage
-    // 📖 Reserve a dedicated full-width red row so the warning cannot blend into the footer links.
-    lines.push(chalk.bgRed.white.bold(paddedBanner))
+      ? updateMsg + ' '.repeat(Math.max(0, terminalCols - displayWidth(updateMsg)))
+      : updateMsg
+    const fluoGreenBanner = chalk.bgRgb(57, 255, 20).rgb(0, 0, 0).bold(paddedBanner)
+    const updateBannerRow = lines.length + 1
+    _lastLayout.updateBannerRow = updateBannerRow
+    footerHotkeys.push({ key: 'update-click', row: updateBannerRow, xStart: 1, xEnd: Math.max(terminalCols, displayWidth(updateMsg)) })
+    lines.push(fluoGreenBanner)
+  } else {
+    _lastLayout.updateBannerRow = 0
   }
 
   // 📖 Final footer line: changelog + optional active text-filter badge + exit hint.
@@ -872,13 +883,18 @@ export function renderTable(results, pendingPings, frame, cursor = null, sortCol
 
   _lastLayout.footerHotkeys = footerHotkeys
 
+  const releaseLabel = lastReleaseDate
+    ? chalk.rgb(255, 182, 193)(`Last release: ${lastReleaseDate}`)
+    : ''
+
   lines.push(
     '  ' + themeColors.hotkey('N') + themeColors.dim(' Changelog') +
     (filterBadge
       ? themeColors.dim('  •  ') + filterBadge
       : '') +
     themeColors.dim('  •  ') +
-    themeColors.dim('Ctrl+C Exit')
+    themeColors.dim('Ctrl+C Exit') +
+    (releaseLabel ? themeColors.dim('  •  ') + releaseLabel : '')
   )
 
   // 📖 Append \x1b[K (erase to EOL) to each line so leftover chars from previous

package/src/updater.js

@@ -12,11 +12,10 @@
  *   - `checkForUpdate()` — thin backward-compatible wrapper used at startup for the
  *     auto-update guard.  Returns `latestVersion` (string) or `null`.
  *
- *   - `runUpdate(latestVersion)` — runs `npm i -g free-coding-models@<version> --prefer-online`,
- *     retrying with `sudo` on EACCES/EPERM.  On success, relaunches the process with the
- *     same argv.  On failure, prints manual instructions and exits with code 1.
- *     Uses `require('child_process').execSync` inline because ESM dynamic import is async
- *     but `execSync` must block to give `stdio: 'inherit'` feedback in the terminal.
+ *   - `runUpdate(latestVersion)` — detects the active package manager (npm/bun/pnpm/yarn),
+ *     runs the correct global install command, retrying with `sudo` on EACCES/EPERM.
+ *     On success, relaunches the process with the same argv.  On failure, prints manual
+ *     instructions (using the correct PM command) and exits with code 1.
  *
  *   - `promptUpdateNotification(latestVersion)` — renders a small centered interactive menu
  *     that lets the user choose: Update Now / Read Changelogs / Continue without update.
@@ -29,14 +28,21 @@
  *     can be imported independently from the bin entry point.
  *   - The auto-update flow in `main()` skips update if `isDevMode` is detected (presence of
  *     a `.git` directory next to the package root) to avoid an infinite update loop in dev.
+ *   - `detectPackageManager()` checks the install path, script path, and runtime binary
+ *     to determine which package manager (npm/bun/pnpm/yarn) owns the installation.
+ *     All install commands, permission probes, and error messages use the detected PM.
  *
  * @functions
+ *   → detectPackageManager()             — Detect which PM owns the current installation
+ *   → getInstallArgs(pm, version)        — Build correct { bin, args } per package manager
+ *   → getManualInstallCmd(pm, version)   — Human-readable install command string for error messages
  *   → checkForUpdateDetailed()           — Fetch npm latest with explicit error info
  *   → checkForUpdate()                   — Startup wrapper, returns version string or null
- *   → runUpdate(latestVersion)           — Install new version via npm global + relaunch
+ *   → runUpdate(latestVersion)           — Install new version via detected PM + relaunch
  *   → promptUpdateNotification(version)  — Interactive pre-TUI update menu
  *
  * @exports
+ *   detectPackageManager, getInstallArgs, getManualInstallCmd,
  *   checkForUpdateDetailed, checkForUpdate, runUpdate, promptUpdateNotification
  *
  * @see bin/free-coding-models.js — calls checkForUpdate() at startup and runUpdate() on confirm
@@ -51,6 +57,50 @@ const readline = require('readline')
 const pkg = require('../package.json')
 const LOCAL_VERSION = pkg.version
 
