From 4b3cc1c60606102b42806e80c3863b73fc81372a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Dominik Simonik <dominik.simonik@verygood.ventures>
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2026 14:00:47 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 1/5] feat: reinstall plugins after updating the CLI

---
 .../vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/command_runner.dart    |  19 ++-
 .../lib/src/commands/update_command.dart      |  66 +++++++-
 .../vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/model/run_process.dart |   7 +
 .../vgv_ai_cli/test/helpers/test_runner.dart  |   4 +
 .../test/src/command_runner_test.dart         |  11 +-
 .../src/commands/update_command_test.dart     | 148 +++++++++++++++---
 6 files changed, 216 insertions(+), 39 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/command_runner.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/command_runner.dart
index a642f86d..6e7ae289 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/command_runner.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/command_runner.dart
@@ -31,15 +31,17 @@ class VgvAiCliCommandRunner({
   InstallCommand? installCommand,
   DoctorCommand? doctorCommand,
   UninstallCommand? uninstallCommand,
+  UpdateCommand? updateCommand,
 }) extends CompletionCommandRunner<int> {
   /// {@macro vgv_ai_cli_command_runner}
   ///
   /// [installation] defaults to [Installation.current], and decides how
   /// `update` and the update prompt tell the user to upgrade.
   ///
-  /// [installCommand], [doctorCommand] and [uninstallCommand] replace the
-  /// default `install`, `doctor` and `uninstall`, whose collaborators
-  /// otherwise reach the real home directory and plugin cache.
+  /// [installCommand], [doctorCommand], [uninstallCommand] and
+  /// [updateCommand] replace the default `install`, `doctor`, `uninstall` and
+  /// `update`, whose collaborators otherwise reach the real home directory,
+  /// plugin cache and processes.
   this : super(executableName, description) {
     // Add root options and flags
     argParser
@@ -59,11 +61,12 @@ class VgvAiCliCommandRunner({
     addCommand(installCommand ?? InstallCommand(logger: _logger));
     addCommand(uninstallCommand ?? UninstallCommand(logger: _logger));
     addCommand(
-      UpdateCommand(
-        logger: _logger,
-        pubUpdater: _pubUpdater,
-        installation: _installation,
-      ),
+      updateCommand ??
+          UpdateCommand(
+            logger: _logger,
+            pubUpdater: _pubUpdater,
+            installation: _installation,
+          ),
     );
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
index ebecf026..11deb463 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
@@ -1,14 +1,20 @@
 import 'dart:io';
 
 import 'package:args/command_runner.dart';
+import 'package:file/file.dart' show Directory;
 import 'package:mason_logger/mason_logger.dart';
 import 'package:pub_updater/pub_updater.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/command_runner.dart';
+import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/commands/install_command.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/commands/installation.dart';
+import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/commands/user_home.dart';
+import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/manifest/manifest.dart';
+import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/model/model.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/version.dart';
 
 /// {@template update_command}
-/// Updates `vgv_ai` to the latest version on pub.dev.
+/// Updates `vgv_ai` to the latest version on pub.dev, then reinstalls the
+/// plugins a previous `install` wrote, so they move to the new pins.
 ///
 /// An installation other than [Installation.pub] is not updated: the command
 /// prints its [Installation.upgradeCommand] instead.
@@ -17,6 +23,9 @@ class UpdateCommand({
   required final Logger _logger,
   PubUpdater? pubUpdater,
   Installation? installation,
+  final Directory? _home,
+  final Map<String, String>? _environment,
+  final StartProcess _startProcess = Process.start,
 }) extends Command<int> {
   /// {@macro update_command}
   ///
@@ -36,6 +45,11 @@ class UpdateCommand({
   @override
   String get name => commandName;
 
+  /// What the user runs to move installed plugins to the new pins.
+  static final String reinstallHint =
+      'Then run ${lightCyan.wrap('$executableName install')} '
+      'to update your installed plugins.';
+
   @override
   Future<int> run() async {
     final updateCheckProgress = _logger.progress('Checking for updates');
@@ -56,13 +70,23 @@ class UpdateCommand({
     }
 
     if (_installation != Installation.pub) {
-      _logger.info(
-        '$executableName $latestVersion is available. '
-        'Run ${_installation.upgradeCommand} to update.',
-      );
+      _logger
+        ..info(
+          '$executableName $latestVersion is available. '
+          'Run ${_installation.upgradeCommand} to update.',
+        )
+        ..info(reinstallHint);
       return ExitCode.success.code;
     }
 
+    final updated = await _update(latestVersion);
+    if (!updated) return ExitCode.software.code;
+
+    return _wasInstalled ? await _reinstall() : ExitCode.success.code;
+  }
+
+  /// Updates the CLI to [latestVersion], and returns whether it could.
+  Future<bool> _update(String latestVersion) async {
     final updateProgress = _logger.progress('Updating to $latestVersion');
 
     late final ProcessResult result;
@@ -74,17 +98,43 @@ class UpdateCommand({
     } on Exception catch (error) {
       updateProgress.fail();
       _logger.err('$error');
-      return ExitCode.software.code;
+      return false;
     }
 
     if (result.exitCode != ExitCode.success.code) {
       updateProgress.fail();
       _logger.err('Error updating CLI: ${result.stderr}');
-      return ExitCode.software.code;
+      return false;
     }
 
     updateProgress.complete('Updated to $latestVersion');
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  /// Whether a previous `install` left a manifest behind.
+  bool get _wasInstalled => switch (commandHome(_home, _environment)) {
+    final home? => ManifestStore(home).file.existsSync(),
+    null => false,
+  };
 
