feat(coding-agent): add install telemetry ping controls

packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,32 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## Telemetry
+
+Interactive mode now sends a lightweight anonymous install/update telemetry ping to `https://pi.dev/install?version=x.y.z` after it writes `lastChangelogVersion` in `settings.json`.
+
+Why this exists:
+- Pi needs a reliable per-version usage signal to understand whether releases are being adopted and to help justify funding continued development.
+- npm download counts are not a reliable proxy for actual Pi usage.
+
+How it works:
+- It only runs in interactive mode.
+- It does not run in RPC mode, print mode, JSON mode, or SDK mode.
+- On a fresh interactive install, Pi writes `lastChangelogVersion`, then sends the ping.
+- On later interactive startups, if the local changelog contains entries newer than the previously stored `lastChangelogVersion`, Pi writes the new `lastChangelogVersion`, then sends the ping.
+- The request is fire-and-forget. Startup does not wait for it, and any errors are ignored.
+
+What data is collected:
+- Only the Pi version in the request path, for example `https://pi.dev/install?version=0.66.1`.
+- The server stores only aggregate per-version counters such as `{ "0.66.1": 3 }`.
+- It does not store IP addresses, client identifiers, prompts, paths, models, auth state, or any other per-user data. It literally only increments a counter for that version.
+
+How to disable it:
+- `/settings` → disable `Install telemetry`
+- `settings.json` → set `enableInstallTelemetry` to `false`
+- `PI_OFFLINE=1`
+- `PI_TELEMETRY=0`
+
 ### New Features
 
 - Full `openRouterRouting` support in `models.json`, including fallbacks, parameter requirements, data collection, ZDR, ignore lists, quantizations, provider sorting, max price, and preferred throughput and latency constraints. See [docs/models.md](docs/models.md).

packages/coding-agent/README.md

@@ -271,6 +271,8 @@ Use `/settings` to modify common options, or edit JSON files directly:
 
 See [docs/settings.md](docs/settings.md) for all options.
 
+To opt out of anonymous install/update telemetry tied to changelog detection, set `enableInstallTelemetry` to `false` in `settings.json`, or set `PI_TELEMETRY=0`.
+
 ---
 
 ## Context Files
@@ -594,6 +596,7 @@ pi --thinking high "Solve this complex problem"
 | `PI_CODING_AGENT_DIR` | Override config directory (default: `~/.pi/agent`) |
 | `PI_PACKAGE_DIR` | Override package directory (useful for Nix/Guix where store paths tokenize poorly) |
 | `PI_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK` | Skip version check at startup |
+| `PI_TELEMETRY` | Override install telemetry. Use `1`/`true`/`yes` to enable or `0`/`false`/`no` to disable |
 | `PI_CACHE_RETENTION` | Set to `long` for extended prompt cache (Anthropic: 1h, OpenAI: 24h) |
 | `VISUAL`, `EDITOR` | External editor for Ctrl+G |
 

packages/coding-agent/docs/settings.md

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ Edit directly or use `/settings` for common options.
 | `theme` | string | `"dark"` | Theme name (`"dark"`, `"light"`, or custom) |
 | `quietStartup` | boolean | `false` | Hide startup header |
 | `collapseChangelog` | boolean | `false` | Show condensed changelog after updates |
+| `enableInstallTelemetry` | boolean | `true` | Send an anonymous version/update ping after changelog-detected updates |
 | `doubleEscapeAction` | string | `"tree"` | Action for double-escape: `"tree"`, `"fork"`, or `"none"` |
 | `treeFilterMode` | string | `"default"` | Default filter for `/tree`: `"default"`, `"no-tools"`, `"user-only"`, `"labeled-only"`, `"all"` |
 | `editorPaddingX` | number | `0` | Horizontal padding for input editor (0-3) |

packages/coding-agent/src/cli/args.ts

@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@ ${chalk.bold("Environment Variables:")}
   ${ENV_AGENT_DIR.padEnd(32)} - Session storage directory (default: ~/${CONFIG_DIR_NAME}/agent)
   PI_PACKAGE_DIR                   - Override package directory (for Nix/Guix store paths)
   PI_OFFLINE                       - Disable startup network operations when set to 1/true/yes
+  PI_TELEMETRY                     - Override install telemetry when set to 1/true/yes or 0/false/no
   PI_SHARE_VIEWER_URL              - Base URL for /share command (default: https://pi.dev/session/)
   PI_AI_ANTIGRAVITY_VERSION        - Override Antigravity User-Agent version (e.g., 1.23.0)
 

