---
summary: "The OpenAI long-context proof runs, the recommended live recipes, and the curated model matrix"
title: "OpenAI long context and the live model matrix"
read_when:
- You are crossing the OpenAI long-context pricing boundary on purpose
- You want the curated modern/small model lists or a copy-ready live recipe
---
## Live: OpenAI long context
- Goal: validate exact-model embedded OpenClaw execution through a
process-owned isolated Gateway, cross the long-context pricing boundary,
observe a first-class OpenAI Responses compaction item, and prove opaque
replay plus prefix pruning on the next request.
- Test: `src/gateway/gateway-openai-long-context.live.test.ts`
- Enable: `OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT=1`
- Profiles: `OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT_PROFILE=full` selects exact
`openai/gpt-5.6-sol` with a `1050000` total window, `922000` safe active
input, `128000` maximum output, and `700000` compaction threshold. `reduced`
reaches the same transport and persistence path with a smaller budget.
- Metrics: `OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT_METRICS=1` emits phase timing and
token observations. These measurements are informational, not pass/fail
latency targets.
- Long output: `OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT_OUTPUT=1` requires a
deterministic response between 4000 and 8000 output tokens.
- Optional raw read-tool stress:
`OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT_TOOL_OUTPUT=1`. It is not part of the
default recipe because the effective tool surface may use Code Mode instead
of exposing the raw read tool.
Full `922000` input-budget recipe:
```bash
OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT=1 \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT_PROFILE=full \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT_METRICS=1 \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT_OUTPUT=1 \
node --import tsx scripts/test-live.mts --quiet src/gateway/gateway-openai-long-context.live.test.ts
```
Reduced-budget recipe:
```bash
OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT=1 \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT_PROFILE=reduced \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT_METRICS=1 \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_LONG_CONTEXT_OUTPUT=1 \
node --import tsx scripts/test-live.mts --quiet src/gateway/gateway-openai-long-context.live.test.ts
```
### Long-context hard oracles
The full embedded and native recipes are proof runs, not throughput
benchmarks. They fail unless the following runtime contracts hold:
- Runtime and model identity are exact: embedded OpenClaw or native Codex as
requested, both on `openai/gpt-5.6-sol`.
- At least one provider request crosses `272000` input tokens and every call
reports priority service.
- Embedded OpenClaw receives and persists a first-class encrypted Responses
`compaction` item, replays the exact opaque item on the next request, and
prunes the earlier input prefix. The encrypted content must never appear in
display or diagnostics.
- Native Codex reports an effective window of `875900`, grows beyond the
`700000` total-scope threshold without a manual compact, and automatically
compacts on the next turn.
- Each runtime produces a deterministic long response between 4000 and 8000
output tokens and preserves a durable marker through compaction and a
Gateway restart.
Compaction duration, restart latency, turn latency, and total suite duration
are emitted as informational metrics only.
The full modes deliberately cross OpenAI's long-context pricing boundary and
make several large API calls. Above `272000` input tokens, the whole request is
2× input/cache and 1.5× output; Fast/Priority doubles that tier again. Use full
mode only with explicit spend approval.
Fresh OpenAI API-key default:
```bash
OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_OPENAI_API_DEFAULT=1 \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_PROVIDERS=openai \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_THINKING=off \
pnpm test:live -- src/gateway/gateway-models.profiles.live.test.ts
```
This proof leaves `OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_MODELS` unset, resolves the model through
the fresh onboarding inference-selection seam, asserts `openai/gpt-5.6-sol`, and then
runs a real gateway turn with that resolved model.
GPT-5.6 embedded OpenClaw matrix:
```bash
OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_THINKING=ultra \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_PROVIDERS=openai \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_MODELS='openai/gpt-5.6-sol,openai/gpt-5.6-terra,openai/gpt-5.6-luna' \
pnpm test:live -- src/gateway/gateway-models.profiles.live.test.ts
```
Docker notes:
- The Docker runner lives at `scripts/test-live-codex-harness-docker.sh`.
- It passes `OPENAI_API_KEY`, copies Codex CLI auth files when present, installs
`@openai/codex` into a writable mounted npm
prefix, stages the source tree, then runs only the Codex-harness live test.