-    return ExitCode.success.code;
+  /// Runs `install` from the version just activated, which carries the new
+  /// pins, in this terminal so it can ask which plugins to keep.
+  Future<int> _reinstall() async {
+    _logger.info('Updating your installed plugins...');
+    try {
+      final process = await _startProcess(Platform.resolvedExecutable, [
+        'pub',
+        'global',
+        'run',
+        '$packageName:$executableName',
+        InstallCommand.commandName,
+      ], mode: ProcessStartMode.inheritStdio);
+      return await process.exitCode;
+    } on ProcessException catch (error) {
+      _logger
+        ..err('Could not update your installed plugins: ${error.message}')
+        ..info(reinstallHint);
+      return ExitCode.software.code;
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/model/run_process.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/model/run_process.dart
index de9ee4d1..a5fb2003 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/model/run_process.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/model/run_process.dart
@@ -6,3 +6,10 @@ typedef RunProcess = Future<ProcessResult> Function(
   List<String> arguments, {
   bool runInShell,
 });
+
+/// Signature of [Process.start], narrowed to what the CLI needs.
+typedef StartProcess = Future<Process> Function(
+  String executable,
+  List<String> arguments, {
+  ProcessStartMode mode,
+});
diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/helpers/test_runner.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/helpers/test_runner.dart
index ff909bd7..6739b982 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/helpers/test_runner.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/helpers/test_runner.dart
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ class TestRunner() {
     InstallCommand? installCommand,
     DoctorCommand? doctorCommand,
     UninstallCommand? uninstallCommand,
+    UpdateCommand? updateCommand,
   }) => VgvAiCliCommandRunner(
     logger: logger,
     pubUpdater: pubUpdater,
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ class TestRunner() {
     installCommand: installCommand,
     doctorCommand: doctorCommand,
     uninstallCommand: uninstallCommand,
+    updateCommand: updateCommand,
   );
 
   /// Runs [args] through a runner from [build].
@@ -74,10 +76,12 @@ class TestRunner() {
     InstallCommand? installCommand,
     DoctorCommand? doctorCommand,
     UninstallCommand? uninstallCommand,
+    UpdateCommand? updateCommand,
   }) => build(
     installation: installation,
     installCommand: installCommand,
     doctorCommand: doctorCommand,
     uninstallCommand: uninstallCommand,
+    updateCommand: updateCommand,
   ).run(args);
 }
diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/command_runner_test.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/command_runner_test.dart
index 7a55454e..e6b7c7f7 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/command_runner_test.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/command_runner_test.dart
@@ -117,7 +117,16 @@ Run ${lightCyan.wrap('$executableName update')} to update''';
         ),
       ).thenAnswer((_) async => true);
 
-      final result = await commandRunner.run(['update']);
+      // No home directory, so update never reinstalls into the real one.
+      final result = await runner.run(
+        ['update'],
+        updateCommand: UpdateCommand(
+          logger: logger,
+          pubUpdater: pubUpdater,
+          installation: Installation.pub,
+          environment: const {},
+        ),
+      );
       expect(result, ExitCode.success.code);
       verifyNever(() => logger.info(updatePrompt));
     });
diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
index 4df35f9c..e5394d64 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
@@ -1,29 +1,74 @@
 import 'dart:io';
 
+import 'package:file/file.dart' show Directory;
+import 'package:file/memory.dart';
 import 'package:mason_logger/mason_logger.dart';
 import 'package:mocktail/mocktail.dart';
 import 'package:pub_updater/pub_updater.dart';
 import 'package:test/test.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/command_runner.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/commands/commands.dart';
+import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/manifest/manifest.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/version.dart';
 
 import '../../helpers/test_runner.dart';
 
+class _MockProcess extends Mock implements Process;
+
 void main() {
   group(UpdateCommand, () {
     const latestVersion = '0.0.0';
+    const reinstallArguments = [
+      'pub',
+      'global',
+      'run',
+      'vgv_ai_cli:vgv_ai',
+      'install',
+    ];
 
     late PubUpdater pubUpdater;
     late Logger logger;
     late TestRunner runner;
+    late Directory home;
+    late Process process;
+    late List<(String, List<String>, ProcessStartMode)> started;
     late VgvAiCliCommandRunner commandRunner;
 
