Reporter measured `agents list --json` at ~7-9s on a fast host (~11s in
container) on 2026.4.23, while peer `--json` commands like
`channels list`, `cron list --all`, and `sessions ... --all-agents`
stay sub-second. Their cold-call dashboard endpoint dropped from 27s to
~2s after a local dist patch — they could even retire the 5-min cache
TTL workaround they had shipped to dodge it.
Root cause: `agents list` inherits `loadPlugins: 'always'` from the
parent `agents` policy in command-catalog, then `agentsListCommand`
calls `buildProviderStatusIndex(cfg)` unconditionally — both paths
trigger the bundled-extension import waterfall (~60+ extension index.js
modules).
`channels list` already uses `loadPlugins: 'never'` and proves the
shape is right; this PR matches that shape with the safer `text-only`
variant so human invocations are unchanged.
Two-line fix per reporter:
1. `src/cli/command-catalog.ts` — opt agents list into `text-only`,
the same plugin-preload policy bucket that already exists. Plugin
preload runs for human text output, skips for `--json`.
2. `src/commands/agents.commands.list.ts` — skip
`buildProviderStatusIndex` (and the per-summary provider
enrichment loop) when `opts.json`. Provider info is only rendered
in human text output via `formatSummary`, so dropping it from JSON
has no observable effect on existing callers that consume `id`,
`name`, `model`, `bindings`, `isDefault`, `identity*`, `workspace`,
or `agentDir`. `routes` is config-derived and continues to be set
in both modes.
Tests:
- new assertion in command-startup-policy.test.ts: `agents list` with
jsonOutputMode:true now resolves to `loadPlugins: false` (was
effectively `true` via the parent `agents` 'always' policy).
- existing assertion that human (jsonOutputMode:false) still triggers
plugin load is preserved verbatim.
6/6 tests pass. Lint clean.
Out of scope:
- `--bindings` flag opt-in for restoring providers in JSON output:
worth adding later if any consumer needs it; reporter said dashboard
consumers don't.
- Broader plugin-discovery cache work (#67040, #71690) which addresses
the same family of cold-start cost.
a97fe41a9e