+/**
+ * 📖 detectPackageManager: figure out which package manager owns the current installation.
+ * 📖 Checks import.meta.url (package install path), process.argv[1] (script entry),
+ * 📖 and process.execPath (runtime binary) for signatures of bun, pnpm, or yarn.
+ * 📖 Falls back to 'npm' when no other signature is found.
+ * @returns {'npm' | 'bun' | 'pnpm' | 'yarn'}
+ */
+export function detectPackageManager() {
+  const sources = [import.meta.url, process.argv[1] || '', process.execPath || '']
+  const combined = sources.join(' ').toLowerCase()
+  if (combined.includes('.bun')) return 'bun'
+  if (combined.includes('pnpm')) return 'pnpm'
+  if (combined.includes('yarn')) return 'yarn'
+  return 'npm'
+}
+
+/**
+ * 📖 getInstallArgs: return the correct binary and argument list for a given PM.
+ * 📖 Each PM has different syntax for global install — this normalises them.
+ * @param {'npm' | 'bun' | 'pnpm' | 'yarn'} pm
+ * @param {string} version
+ * @returns {{ bin: string, args: string[] }}
+ */
+export function getInstallArgs(pm, version) {
+  const pkg = `free-coding-models@${version}`
+  switch (pm) {
+    case 'bun':   return { bin: 'bun',   args: ['add', '-g', pkg] }
+    case 'pnpm':  return { bin: 'pnpm',  args: ['add', '-g', pkg] }
+    case 'yarn':  return { bin: 'yarn',  args: ['global', 'add', pkg] }
+    default:      return { bin: 'npm',   args: ['i', '-g', pkg, '--prefer-online'] }
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * 📖 getManualInstallCmd: human-readable command string for error / fallback messages.
+ * @param {'npm' | 'bun' | 'pnpm' | 'yarn'} pm
+ * @param {string} version
+ * @returns {string}
+ */
+export function getManualInstallCmd(pm, version) {
+  const { bin, args } = getInstallArgs(pm, version)
+  return `${bin} ${args.join(' ')}`
+}
+
 /**
  * 📖 checkForUpdateDetailed: Fetch npm latest version with explicit error details.
  * 📖 Used by settings manual-check flow to display meaningful status in the UI.
@@ -79,26 +129,67 @@ export async function checkForUpdate() {
 }
 
