feat: enhance settings view and feature defaults management

- Introduced default feature model settings in the settings view, allowing users to specify the default AI model for new feature cards.
- Updated navigation to include a direct link to model defaults in the settings menu.
- Enhanced the Add Feature dialog to utilize the default feature model from the app store.
- Implemented synchronization of the default feature model in settings migration and sync hooks.
- Improved UI components to reflect changes in default settings, ensuring a cohesive user experience.

apps/ui/src/components/views/board-view/dialogs/add-feature-dialog.tsx

@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ import {
   FeatureTextFilePath as DescriptionTextFilePath,
   ImagePreviewMap,
 } from '@/components/ui/description-image-dropzone';
-import { Play, Cpu, FolderKanban } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Play, Cpu, FolderKanban, Settings2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useNavigate } from '@tanstack/react-router';
 import { toast } from 'sonner';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { modelSupportsThinking } from '@/lib/utils';
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ import {
   PlanningMode,
   Feature,
 } from '@/store/app-store';
-import type { ReasoningEffort, PhaseModelEntry } from '@automaker/types';
+import type { ReasoningEffort, PhaseModelEntry, AgentModel } from '@automaker/types';
 import { supportsReasoningEffort, isClaudeModel } from '@automaker/types';
 import {
   TestingTabContent,
@@ -152,6 +153,7 @@ export function AddFeatureDialog({
   forceCurrentBranchMode,
 }: AddFeatureDialogProps) {
   const isSpawnMode = !!parentFeature;
+  const navigate = useNavigate();
   const [workMode, setWorkMode] = useState<WorkMode>('current');
 
   // Form state
@@ -187,7 +189,8 @@ export function AddFeatureDialog({
   const [selectedAncestorIds, setSelectedAncestorIds] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set());
 
   // Get defaults from store
-  const { defaultPlanningMode, defaultRequirePlanApproval, useWorktrees } = useAppStore();
+  const { defaultPlanningMode, defaultRequirePlanApproval, useWorktrees, defaultFeatureModel } =
+    useAppStore();
 
   // Track previous open state to detect when dialog opens
   const wasOpenRef = useRef(false);
@@ -207,7 +210,7 @@ export function AddFeatureDialog({
       );
       setPlanningMode(defaultPlanningMode);
       setRequirePlanApproval(defaultRequirePlanApproval);
-      setModelEntry({ model: 'opus' });
+      setModelEntry(defaultFeatureModel);
 
       // Initialize description history (empty for new feature)
       setDescriptionHistory([]);
@@ -228,6 +231,7 @@ export function AddFeatureDialog({
     defaultBranch,
     defaultPlanningMode,
     defaultRequirePlanApproval,
+    defaultFeatureModel,
     useWorktrees,
     selectedNonMainWorktreeBranch,
     forceCurrentBranchMode,
@@ -318,7 +322,7 @@ export function AddFeatureDialog({
     // When a non-main worktree is selected, use its branch name for custom mode
     setBranchName(selectedNonMainWorktreeBranch || '');
     setPriority(2);
-    setModelEntry({ model: 'opus' });
+    setModelEntry(defaultFeatureModel);
     setWorkMode(
       getDefaultWorkMode(useWorktrees, selectedNonMainWorktreeBranch, forceCurrentBranchMode)
     );
@@ -473,9 +477,31 @@ export function AddFeatureDialog({
 
           {/* AI & Execution Section */}
           <div className={cardClass}>
-            <div className={sectionHeaderClass}>
+            <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
-              <Cpu className="w-4 h-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+              <div className={sectionHeaderClass}>
-              <span>AI & Execution</span>
+                <Cpu className="w-4 h-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+                <span>AI & Execution</span>
+              </div>
+              <TooltipProvider>
+                <Tooltip>
+                  <TooltipTrigger asChild>
+                    <button
+                      type="button"
+                      onClick={() => {
+                        onOpenChange(false);
+                        navigate({ to: '/settings', search: { view: 'defaults' } });
+                      }}
+                      className="flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground transition-colors"
+                    >
+                      <Settings2 className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+                      <span>Edit Defaults</span>
+                    </button>
+                  </TooltipTrigger>
+                  <TooltipContent>
+                    <p>Change default model and planning settings for new features</p>
+                  </TooltipContent>
+                </Tooltip>
+              </TooltipProvider>
             </div>
 