+    Future<Process> startProcess(
+      String executable,
+      List<String> arguments, {
+      ProcessStartMode mode = ProcessStartMode.normal,
+    }) async {
+      started.add((executable, arguments, mode));
+      return process;
+    }
+
+    UpdateCommand updateCommand({
+      Directory? home,
+      Map<String, String>? environment,
+    }) => UpdateCommand(
+      logger: logger,
+      pubUpdater: pubUpdater,
+      installation: Installation.pub,
+      home: home,
+      environment: environment,
+      startProcess: startProcess,
+    );
+
+    void recordInstall() => ManifestStore(home).file
+      ..createSync(recursive: true)
+      ..writeAsStringSync('{}');
+
     setUp(() {
       runner = TestRunner();
       pubUpdater = runner.pubUpdater;
       logger = runner.logger;
-      commandRunner = runner.build();
+      home = MemoryFileSystem.test().directory('/home/dev')
+        ..createSync(recursive: true);
+      process = _MockProcess();
+      when(() => process.exitCode).thenAnswer((_) async => 0);
+      started = [];
+      commandRunner = runner.build(updateCommand: updateCommand(home: home));
 
       when(
         () => pubUpdater.update(
@@ -56,6 +101,7 @@ void main() {
     });
 
     test('handles pub update errors', () async {
+      recordInstall();
       when(() => pubUpdater.getLatestVersion(any()))
           .thenAnswer((_) async => latestVersion);
       when(
@@ -74,10 +120,12 @@ void main() {
           versionConstraint: any(named: 'versionConstraint'),
         ),
       ).called(1);
+      expect(started, isEmpty);
     });
 
     test('handles pub update process errors', () async {
       const error = 'Oh no! Installing this is not possible right now!';
+      recordInstall();
 
       when(() => pubUpdater.getLatestVersion(any()))
           .thenAnswer((_) async => latestVersion);
@@ -100,29 +148,82 @@ void main() {
           versionConstraint: any(named: 'versionConstraint'),
         ),
       ).called(1);
+      expect(started, isEmpty);
     });
 
-    test('updates when newer version exists', () async {
-      when(() => pubUpdater.getLatestVersion(any()))
-          .thenAnswer((_) async => latestVersion);
-      when(
-        () => pubUpdater.update(
-          packageName: any(named: 'packageName'),
-          versionConstraint: any(named: 'versionConstraint'),
-        ),
-      ).thenAnswer(
-        (_) async => ProcessResult(0, ExitCode.success.code, null, null),
-      );
-      final result = await commandRunner.run(['update']);
-      expect(result, ExitCode.success.code);
-      verify(() => logger.progress('Checking for updates')).called(1);
-      verify(() => logger.progress('Updating to $latestVersion')).called(1);
-      verify(
-        () => pubUpdater.update(
-          packageName: packageName,
-          versionConstraint: latestVersion,
-        ),
-      ).called(1);
+    group('when newer version exists', () {
+      setUp(() {
+        when(() => pubUpdater.getLatestVersion(any()))
+            .thenAnswer((_) async => latestVersion);
+      });
+
+      test('updates', () async {
+        final result = await commandRunner.run(['update']);
+        expect(result, ExitCode.success.code);
+        verify(() => logger.progress('Checking for updates')).called(1);
+        verify(() => logger.progress('Updating to $latestVersion')).called(1);
+        verify(
+          () => pubUpdater.update(
+            packageName: packageName,
+            versionConstraint: latestVersion,
+          ),
+        ).called(1);
+      });
+
+      test('reinstalls with the updated version after an install', () async {
+        recordInstall();
+        final result = await commandRunner.run(['update']);
+        expect(result, ExitCode.success.code);
+        verify(() => logger.info('Updating your installed plugins...'))
+            .called(1);
+        final (executable, arguments, mode) = started.single;
+        expect(executable, Platform.resolvedExecutable);
+        expect(arguments, reinstallArguments);
+        expect(mode, ProcessStartMode.inheritStdio);
+      });
+
+      test('returns the exit code of the reinstall', () async {
+        recordInstall();
+        when(() => process.exitCode)
+            .thenAnswer((_) async => ExitCode.usage.code);
+        final result = await commandRunner.run(['update']);
+        expect(result, ExitCode.usage.code);
+      });
+
+      test('reports a reinstall that cannot start', () async {
+        recordInstall();
+        final result = await runner.run(
+          ['update'],
+          updateCommand: UpdateCommand(
+            logger: logger,
+            pubUpdater: pubUpdater,
+            installation: Installation.pub,
+            home: home,
+            startProcess: (executable, arguments, {mode = .normal}) =>
+                throw const ProcessException('dart', [], 'not found'),
+          ),
+        );
+        expect(result, ExitCode.software.code);
+        verify(
+          () =>
+              logger.err('Could not update your installed plugins: not found'),
+        ).called(1);
+        verify(() => logger.info(UpdateCommand.reinstallHint)).called(1);
+      });
+
+      test('does not reinstall without an install', () async {
+        final result = await commandRunner.run(['update']);
+        expect(result, ExitCode.success.code);
+        expect(started, isEmpty);
+      });
+
+      test('does not reinstall without a home directory', () async {
+        final result = await runner.run([
+          'update',
+        ], updateCommand: updateCommand(environment: const {}));
+        expect(result, ExitCode.success.code);
+        expect(started, isEmpty);
+      });
     });
 
     for (final installation in [Installation.homebrew, Installation.script]) {
@@ -140,6 +241,7 @@ void main() {
               'Run ${installation.upgradeCommand} to update.',
             ),
           ).called(1);
+          verify(() => logger.info(UpdateCommand.reinstallHint)).called(1);
           verifyNever(() => logger.progress('Updating to $latestVersion'));
           verifyNever(
             () => pubUpdater.update(
@@ -161,6 +263,7 @@ void main() {
     }
 
     test('does not update when already on latest version', () async {
+      recordInstall();
       when(() => pubUpdater.getLatestVersion(any()))
           .thenAnswer((_) async => packageVersion);
       final result = await commandRunner.run(['update']);
@@ -174,6 +277,7 @@ void main() {
           versionConstraint: any(named: 'versionConstraint'),
         ),
       );
+      expect(started, isEmpty);
     });
   });
 }

