Follow-up hardening on top of #64158 (@DavidMetcalfe):
Backend (the root-cause fix):
- hermes_cli/moa_config.py: add validate_moa_payload() — strict write-time
counterpart to the deliberately tolerant normalize_moa_config(). Flags
half-filled slots, empty reference lists, recursive moa slots, naming the
exact preset/slot.
- hermes_cli/web_server.py: PUT /api/model/moa validates before normalizing
and returns 422 with the specific problems instead of silently swapping the
user's preset for hardcoded defaults (#64156). Also declares
fanout / reference_max_tokens / reasoning_effort on the Pydantic payload so
client round-trips no longer erase hand-set values.
Desktop:
- Replace sanitize-then-send with hold-while-incomplete: the debounced
autosave is deferred (not repaired) while any slot is half-filled, and
flushes once the model pick completes the edit. Mid-edit UI state is never
repainted by a save response (generation guard covers held edits too).
- updateMoaSlot only clears the model when the provider actually changed.
- Explicit preset ops (set default / add / delete) cancel the pending
autosave and invalidate in-flight responses so the two writers can't race.
- Stable row keys (preset+index) so mid-edit rows don't remount; cleared
model shows the 'Model' placeholder instead of vanishing.
Both TS clients' MoaConfigResponse types now declare the round-tripped
fields (fanout, reference_max_tokens, reasoning_effort).
Tests: 12 new backend unit tests (validate_moa_payload contract incl.
validate/normalize agreement), 3 new web_server endpoint tests (422 on
half-filled ref/aggregator, fanout round-trip), 3 new desktop vitest cases
(autosave held while half-filled, flush on completion, same-provider
reselect no-op). E2E validated against a live TestClient with isolated
HERMES_HOME: bug sequence now 422s with config untouched.
Fixes#64156
fcdc10a0f3