- Docker enables the image, MCP/tool, and Guardian probes by default. Set
`OPENCLAW_LIVE_CODEX_HARNESS_IMAGE_PROBE=0` or
`OPENCLAW_LIVE_CODEX_HARNESS_MCP_PROBE=0` or
`OPENCLAW_LIVE_CODEX_HARNESS_GUARDIAN_PROBE=0` when you need a narrower debug
run.
- Docker uses the same explicit Codex runtime config, so legacy aliases or OpenClaw
fallback cannot hide a Codex harness regression.
- Matrix targets run sequentially in one container. The Docker script scales its
default 35-minute timeout by target count; any outer shell or CI timeout must
allow the same total. Canonical CI keeps each GPT-5.6 target in a separate shard.
### Recommended live recipes
Narrow, explicit allowlists are fastest and least flaky:
- Single model, direct (no gateway):
- `OPENCLAW_LIVE_MODELS="openai/gpt-5.6-luna" pnpm test:live src/agents/models.profiles.live.test.ts`
- Small-model direct profile:
- `OPENCLAW_LIVE_MODELS=small pnpm test:live src/agents/models.profiles.live.test.ts`
- Small-model gateway profile:
- `OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_MODELS=small pnpm test:live src/gateway/gateway-models.profiles.live.test.ts`
- Ollama Cloud API smoke:
- `OPENCLAW_LIVE_TEST=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_OLLAMA=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_OLLAMA_BASE_URL=https://ollama.com OPENCLAW_LIVE_OLLAMA_MODEL=glm-5.1:cloud OPENCLAW_LIVE_OLLAMA_WEB_SEARCH=0 pnpm test:live -- extensions/ollama/ollama.live.test.ts`
- Single model, gateway smoke:
- `OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_MODELS="openai/gpt-5.6-luna" pnpm test:live src/gateway/gateway-models.profiles.live.test.ts`
- Tool calling across several providers:
- `OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_MODELS="openai/gpt-5.6-luna,anthropic/claude-opus-4-6,google/gemini-3.5-flash,deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash,zai/glm-5.1,minimax/MiniMax-M3" pnpm test:live src/gateway/gateway-models.profiles.live.test.ts`
- Z.AI Coding Plan GLM-5.3 direct smoke:
- `ZAI_CODING_LIVE_TEST=1 pnpm test:live src/agents/zai.live.test.ts`
- Google focus:
- Gemini (API key): `OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_MODELS="google/gemini-3.5-flash" pnpm test:live src/gateway/gateway-models.profiles.live.test.ts`
- Google adaptive thinking smoke (`qa manual` from the private QA CLI - requires `OPENCLAW_ENABLE_PRIVATE_QA_CLI=1` and a source checkout; see [QA overview](/concepts/qa-e2e-automation)):
- Gemini 3 dynamic default: `OPENCLAW_ENABLE_PRIVATE_QA_CLI=1 pnpm openclaw qa manual --provider-mode live-frontier --model google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview --alt-model google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview --message '/think adaptive Reply exactly: GEMINI_ADAPTIVE_OK' --timeout-ms 180000`
- Gemini 2.5 dynamic budget: `OPENCLAW_ENABLE_PRIVATE_QA_CLI=1 pnpm openclaw qa manual --provider-mode live-frontier --model google/gemini-2.5-flash --alt-model google/gemini-2.5-flash --message '/think adaptive Reply exactly: GEMINI25_ADAPTIVE_OK' --timeout-ms 180000`
Notes:
- `google/...` uses the Gemini API (API key).
- `google-gemini-cli/...` uses the local Gemini CLI on your machine (separate auth + tooling quirks).
- `google-antigravity/...` is not a registered provider or supported setup path. Do not add it to live-test allowlists.
- Gemini API vs Gemini CLI:
- API: OpenClaw calls Google's hosted Gemini API over HTTP (API key / profile auth); this is what most users mean by "Gemini".
- CLI: OpenClaw shells out to a local `gemini` binary; it has its own auth and can behave differently (streaming/tool support/version skew).