From 67799b2b6474082b64cc8bd3964263791ab14160 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Dominik Simonik <dominik.simonik@verygood.ventures>
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2026 14:32:02 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 2/5] refactor: replace record and pattern in update reinstall

---
 .../lib/src/commands/update_command.dart      |  8 ++++----
 .../src/commands/update_command_test.dart     | 19 +++++++++++++------
 2 files changed, 17 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
index 11deb463..7944113b 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
@@ -112,10 +112,10 @@ class UpdateCommand({
   }
 
   /// Whether a previous `install` left a manifest behind.
-  bool get _wasInstalled => switch (commandHome(_home, _environment)) {
-    final home? => ManifestStore(home).file.existsSync(),
-    null => false,
-  };
+  bool get _wasInstalled {
+    final home = commandHome(_home, _environment);
+    return home != null && ManifestStore(home).file.existsSync();
+  }
 
   /// Runs `install` from the version just activated, which carries the new
   /// pins, in this terminal so it can ask which plugins to keep.
diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
index e5394d64..1813aabd 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
@@ -15,6 +15,13 @@ import '../../helpers/test_runner.dart';
 
 class _MockProcess extends Mock implements Process;
 
+/// One call to the injected `startProcess`.
+class _Start(
+  final String executable,
+  final List<String> arguments,
+  final ProcessStartMode mode,
+);
+
 void main() {
   group(UpdateCommand, () {
     const latestVersion = '0.0.0';
@@ -31,7 +38,7 @@ void main() {
     late TestRunner runner;
     late Directory home;
     late Process process;
-    late List<(String, List<String>, ProcessStartMode)> started;
+    late List<_Start> started;
     late VgvAiCliCommandRunner commandRunner;
 
     Future<Process> startProcess(
@@ -39,7 +46,7 @@ void main() {
       List<String> arguments, {
       ProcessStartMode mode = ProcessStartMode.normal,
     }) async {
-      started.add((executable, arguments, mode));
+      started.add(_Start(executable, arguments, mode));
       return process;
     }
 
@@ -176,10 +183,10 @@ void main() {
         expect(result, ExitCode.success.code);
         verify(() => logger.info('Updating your installed plugins...'))
             .called(1);
-        final (executable, arguments, mode) = started.single;
-        expect(executable, Platform.resolvedExecutable);
-        expect(arguments, reinstallArguments);
-        expect(mode, ProcessStartMode.inheritStdio);
+        final start = started.single;
+        expect(start.executable, Platform.resolvedExecutable);
+        expect(start.arguments, reinstallArguments);
+        expect(start.mode, ProcessStartMode.inheritStdio);
       });
 
       test('returns the exit code of the reinstall', () async {

From c826ea706290af60d804f2b229f6884889bc79dd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Dominik Simonik <dominik.simonik@verygood.ventures>
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2026 13:20:15 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 3/5] fix: reinstall only the recorded harnesses and plugins

---
 .../lib/src/commands/update_command.dart      | 38 +++++++---
 .../src/commands/update_command_test.dart     | 72 +++++++++++++++----
 2 files changed, 90 insertions(+), 20 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
index 7944113b..7f864db4 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import 'dart:io';
 
 import 'package:args/command_runner.dart';
-import 'package:file/file.dart' show Directory;
+import 'package:file/file.dart' show Directory, FileSystemException;
 import 'package:mason_logger/mason_logger.dart';
 import 'package:pub_updater/pub_updater.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/command_runner.dart';
@@ -82,7 +82,10 @@ class UpdateCommand({
     final updated = await _update(latestVersion);
     if (!updated) return ExitCode.software.code;
 
-    return _wasInstalled ? await _reinstall() : ExitCode.success.code;
+    final manifest = _previousInstall;
+    return manifest == null
+        ? ExitCode.success.code
+        : await _reinstall(manifest);
   }
 
   /// Updates the CLI to [latestVersion], and returns whether it could.
@@ -111,15 +114,22 @@ class UpdateCommand({
     return true;
   }
 
-  /// Whether a previous `install` left a manifest behind.
-  bool get _wasInstalled {
+  /// The manifest a previous `install` left behind, or null when there is
+  /// none this version can read.
+  InstallManifest? get _previousInstall {
     final home = commandHome(_home, _environment);
-    return home != null && ManifestStore(home).file.existsSync();
+    if (home == null) return null;
+    final store = ManifestStore(home);
+    try {
+      return store.file.existsSync() ? store.load() : null;
+    } on FileSystemException {
+      return null;
+    }
   }
 