 /**
- * 📖 detectGlobalInstallPermission: check whether npm global install paths are writable.
- * 📖 On sudo-based systems (Arch, many Linux/macOS setups), `npm i -g` will fail with EACCES
- * 📖 if the current user cannot write to the resolved global root/prefix.
- * 📖 We probe those paths ahead of time so the updater can go straight to an interactive
- * 📖 `sudo npm i -g ...` instead of printing a wall of permission errors first.
+ * 📖 fetchLastReleaseDate: Get the human-readable publish date of the latest npm release.
+ * 📖 Used in the TUI footer to show users how fresh the package is.
+ * @returns {Promise<string|null>} e.g. "Mar 27, 2026, 09:42 PM" or null on failure
+ */
+export async function fetchLastReleaseDate() {
+  try {
+    const res = await fetch('https://registry.npmjs.org/free-coding-models', { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(5000) })
+    if (!res.ok) return null
+    const data = await res.json()
+    const timeMap = data?.time
+    if (!timeMap) return null
+    const latestKey = data?.['dist-tags']?.latest
+    if (!latestKey || !timeMap[latestKey]) return null
+    const d = new Date(timeMap[latestKey])
+    const months = ['Jan', 'Feb', 'Mar', 'Apr', 'May', 'Jun', 'Jul', 'Aug', 'Sep', 'Oct', 'Nov', 'Dec']
+    const hh = d.getHours()
+    const mm = String(d.getMinutes()).padStart(2, '0')
+    const ampm = hh >= 12 ? 'PM' : 'AM'
+    const h12 = hh % 12 || 12
+    return `${months[d.getMonth()]} ${d.getDate()}, ${d.getFullYear()}, ${h12}:${mm} ${ampm}`
+  } catch {
+    return null
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * 📖 detectGlobalInstallPermission: check whether the detected PM's global install paths are writable.
+ * 📖 Bun installs to ~/.bun/install/global/ (always user-writable) so sudo is never needed.
+ * 📖 For npm/pnpm/yarn we probe their global root/prefix paths and check writability.
+ * @param {'npm' | 'bun' | 'pnpm' | 'yarn'} pm
  * @returns {{ needsSudo: boolean, checkedPath: string|null }}
  */
-function detectGlobalInstallPermission() {
+function detectGlobalInstallPermission(pm) {
+  if (pm === 'bun') {
+    return { needsSudo: false, checkedPath: null }
+  }
+
   const { execFileSync } = require('child_process')
   const candidates = []
 
-  try {
-    const npmRoot = execFileSync('npm', ['root', '-g'], { encoding: 'utf8', stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'ignore'] }).trim()
-    if (npmRoot) candidates.push(npmRoot)
-  } catch {}
+  if (pm === 'pnpm') {
+    try {
+      const root = execFileSync('pnpm', ['root', '-g'], { encoding: 'utf8', stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'ignore'] }).trim()
+      if (root) candidates.push(root)
+    } catch {}
+  } else if (pm === 'yarn') {
+    try {
+      const dir = execFileSync('yarn', ['global', 'dir'], { encoding: 'utf8', stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'ignore'] }).trim()
+      if (dir) candidates.push(dir)
+    } catch {}
+  } else {
+    try {
+      const npmRoot = execFileSync('npm', ['root', '-g'], { encoding: 'utf8', stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'ignore'] }).trim()
+      if (npmRoot) candidates.push(npmRoot)
+    } catch {}
 
-  try {
-    const npmPrefix = execFileSync('npm', ['prefix', '-g'], { encoding: 'utf8', stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'ignore'] }).trim()
-    if (npmPrefix) candidates.push(npmPrefix)
-  } catch {}
+    try {
+      const npmPrefix = execFileSync('npm', ['prefix', '-g'], { encoding: 'utf8', stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'ignore'] }).trim()
+      if (npmPrefix) candidates.push(npmPrefix)
+    } catch {}
+  }
 
   for (const candidate of candidates) {
     try {
@@ -162,20 +253,21 @@ function relaunchCurrentProcess() {
 }
 
 /**
- * 📖 installUpdateCommand: run npm global install, optionally prefixed with sudo.
+ * 📖 installUpdateCommand: run global install using the detected package manager, optionally prefixed with sudo.
  * @param {string} latestVersion
  * @param {boolean} useSudo
  */
 function installUpdateCommand(latestVersion, useSudo) {
   const { execFileSync } = require('child_process')
-  const npmArgs = ['i', '-g', `free-coding-models@${latestVersion}`, '--prefer-online']
+  const pm = detectPackageManager()
+  const { bin, args } = getInstallArgs(pm, latestVersion)
 
   if (useSudo) {
-    execFileSync('sudo', ['npm', ...npmArgs], { stdio: 'inherit', shell: false })
+    execFileSync('sudo', [bin, ...args], { stdio: 'inherit', shell: false })
     return
   }
 
-  execFileSync('npm', npmArgs, { stdio: 'inherit', shell: false })
+  execFileSync(bin, args, { stdio: 'inherit', shell: false })
 }
 