             <div className="space-y-1.5">

apps/ui/src/components/views/board-view/dialogs/edit-feature-dialog.tsx

@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ import {
   FeatureTextFilePath as DescriptionTextFilePath,
   ImagePreviewMap,
 } from '@/components/ui/description-image-dropzone';
-import { GitBranch, Cpu, FolderKanban } from 'lucide-react';
+import { GitBranch, Cpu, FolderKanban, Settings2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useNavigate } from '@tanstack/react-router';
 import { toast } from 'sonner';
 import { cn, modelSupportsThinking } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { Feature, ModelAlias, ThinkingLevel, useAppStore, PlanningMode } from '@/store/app-store';
@@ -86,6 +87,7 @@ export function EditFeatureDialog({
   isMaximized,
   allFeatures,
 }: EditFeatureDialogProps) {
+  const navigate = useNavigate();
   const [editingFeature, setEditingFeature] = useState<Feature | null>(feature);
   // Derive initial workMode from feature's branchName
   const [workMode, setWorkMode] = useState<WorkMode>(() => {
@@ -363,9 +365,31 @@ export function EditFeatureDialog({
 
           {/* AI & Execution Section */}
           <div className={cardClass}>
-            <div className={sectionHeaderClass}>
+            <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
-              <Cpu className="w-4 h-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+              <div className={sectionHeaderClass}>
-              <span>AI & Execution</span>
+                <Cpu className="w-4 h-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+                <span>AI & Execution</span>
+              </div>
+              <TooltipProvider>
+                <Tooltip>
+                  <TooltipTrigger asChild>
+                    <button
+                      type="button"
+                      onClick={() => {
+                        onClose();
+                        navigate({ to: '/settings', search: { view: 'defaults' } });
+                      }}
+                      className="flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground transition-colors"
+                    >
+                      <Settings2 className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+                      <span>Edit Defaults</span>
+                    </button>
+                  </TooltipTrigger>
+                  <TooltipContent>
+                    <p>Change default model and planning settings for new features</p>
+                  </TooltipContent>
+                </Tooltip>
+              </TooltipProvider>
             </div>
 
             <div className="space-y-1.5">

apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useSearch } from '@tanstack/react-router';
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store/app-store';
-import { useSetupStore } from '@/store/setup-store';
 
 import { useSettingsView, type SettingsViewId } from './settings-view/hooks';
 import { NAV_ITEMS } from './settings-view/config/navigation';
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ export function SettingsView() {
     setDefaultPlanningMode,
     defaultRequirePlanApproval,
     setDefaultRequirePlanApproval,
+    defaultFeatureModel,
+    setDefaultFeatureModel,
     autoLoadClaudeMd,
     setAutoLoadClaudeMd,
     promptCustomization,
@@ -86,8 +88,11 @@ export function SettingsView() {
     }
   };
 
+  // Get initial view from URL search params
+  const { view: initialView } = useSearch({ from: '/settings' });
+
   // Use settings view navigation hook
-  const { activeView, navigateTo } = useSettingsView();
+  const { activeView, navigateTo } = useSettingsView({ initialView });
 
   // Handle navigation - if navigating to 'providers', default to 'claude-provider'
   const handleNavigate = (viewId: SettingsViewId) => {
@@ -152,11 +157,13 @@ export function SettingsView() {
             skipVerificationInAutoMode={skipVerificationInAutoMode}
             defaultPlanningMode={defaultPlanningMode}
             defaultRequirePlanApproval={defaultRequirePlanApproval}
+            defaultFeatureModel={defaultFeatureModel}
             onDefaultSkipTestsChange={setDefaultSkipTests}
             onEnableDependencyBlockingChange={setEnableDependencyBlocking}
             onSkipVerificationInAutoModeChange={setSkipVerificationInAutoMode}
             onDefaultPlanningModeChange={setDefaultPlanningMode}
             onDefaultRequirePlanApprovalChange={setDefaultRequirePlanApproval}
+            onDefaultFeatureModelChange={setDefaultFeatureModel}
           />
         );
       case 'worktrees':

apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view/config/navigation.ts

@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ export const GLOBAL_NAV_GROUPS: NavigationGroup[] = [
   {
     label: 'Model & Prompts',
     items: [
-      { id: 'model-defaults', label: 'Model Defaults', icon: Workflow },
       { id: 'defaults', label: 'Feature Defaults', icon: FlaskConical },
+      { id: 'model-defaults', label: 'Model Defaults', icon: Workflow },
       { id: 'worktrees', label: 'Worktrees', icon: GitBranch },
       { id: 'prompts', label: 'Prompt Customization', icon: MessageSquareText },
       { id: 'api-keys', label: 'API Keys', icon: Key },

apps/ui/src/components/views/settings-view/feature-defaults/feature-defaults-section.tsx