   /// Runs `install` from the version just activated, which carries the new
-  /// pins, in this terminal so it can ask which plugins to keep.
-  Future<int> _reinstall() async {
+  /// pins, for the harnesses and plugins [manifest] records.
+  Future<int> _reinstall(InstallManifest manifest) async {
     _logger.info('Updating your installed plugins...');
     try {
       final process = await _startProcess(Platform.resolvedExecutable, [
@@ -127,7 +137,7 @@ class UpdateCommand({
         'global',
         'run',
         '$packageName:$executableName',
-        InstallCommand.commandName,
+        ..._installArguments(manifest),
       ], mode: ProcessStartMode.inheritStdio);
       return await process.exitCode;
     } on ProcessException catch (error) {
@@ -137,4 +147,16 @@ class UpdateCommand({
       return ExitCode.software.code;
     }
   }
+
+  /// The `install` arguments that repeat the choices [manifest] records, so
+  /// the reinstall neither asks again nor widens them.
+  List<String> _installArguments(InstallManifest manifest) => [
+    if (globalResults?['verbose'] == true) '--verbose',
+    InstallCommand.commandName,
+    for (final harness in manifest.plugins.keys) '--only=${harness.name}',
+    for (final plugin in {
+      for (final plugins in manifest.plugins.values) ...plugins.keys,
+    })
+      '--plugin=$plugin',
+  ];
 }
diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
index 1813aabd..03b273bc 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import 'dart:io';
 
-import 'package:file/file.dart' show Directory;
+import 'package:file/file.dart' show Directory, FileSystemException;
 import 'package:file/memory.dart';
 import 'package:mason_logger/mason_logger.dart';
 import 'package:mocktail/mocktail.dart';
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import 'package:test/test.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/command_runner.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/commands/commands.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/manifest/manifest.dart';
+import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/model/model.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/version.dart';
 
 import '../../helpers/test_runner.dart';
@@ -25,13 +26,7 @@ class _Start(
 void main() {
   group(UpdateCommand, () {
     const latestVersion = '0.0.0';
-    const reinstallArguments = [
-      'pub',
-      'global',
-      'run',
-      'vgv_ai_cli:vgv_ai',
-      'install',
-    ];
+    const runNewVersion = ['pub', 'global', 'run', 'vgv_ai_cli:vgv_ai'];
 
     late PubUpdater pubUpdater;
     late Logger logger;
@@ -62,9 +57,18 @@ void main() {
       startProcess: startProcess,
     );
 
-    void recordInstall() => ManifestStore(home).file
-      ..createSync(recursive: true)
-      ..writeAsStringSync('{}');
+    /// Records an install of [plugins], by harness, as `install` would.
+    void recordInstall([
+      Map<Harness, Map<String, String>> plugins = const {},
+    ]) => ManifestStore(home).save(
+      InstallManifest([
+        OwnedFile.of(
+          path: home.fileSystem.path.join(home.path, '.claude', 'x.md'),
+          owner: Harness.claude,
+          bytes: const [],
+        ),
+      ], plugins),
+    );
 
     setUp(() {
       runner = TestRunner();
@@ -185,10 +189,54 @@ void main() {
             .called(1);
         final start = started.single;
         expect(start.executable, Platform.resolvedExecutable);
-        expect(start.arguments, reinstallArguments);
+        expect(start.arguments, [...runNewVersion, 'install']);
         expect(start.mode, ProcessStartMode.inheritStdio);
       });
 
+      test('reinstalls just the recorded harnesses and plugins', () async {
+        recordInstall({
+          Harness.claude: {'vgv-wingspan': '1.0.0'},
+          Harness.codex: {'vgv-wingspan': '1.0.0', 'vgv-ffca-plugin': '1.0.0'},
+        });
+        await commandRunner.run(['update']);
+        expect(started.single.arguments, [
+          ...runNewVersion,
+          'install',
+          '--only=claude',
+          '--only=codex',
+          '--plugin=vgv-wingspan',
+          '--plugin=vgv-ffca-plugin',
+        ]);
+      });
+
+      test('reinstalls verbosely when updating verbosely', () async {
+        recordInstall();
+        await commandRunner.run(['--verbose', 'update']);
+        expect(started.single.arguments, [
+          ...runNewVersion,
+          '--verbose',
+          'install',
+        ]);
+      });
+
+      test('does not reinstall when the manifest cannot be read', () async {
+        final fs = MemoryFileSystem.test(
+          opHandle: (path, operation) {
+            if (path.endsWith('manifest.json') &&
+                operation == FileSystemOp.read) {
+              throw FileSystemException('Cannot read', path);
+            }
+          },
+        );
+        home = fs.directory('/home/dev')..createSync(recursive: true);
+        recordInstall();
+        final result = await runner.run([
+          'update',
+        ], updateCommand: updateCommand(home: home));
+        expect(result, ExitCode.success.code);
+        expect(started, isEmpty);
+      });
+
       test('returns the exit code of the reinstall', () async {
         recordInstall();
         when(() => process.exitCode)

From c32b9d52a36cadf8b15aa2c446f8037c1c240128 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Dominik Simonik <dominik.simonik@verygood.ventures>
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2026 13:58:11 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 4/5] fix: reinstall with a plain install, as on main

---
 .../lib/src/commands/update_command.dart      | 39 ++++----------
 .../src/commands/update_command_test.dart     | 52 ++-----------------
 2 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 78 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
index 7f864db4..881f5b40 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import 'dart:io';
 
 import 'package:args/command_runner.dart';
-import 'package:file/file.dart' show Directory, FileSystemException;
+import 'package:file/file.dart' show Directory;
 import 'package:mason_logger/mason_logger.dart';
 import 'package:pub_updater/pub_updater.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/command_runner.dart';
@@ -82,10 +82,7 @@ class UpdateCommand({
     final updated = await _update(latestVersion);
     if (!updated) return ExitCode.software.code;
 
