# Changelog v0.5.18 - 2026-06-09

### Fixed
- Fixed the mandatory startup updater loop when the active `free-coding-models` binary is installed under one npm prefix but another Node/npm manager shadows `npm` in `PATH`. The updater now detects the npm prefix that owns the currently running package, installs into that exact prefix, and verifies that the active package version changed before relaunching.
- Improved updater fallback instructions so manual recovery commands include the owning npm binary and `--prefix` target when needed, instead of pointing users at a different global install.
- Stabilized the router dashboard SSE endpoints so `/api/events` and `/stream/events` flush an initial frame immediately and tests/clients do not hang while waiting for the first broadcast.

### Changed
- Restored the normal startup update path and live OpenRouter/release-date startup behavior after the temporary local debug bypass used to diagnose the update loop.

### Added
- Added regression coverage for npm-prefix-aware update command generation so future updater changes do not reintroduce the same cross-prefix loop.