 /**
@@ -189,19 +281,17 @@ export function runUpdate(latestVersion) {
   console.log(chalk.bold.cyan('  ⬆ Updating free-coding-models to v' + latestVersion + '...'))
   console.log()
 
-  const { needsSudo, checkedPath } = detectGlobalInstallPermission()
+  const pm = detectPackageManager()
+  const { needsSudo, checkedPath } = detectGlobalInstallPermission(pm)
   const sudoAvailable = process.platform !== 'win32' && hasSudoCommand()
 
   if (needsSudo && checkedPath && sudoAvailable) {
-    console.log(chalk.yellow(`  ⚠ Global npm path is not writable: ${checkedPath}`))
+    console.log(chalk.yellow(`  ⚠ Global ${pm} path is not writable: ${checkedPath}`))
     console.log(chalk.dim('  Re-running update with sudo so you can enter your password once.'))
     console.log()
   }
 
   try {
-    // 📖 Force install from npm registry (ignore local cache).
-    // 📖 If the global install path is not writable, go straight to sudo instead of
-    // 📖 letting npm print a long EACCES stack first.
     installUpdateCommand(latestVersion, needsSudo && sudoAvailable)
     console.log()
     console.log(chalk.green(`  ✅ Update complete! Version ${latestVersion} installed.`))
@@ -209,9 +299,10 @@ export function runUpdate(latestVersion) {
     relaunchCurrentProcess()
     return
   } catch (err) {
+    const manualCmd = getManualInstallCmd(pm, latestVersion)
     console.log()
     if (isPermissionError(err) && !needsSudo && sudoAvailable) {
-      console.log(chalk.yellow('  ⚠ Permission denied during npm global install. Retrying with sudo...'))
+      console.log(chalk.yellow(`  ⚠ Permission denied during ${pm} global install. Retrying with sudo...`))
       console.log()
       try {
         installUpdateCommand(latestVersion, true)
@@ -223,15 +314,15 @@ export function runUpdate(latestVersion) {
       } catch {
         console.log()
         console.log(chalk.red('  ✖ Update failed even with sudo. Try manually:'))
-        console.log(chalk.dim('    sudo npm i -g free-coding-models@' + latestVersion))
+        console.log(chalk.dim(`    sudo ${manualCmd}`))
         console.log()
       }
     } else if (isPermissionError(err) && !sudoAvailable && process.platform !== 'win32') {
       console.log(chalk.red('  ✖ Update failed due to permissions and `sudo` is not available in PATH.'))
-      console.log(chalk.dim(`    Try manually with your system's privilege escalation tool for free-coding-models@${latestVersion}.`))
+      console.log(chalk.dim(`    Try manually: ${manualCmd}`))
       console.log()
     } else {
-      console.log(chalk.red('  ✖ Update failed. Try manually: npm i -g free-coding-models@' + latestVersion))
+      console.log(chalk.red(`  ✖ Update failed. Try manually: ${manualCmd}`))
       console.log()
     }
   }
@@ -264,7 +355,7 @@ export async function promptUpdateNotification(latestVersion) {
       {
         label: 'Continue without update',
         icon: '▶',
-        description: 'Use current version',
+        description: '⚠ You will be reminded again in the TUI',
       },
     ]
 
@@ -278,8 +369,8 @@ export async function promptUpdateNotification(latestVersion) {
       const centerPad = ' '.repeat(Math.max(0, Math.floor((terminalWidth - maxWidth) / 2)))
 
       console.log()
-      console.log(centerPad + chalk.bold.red('  ⚠ UPDATE AVAILABLE'))
-      console.log(centerPad + chalk.red(`  Version ${latestVersion} is ready to install`))
+      console.log(centerPad + chalk.bold.rgb(57, 255, 20)('  🚀⬆️ UPDATE AVAILABLE'))
+      console.log(centerPad + chalk.rgb(57, 255, 20)(`  Version ${latestVersion} is ready to install`))
       console.log()
       console.log(centerPad + chalk.bold('  ⚡ Free Coding Models') + chalk.dim(` v${LOCAL_VERSION}`))
       console.log()