-    final manifest = _previousInstall;
-    return manifest == null
-        ? ExitCode.success.code
-        : await _reinstall(manifest);
+    return _wasInstalled ? await _reinstall() : ExitCode.success.code;
   }
 
   /// Updates the CLI to [latestVersion], and returns whether it could.
@@ -114,22 +111,15 @@ class UpdateCommand({
     return true;
   }
 
-  /// The manifest a previous `install` left behind, or null when there is
-  /// none this version can read.
-  InstallManifest? get _previousInstall {
+  /// Whether a previous `install` left a manifest behind.
+  bool get _wasInstalled {
     final home = commandHome(_home, _environment);
-    if (home == null) return null;
-    final store = ManifestStore(home);
-    try {
-      return store.file.existsSync() ? store.load() : null;
-    } on FileSystemException {
-      return null;
-    }
+    return home != null && ManifestStore(home).file.existsSync();
   }
 
   /// Runs `install` from the version just activated, which carries the new
-  /// pins, for the harnesses and plugins [manifest] records.
-  Future<int> _reinstall(InstallManifest manifest) async {
+  /// pins, in this terminal so it can ask which plugins to keep.
+  Future<int> _reinstall() async {
     _logger.info('Updating your installed plugins...');
     try {
       final process = await _startProcess(Platform.resolvedExecutable, [
@@ -137,7 +127,8 @@ class UpdateCommand({
         'global',
         'run',
         '$packageName:$executableName',
-        ..._installArguments(manifest),
+        if (globalResults?['verbose'] == true) '--verbose',
+        InstallCommand.commandName,
       ], mode: ProcessStartMode.inheritStdio);
       return await process.exitCode;
     } on ProcessException catch (error) {
@@ -147,16 +138,4 @@ class UpdateCommand({
       return ExitCode.software.code;
     }
   }
-
-  /// The `install` arguments that repeat the choices [manifest] records, so
-  /// the reinstall neither asks again nor widens them.
-  List<String> _installArguments(InstallManifest manifest) => [
-    if (globalResults?['verbose'] == true) '--verbose',
-    InstallCommand.commandName,
-    for (final harness in manifest.plugins.keys) '--only=${harness.name}',
-    for (final plugin in {
-      for (final plugins in manifest.plugins.values) ...plugins.keys,
-    })
-      '--plugin=$plugin',
-  ];
 }
diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
index 03b273bc..8da79532 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import 'dart:io';
 
-import 'package:file/file.dart' show Directory, FileSystemException;
+import 'package:file/file.dart' show Directory;
 import 'package:file/memory.dart';
 import 'package:mason_logger/mason_logger.dart';
 import 'package:mocktail/mocktail.dart';
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import 'package:test/test.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/command_runner.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/commands/commands.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/manifest/manifest.dart';
-import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/model/model.dart';
 import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/version.dart';
 
 import '../../helpers/test_runner.dart';
@@ -57,18 +56,9 @@ void main() {
       startProcess: startProcess,
     );
 
-    /// Records an install of [plugins], by harness, as `install` would.
-    void recordInstall([
-      Map<Harness, Map<String, String>> plugins = const {},
-    ]) => ManifestStore(home).save(
-      InstallManifest([
-        OwnedFile.of(
-          path: home.fileSystem.path.join(home.path, '.claude', 'x.md'),
-          owner: Harness.claude,
-          bytes: const [],
-        ),
-      ], plugins),
-    );
+    void recordInstall() => ManifestStore(home).file
+      ..createSync(recursive: true)
+      ..writeAsStringSync('{}');
 
     setUp(() {
       runner = TestRunner();
@@ -193,22 +183,6 @@ void main() {
         expect(start.mode, ProcessStartMode.inheritStdio);
       });
 
-      test('reinstalls just the recorded harnesses and plugins', () async {
-        recordInstall({
-          Harness.claude: {'vgv-wingspan': '1.0.0'},
-          Harness.codex: {'vgv-wingspan': '1.0.0', 'vgv-ffca-plugin': '1.0.0'},
-        });
-        await commandRunner.run(['update']);
-        expect(started.single.arguments, [
-          ...runNewVersion,
-          'install',
-          '--only=claude',
-          '--only=codex',
-          '--plugin=vgv-wingspan',
-          '--plugin=vgv-ffca-plugin',
-        ]);
-      });
-
       test('reinstalls verbosely when updating verbosely', () async {
         recordInstall();
         await commandRunner.run(['--verbose', 'update']);
@@ -219,24 +193,6 @@ void main() {
         ]);
       });
 
-      test('does not reinstall when the manifest cannot be read', () async {
-        final fs = MemoryFileSystem.test(
-          opHandle: (path, operation) {
-            if (path.endsWith('manifest.json') &&
-                operation == FileSystemOp.read) {
-              throw FileSystemException('Cannot read', path);
-            }
-          },
-        );
-        home = fs.directory('/home/dev')..createSync(recursive: true);
-        recordInstall();
-        final result = await runner.run([
-          'update',
-        ], updateCommand: updateCommand(home: home));
-        expect(result, ExitCode.success.code);
-        expect(started, isEmpty);
-      });
-
       test('returns the exit code of the reinstall', () async {
         recordInstall();
         when(() => process.exitCode)