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
   ScrollText,
   ShieldCheck,
   FastForward,
+  Cpu,
 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
 import {
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@ import {
   SelectTrigger,
   SelectValue,
 } from '@/components/ui/select';
+import type { PhaseModelEntry } from '@automaker/types';
+import { PhaseModelSelector } from '../model-defaults/phase-model-selector';
 
 type PlanningMode = 'skip' | 'lite' | 'spec' | 'full';
 
@@ -28,11 +31,13 @@ interface FeatureDefaultsSectionProps {
   skipVerificationInAutoMode: boolean;
   defaultPlanningMode: PlanningMode;
   defaultRequirePlanApproval: boolean;
+  defaultFeatureModel: PhaseModelEntry;
   onDefaultSkipTestsChange: (value: boolean) => void;
   onEnableDependencyBlockingChange: (value: boolean) => void;
   onSkipVerificationInAutoModeChange: (value: boolean) => void;
   onDefaultPlanningModeChange: (value: PlanningMode) => void;
   onDefaultRequirePlanApprovalChange: (value: boolean) => void;
+  onDefaultFeatureModelChange: (value: PhaseModelEntry) => void;
 }
 
 export function FeatureDefaultsSection({
@@ -41,11 +46,13 @@ export function FeatureDefaultsSection({
   skipVerificationInAutoMode,
   defaultPlanningMode,
   defaultRequirePlanApproval,
+  defaultFeatureModel,
   onDefaultSkipTestsChange,
   onEnableDependencyBlockingChange,
   onSkipVerificationInAutoModeChange,
   onDefaultPlanningModeChange,
   onDefaultRequirePlanApprovalChange,
+  onDefaultFeatureModelChange,
 }: FeatureDefaultsSectionProps) {
   return (
     <div
@@ -68,6 +75,30 @@ export function FeatureDefaultsSection({
         </p>
       </div>
       <div className="p-6 space-y-5">
+        {/* Default Feature Model Setting */}
+        <div className="group flex items-start space-x-3 p-3 rounded-xl hover:bg-accent/30 transition-colors duration-200 -mx-3">
+          <div className="w-10 h-10 mt-0.5 rounded-xl flex items-center justify-center shrink-0 bg-brand-500/10">
+            <Cpu className="w-5 h-5 text-brand-500" />
+          </div>
+          <div className="flex-1 space-y-2">
+            <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+              <Label className="text-foreground font-medium">Default Model</Label>
+              <PhaseModelSelector
+                value={defaultFeatureModel}
+                onChange={onDefaultFeatureModelChange}
+                compact
+                align="end"
+              />
+            </div>
+            <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground/80 leading-relaxed">
+              The default AI model and thinking level used when creating new feature cards.
+            </p>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Separator */}
+        <div className="border-t border-border/30" />
+
         {/* Planning Mode Default */}
         <div className="group flex items-start space-x-3 p-3 rounded-xl hover:bg-accent/30 transition-colors duration-200 -mx-3">
           <div
@@ -165,12 +196,11 @@ export function FeatureDefaultsSection({
                 </p>
               </div>
             </div>
-            <div className="border-t border-border/30" />
           </>
         )}
 
         {/* Separator */}
-        {defaultPlanningMode === 'skip' && <div className="border-t border-border/30" />}
+        <div className="border-t border-border/30" />
 