## Live: model matrix (what we cover)
Live is opt-in, so there is no fixed "CI model list." `OPENCLAW_LIVE_MODELS=modern` / `OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_MODELS=modern` (and their `all` alias) run the curated priority list from `HIGH_SIGNAL_LIVE_MODEL_PRIORITY` in `src/agents/test-helpers/live-model-dynamic-candidates.ts`, in this priority order:
| Provider/model | Notes |
| --------------------------------------------------- | ---------- |
| `anthropic/claude-opus-5` | |
| `anthropic/claude-opus-4-8` | |
| `anthropic/claude-sonnet-5` | |
| `anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6` | |
| `anthropic/claude-opus-4-7` | |
| `google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview` | Gemini API |
| `google/gemini-3.5-flash` | Gemini API |
| `cohere/command-a-plus-05-2026` | |
| `moonshot/kimi-k3` | |
| `anthropic/claude-opus-4-6` | |
| `deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash` | |
| `deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro` | |
| `minimax/MiniMax-M3` | |
| `openai/gpt-5.6` | |
| `openrouter/openai/gpt-5.2-chat` | |
| `openrouter/minimax/minimax-m2.7` | |
| `opencode-go/glm-5` | |
| `openrouter/ai21/jamba-large-1.7` | |
| `xai/grok-4.6` | |
| `xai/grok-4.5` | |
| `xai/grok-4.20-0309-reasoning` | |
| `zai/glm-5.1` | |
| `fireworks/accounts/fireworks/routers/glm-5p2-fast` | |
| `minimax-portal/minimax-m3` | |
The curated **small-model** list (`OPENCLAW_LIVE_MODELS=small` / `OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_MODELS=small`), from `SMALL_LIVE_MODEL_PRIORITY`:
| Provider/model |
| ---------------------------- |
| `lmstudio/qwen/qwen3.5-9b` |
| `vllm/qwen/qwen3-8b` |
| `sglang/qwen/qwen3-8b` |
| `ollama/gemma3:4b` |
| `openrouter/qwen/qwen3.5-9b` |
| `openrouter/z-ai/glm-5.1` |
| `openrouter/z-ai/glm-5` |
| `zai/glm-5.1` |
Notes on the modern list:
- `codex` and `codex-cli` providers are excluded from the default modern sweep (they cover CLI-backend/ACP behavior, tested separately on [CLI backend and APNs lanes](/help/testing-live/cli-backends) and [ACP bind and Codex app-server lanes](/help/testing-live/acp-and-codex)). `openai/gpt-5.6` itself routes through the Codex app-server harness by default; see [Live: Codex app-server harness smoke](/help/testing-live/acp-and-codex#live-codex-app-server-harness-smoke).
- `fireworks`, `google`, `openrouter`, and `xai` only run their explicitly curated model ids in the modern sweep (no automatic "every model from this provider" expansion).
- Include at least one image-capable model (Claude/Gemini/OpenAI-family vision variants, etc.) in `OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_MODELS` to exercise the image probe.
Run gateway smoke with tools + image across a hand-picked cross-provider set:
```bash
OPENCLAW_LIVE_GATEWAY_MODELS="openai/gpt-5.6-luna,anthropic/claude-opus-4-6,google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview,google/gemini-3.5-flash,deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash,zai/glm-5.1,minimax/MiniMax-M3" pnpm test:live src/gateway/gateway-models.profiles.live.test.ts
```
Optional additional coverage outside the curated lists (nice to have, pick a "tools"-capable model you have enabled):
- Mistral: `mistral/...`
- Cerebras: `cerebras/...` (if you have access)
- LM Studio: `lmstudio/...` (local; tool calling depends on API mode)
### Aggregators / alternate gateways
If you have keys enabled, you can also test via:
- OpenRouter: `openrouter/...` (hundreds of models; use `openclaw models scan` to find tool+image capable candidates)
- OpenCode: `opencode/...` for Zen and `opencode-go/...` for Go (auth via `OPENCODE_API_KEY` / `OPENCODE_ZEN_API_KEY`)
More providers you can include in the live matrix (if you have creds/config):
- First-party provider plugins: `anthropic`, `cerebras`, `github-copilot`, `google`, `google-gemini-cli`, `google-vertex`, `groq`, `mistral`, `openai`, `openrouter`, `opencode`, `opencode-go`, `xai`, `zai`
- Via `models.providers` (custom endpoints): `minimax` (cloud/API), plus any OpenAI/Anthropic-compatible proxy (LM Studio, vLLM, LiteLLM, etc.)
Do not hardcode "all models" in docs. The authoritative list is whatever `discoverModels(...)` returns on your machine plus whatever keys are available.