From 7c4bc965c3ab5b61020b7c816a105d3fe420702c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Dominik Simonik <dominik.simonik@verygood.ventures>
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2026 14:54:21 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 5/5] feat: reinstall recorded harnesses and plugins with
 install --refresh

---
 .../lib/src/commands/install_command.dart     | 83 +++++++++++++++---
 .../lib/src/commands/update_command.dart      |  7 +-
 .../src/commands/install_command_test.dart    | 86 +++++++++++++++++++
 .../src/commands/update_command_test.dart     |  3 +-
 4 files changed, 164 insertions(+), 15 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/install_command.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/install_command.dart
index dd061866..5204e26d 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/install_command.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/install_command.dart
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ import 'package:vgv_ai_plugins/vgv_ai_plugins.dart';
 /// * `--plugin` installs just the named VGV plugins. Without it, a run in a
 ///   terminal asks which plugins to install, and any other run installs
 ///   every pinned one.
+/// * `--refresh` reinstalls the harnesses and plugins the manifest records,
+///   at the pinned versions, without asking. `update` runs it.
 /// {@endtemplate}
 class InstallCommand({
   required final Logger _logger,
@@ -57,6 +59,14 @@ class InstallCommand({
         'plugin',
         help: 'Install just these VGV plugins instead of choosing them.',
         allowed: [for (final plugin in vgvPlugins) plugin.name],
+      )
+      ..addFlag(
+        refreshFlag,
+        help:
+            'Reinstall the harnesses and plugins a previous install wrote, '
+            'at the pinned versions.',
+        negatable: false,
+        hide: true,
       );
     addHarnessOptions('Configure the Very Good AI tooling for');
   }
@@ -65,6 +75,10 @@ class InstallCommand({
   /// without constructing one.
   static const String commandName = 'install';
 
+  /// The flag `update` passes to reinstall what a previous install wrote.
+  /// Older versions of `update` pass it too, so it must keep its name.
+  static const String refreshFlag = 'refresh';
+
   /// Whether stdin is a terminal, so install can ask which plugins to install.
   final bool _hasTerminal = hasTerminal ?? stdin.hasTerminal;
 
@@ -95,6 +109,8 @@ class InstallCommand({
   Future<int> run() async {
     final force = argResults!['force'] == true;
     final dryRun = argResults!['check'] == true;
+    final refresh = argResults![refreshFlag] == true;
+    if (refresh) _rejectSelectionWithRefresh();
 
     // Falling back to the working directory would scatter harness config
     // wherever install happened to run, so a missing home is fatal.
@@ -106,16 +122,6 @@ class InstallCommand({
       return ExitCode.config.code;
     }
 
-    final selected = await _select();
-    if (selected.isEmpty) {
-      _logger.err(
-        'No harness selected. Install one of '
-        '${Harness.values.map((harness) => harness.displayName).join(', ')}, '
-        'or pass --only to name one explicitly.',
-      );
-      return ExitCode.usage.code;
-    }
-
     // Loaded before anything is resolved, since a manifest this version
     // cannot read means nothing can be installed.
     final store = ReportingManifestStore(
@@ -128,7 +134,15 @@ class InstallCommand({
     final manifest = store.load();
     if (manifest == null) return ExitCode.ioError.code;
 
-    final plugins = _selectPlugins(manifest, selected);
+    final selected = refresh ? manifest.plugins.keys.toSet() : await _select();
+    if (selected.isEmpty) {
+      _logger.err(refresh ? _nothingToRefresh : _noHarnessSelected);
+      return ExitCode.usage.code;
+    }
+
+    final plugins = refresh
+        ? _recordedPlugins(manifest, selected)
+        : _selectPlugins(manifest, selected);
     if (plugins.isEmpty) {
       _logger.err(
         'No plugin selected. Choose at least one, or pass --plugin to name '
@@ -171,6 +185,53 @@ class InstallCommand({
         : ExitCode.success.code;
   }
 
+  /// Why there is nothing to install when no harness is selected.
+  static final String _noHarnessSelected =
+      'No harness selected. Install one of '
+      '${Harness.values.map((harness) => harness.displayName).join(', ')}, '
+      'or pass --only to name one explicitly.';
+
+  /// Why `--refresh` installs nothing when the manifest records no plugins.
+  static const String _nothingToRefresh =
+      'Nothing to refresh: no previous install recorded its plugins. Run '
+      'install to choose them.';
+
+  /// Throws a [UsageException] when `--refresh` is combined with an option
+  /// that picks harnesses or plugins, since it takes both from the manifest.
+  void _rejectSelectionWithRefresh() {
+    final picked = [
+      'only',
+      'plugin',
+      ...Harness.values.map((harness) => harness.name),
+    ].where(argResults!.wasParsed);
+    if (picked.isNotEmpty) {
+      usageException(
+        '--$refreshFlag cannot be combined with '
+        '${picked.map((option) => '--$option').join(', ')}.',
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  /// The plugins [manifest] records for [selected] that this version still
+  /// pins, warning about the ones it no longer does.
+  Set<String> _recordedPlugins(
+    InstallManifest manifest,
+    Set<Harness> selected,
+  ) {
+    final recorded = {
+      for (final harness in selected) ...?manifest.plugins[harness]?.keys,
+    };
+    final pinned = {for (final plugin in vgvPlugins) plugin.name};
+    final dropped = recorded.difference(pinned);
+    if (dropped.isNotEmpty) {
+      _logger.warn(
+        'Skipping ${dropped.join(', ')}, which this version no longer '
+        'installs.',
+      );
+    }
+    return recorded.intersection(pinned);
+  }
+
   /// Resolves which harnesses to configure.
   ///
   /// `--only` wins outright and bypasses detection. Otherwise every harness
diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
index 881f5b40..a3b6e3ba 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/lib/src/commands/update_command.dart
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import 'package:vgv_ai_cli/src/version.dart';
 
