{"version":"2.1.277","anchor":"new-alder-ford-model-family-override-gated-to-first-party","canonical_anchor":"new-alder-ford-model-family-override-gated-to-first-party","heading":"New 'alder_ford' model-alias override read from session config","tier":"soon","area":"Models","scope":null,"heads_up":null,"url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.277\/e\/new-alder-ford-model-family-override-gated-to-first-party","release_url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.277","markdown":"### New 'alder_ford' model-alias override read from session config\n\nA config value named alder_ford can now substitute a model's display name and cost info for another model family's\n\n**Unclear.** What 'alder_ford' is used for in practice, and what triggers the alias to be configured, isn't stated in the finding.\n\n**What**\n\nClaude Code can now read a config value keyed `alder_ford` from session config. If that value has an `as` alias and an `ends_at` expiry timestamp under 100000000000 (and hasn't expired) and the alias maps to a known model family, Claude Code substitutes that family's display name and cost info in place of the normal one.\n\nThe override is wired into cost lookup, managed-vs-list model detection, and the display-name lookup, but it does not apply to requests made with `speed: \"fast\"`. It is also gated to first-party API usage only.\n\n**Why**\n\nThis lets Claude Code present an alternate model's name and cost information for a limited, expiring window, useful for scenarios like testing or rollout of a model-family substitution without changing what model actually runs.\n\n- Area: Models\n- Tier: Nothing to try yet\n- Useful: 4\/5\n- Signal: 4\/5\n- Present in the build but not switched on"}