         {/* Automated Testing Setting */}
         <div className="group flex items-start space-x-3 p-3 rounded-xl hover:bg-accent/30 transition-colors duration-200 -mx-3">

apps/ui/src/hooks/use-settings-migration.ts

@@ -562,6 +562,7 @@ export function hydrateStoreFromSettings(settings: GlobalSettings): void {
     useWorktrees: settings.useWorktrees ?? true,
     defaultPlanningMode: settings.defaultPlanningMode ?? 'skip',
     defaultRequirePlanApproval: settings.defaultRequirePlanApproval ?? false,
+    defaultFeatureModel: settings.defaultFeatureModel ?? { model: 'opus' },
     muteDoneSound: settings.muteDoneSound ?? false,
     enhancementModel: settings.enhancementModel ?? 'sonnet',
     validationModel: settings.validationModel ?? 'opus',

apps/ui/src/hooks/use-settings-sync.ts

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ const SETTINGS_FIELDS_TO_SYNC = [
   'useWorktrees',
   'defaultPlanningMode',
   'defaultRequirePlanApproval',
+  'defaultFeatureModel',
   'muteDoneSound',
   'enhancementModel',
   'validationModel',
@@ -466,6 +467,7 @@ export async function refreshSettingsFromServer(): Promise<boolean> {
       useWorktrees: serverSettings.useWorktrees,
       defaultPlanningMode: serverSettings.defaultPlanningMode,
       defaultRequirePlanApproval: serverSettings.defaultRequirePlanApproval,
+      defaultFeatureModel: serverSettings.defaultFeatureModel ?? { model: 'opus' },
       muteDoneSound: serverSettings.muteDoneSound,
       enhancementModel: serverSettings.enhancementModel,
       validationModel: serverSettings.validationModel,

apps/ui/src/routes/settings.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,16 @@
 import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router';
 import { SettingsView } from '@/components/views/settings-view';
+import type { SettingsViewId } from '@/components/views/settings-view/hooks';
+
+interface SettingsSearchParams {
+  view?: SettingsViewId;
+}
 
 export const Route = createFileRoute('/settings')({
   component: SettingsView,
+  validateSearch: (search: Record<string, unknown>): SettingsSearchParams => {
+    return {
+      view: search.view as SettingsViewId | undefined,
+    };
+  },
 });

apps/ui/src/store/app-store.ts

@@ -657,6 +657,7 @@ export interface AppState {
 
   defaultPlanningMode: PlanningMode;
   defaultRequirePlanApproval: boolean;
+  defaultFeatureModel: PhaseModelEntry;
 
   // Plan Approval State
   // When a plan requires user approval, this holds the pending approval details
@@ -1104,6 +1105,7 @@ export interface AppActions {
 
   setDefaultPlanningMode: (mode: PlanningMode) => void;
   setDefaultRequirePlanApproval: (require: boolean) => void;
+  setDefaultFeatureModel: (entry: PhaseModelEntry) => void;
 
   // Plan Approval actions
   setPendingPlanApproval: (
@@ -1277,6 +1279,7 @@ const initialState: AppState = {
   specCreatingForProject: null,
   defaultPlanningMode: 'skip' as PlanningMode,
   defaultRequirePlanApproval: false,
+  defaultFeatureModel: { model: 'opus' } as PhaseModelEntry,
   pendingPlanApproval: null,
   claudeRefreshInterval: 60,
   claudeUsage: null,
@@ -3093,6 +3096,7 @@ export const useAppStore = create<AppState & AppActions>()((set, get) => ({
 
   setDefaultPlanningMode: (mode) => set({ defaultPlanningMode: mode }),
   setDefaultRequirePlanApproval: (require) => set({ defaultRequirePlanApproval: require }),
+  setDefaultFeatureModel: (entry) => set({ defaultFeatureModel: entry }),
 
   // Plan Approval actions
   setPendingPlanApproval: (approval) => set({ pendingPlanApproval: approval }),

libs/types/src/settings.ts

@@ -375,6 +375,8 @@ export interface GlobalSettings {
   defaultPlanningMode: PlanningMode;
   /** Default: require manual approval before generating */
   defaultRequirePlanApproval: boolean;
+  /** Default model and thinking level for new feature cards */
+  defaultFeatureModel: PhaseModelEntry;
 
   // Audio Preferences
   /** Mute completion notification sound */
@@ -698,6 +700,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_GLOBAL_SETTINGS: GlobalSettings = {
   useWorktrees: true,
   defaultPlanningMode: 'skip',
   defaultRequirePlanApproval: false,
+  defaultFeatureModel: { model: 'opus' },
   muteDoneSound: false,
   phaseModels: DEFAULT_PHASE_MODELS,
   enhancementModel: 'sonnet',