 /// {@template update_command}
 /// Updates `vgv_ai` to the latest version on pub.dev, then reinstalls the
-/// plugins a previous `install` wrote, so they move to the new pins.
+/// harnesses and plugins a previous `install` wrote, at the new pins.
 ///
 /// An installation other than [Installation.pub] is not updated: the command
 /// prints its [Installation.upgradeCommand] instead.
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ class UpdateCommand({
     return home != null && ManifestStore(home).file.existsSync();
   }
 
-  /// Runs `install` from the version just activated, which carries the new
-  /// pins, in this terminal so it can ask which plugins to keep.
+  /// Runs `install --refresh` from the version just activated, which
+  /// carries the new pins, for the harnesses and plugins installed before.
   Future<int> _reinstall() async {
     _logger.info('Updating your installed plugins...');
     try {
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ class UpdateCommand({
         '$packageName:$executableName',
         if (globalResults?['verbose'] == true) '--verbose',
         InstallCommand.commandName,
+        '--${InstallCommand.refreshFlag}',
       ], mode: ProcessStartMode.inheritStdio);
       return await process.exitCode;
     } on ProcessException catch (error) {
diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/install_command_test.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/install_command_test.dart
index 4e1c51f7..40221044 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/install_command_test.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/install_command_test.dart
@@ -443,6 +443,92 @@ void main() {
       });
     });
 
+    group('--refresh', () {
+      setUp(() {
+        translator.plan = TranslationPlan(
+          harnesses: {
+            Harness.claude: TranslationResult(
+              changes: [ownChange(Harness.claude, '.claude/a.md', 'a')],
+            ),
+          },
+        );
+      });
+
+      /// Installs once, then records [plugins] as what that install wrote.
+      Future<void> recordInstall(
+        Map<Harness, Map<String, String>> plugins,
+      ) async {
+        await runInstall(['--only', 'claude']);
+        final store = ManifestStore(home);
+        store.save(store.load()!.withPlugins(plugins));
+      }
+
+      test('reinstalls the recorded harnesses and plugins', () async {
+        final kept = vgvPlugins.first;
+        await recordInstall({
+          Harness.claude: {kept.name: '0.0.1'},
+          Harness.gemini: {kept.name: '0.0.1'},
+        });
+
+        final exitCode = await runInstall(['--refresh'], hasTerminal: true);
+
+        expect(exitCode, ExitCode.success.code);
+        expect(translator.selected, {Harness.claude, Harness.gemini});
+        expect(translator.assets?.plugins, [kept]);
+        verifyNever(pickPlugins);
+        verifyNever(() => detector.detect(any()));
+      });
+
+      test('skips a recorded plugin this version no longer pins', () async {
+        final kept = vgvPlugins.first;
+        await recordInstall({
+          Harness.claude: {kept.name: '0.0.1', 'retired-plugin': '0.0.1'},
+        });
+
+        final exitCode = await runInstall(['--refresh']);
+
+        expect(exitCode, ExitCode.success.code);
+        expect(translator.assets?.plugins, [kept]);
+        verify(
+          () => logger.warn(
+            'Skipping retired-plugin, which this version no longer installs.',
+          ),
+        ).called(1);
+      });
+
+      test('installs nothing without a recorded install', () async {
+        final exitCode = await runInstall(['--refresh']);
+
+        expect(exitCode, ExitCode.usage.code);
+        expect(translator.selected, isNull);
+        verify(
+          () => logger.err(
+            'Nothing to refresh: no previous install recorded its plugins. '
+            'Run install to choose them.',
+          ),
+        ).called(1);
+      });
+
+      test('cannot be combined with a selection', () async {
+        final exitCode = await runInstall([
+          '--refresh',
+          '--only',
+          'claude',
+          '--plugin',
+          vgvPlugins.first.name,
+          '--no-codex',
+        ]);
+
+        expect(exitCode, ExitCode.usage.code);
+        expect(translator.selected, isNull);
+        verify(
+          () => logger.err(
+            '--refresh cannot be combined with --only, --plugin, --codex.',
+          ),
+        ).called(1);
+      });
+    });
+
     group('resolution', () {
       test('clones the plugins when there is no Claude Code cache', () async {
         final cloned = <List<String>>[];
diff --git a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
index 8da79532..eba12e05 100644
--- a/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
+++ b/packages/vgv_ai_cli/test/src/commands/update_command_test.dart
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ void main() {
             .called(1);
         final start = started.single;
         expect(start.executable, Platform.resolvedExecutable);
-        expect(start.arguments, [...runNewVersion, 'install']);
+        expect(start.arguments, [...runNewVersion, 'install', '--refresh']);
         expect(start.mode, ProcessStartMode.inheritStdio);
       });
 
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ void main() {
           ...runNewVersion,
           '--verbose',
           'install',
+          '--refresh',
         ]);
       });