packages/coding-agent/src/core/settings-manager.ts

@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ export interface Settings {
 	shellCommandPrefix?: string; // Prefix prepended to every bash command (e.g., "shopt -s expand_aliases" for alias support)
 	npmCommand?: string[]; // Command used for npm package lookup/install operations, argv-style (e.g., ["mise", "exec", "node@20", "--", "npm"])
 	collapseChangelog?: boolean; // Show condensed changelog after update (use /changelog for full)
+	enableInstallTelemetry?: boolean; // default: true - anonymous version/update ping after changelog-detected updates
 	packages?: PackageSource[]; // Array of npm/git package sources (string or object with filtering)
 	extensions?: string[]; // Array of local extension file paths or directories
 	skills?: string[]; // Array of local skill file paths or directories
@@ -736,6 +737,16 @@ export class SettingsManager {
 		this.save();
 	}
 
+	getEnableInstallTelemetry(): boolean {
+		return this.settings.enableInstallTelemetry ?? true;
+	}
+
+	setEnableInstallTelemetry(enabled: boolean): void {
+		this.globalSettings.enableInstallTelemetry = enabled;
+		this.markModified("enableInstallTelemetry");
+		this.save();
+	}
+
 	getPackages(): PackageSource[] {
 		return [...(this.settings.packages ?? [])];
 	}

packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/components/settings-selector.ts

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ export interface SettingsConfig {
 	availableThemes: string[];
 	hideThinkingBlock: boolean;
 	collapseChangelog: boolean;
+	enableInstallTelemetry: boolean;
 	doubleEscapeAction: "fork" | "tree" | "none";
 	treeFilterMode: "default" | "no-tools" | "user-only" | "labeled-only" | "all";
 	showHardwareCursor: boolean;
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ export interface SettingsCallbacks {
 	onThemePreview?: (theme: string) => void;
 	onHideThinkingBlockChange: (hidden: boolean) => void;
 	onCollapseChangelogChange: (collapsed: boolean) => void;
+	onEnableInstallTelemetryChange: (enabled: boolean) => void;
 	onDoubleEscapeActionChange: (action: "fork" | "tree" | "none") => void;
 	onTreeFilterModeChange: (mode: "default" | "no-tools" | "user-only" | "labeled-only" | "all") => void;
 	onShowHardwareCursorChange: (enabled: boolean) => void;
@@ -206,6 +208,13 @@ export class SettingsSelectorComponent extends Container {
 				currentValue: config.quietStartup ? "true" : "false",
 				values: ["true", "false"],
 			},
+			{
+				id: "install-telemetry",
+				label: "Install telemetry",
+				description: "Send an anonymous version/update ping after changelog-detected updates",
+				currentValue: config.enableInstallTelemetry ? "true" : "false",
+				values: ["true", "false"],
+			},
 			{
 				id: "double-escape-action",
 				label: "Double-escape action",
@@ -396,6 +405,9 @@ export class SettingsSelectorComponent extends Container {
 					case "quiet-startup":
 						callbacks.onQuietStartupChange(newValue === "true");
 						break;
+					case "install-telemetry":
+						callbacks.onEnableInstallTelemetryChange(newValue === "true");
+						break;
 					case "double-escape-action":
 						callbacks.onDoubleEscapeActionChange(newValue as "fork" | "tree");
 						break;

packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts

@@ -136,6 +136,11 @@ function isAnthropicSubscriptionAuthKey(apiKey: string | undefined): boolean {
 	return typeof apiKey === "string" && apiKey.startsWith("sk-ant-oat");
 }
 
+function isTruthyEnvFlag(value: string | undefined): boolean {
+	if (!value) return false;
+	return value === "1" || value.toLowerCase() === "true" || value.toLowerCase() === "yes";
+}
+
 /**
  * Options for InteractiveMode initialization.
  */
@@ -767,20 +772,41 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 		const entries = parseChangelog(changelogPath);
 
 		if (!lastVersion) {
-			// Fresh install - just record the version, don't show changelog
+			// Fresh install - record the version, send telemetry, don't show changelog
 			this.settingsManager.setLastChangelogVersion(VERSION);
+			this.reportInstallTelemetry(VERSION);
 			return undefined;
-		} else {
-			const newEntries = getNewEntries(entries, lastVersion);
-			if (newEntries.length > 0) {
-				this.settingsManager.setLastChangelogVersion(VERSION);
-				return newEntries.map((e) => e.content).join("\n\n");
-			}
+		}
+
+		const newEntries = getNewEntries(entries, lastVersion);
+		if (newEntries.length > 0) {
+			this.settingsManager.setLastChangelogVersion(VERSION);
+			this.reportInstallTelemetry(VERSION);
+			return newEntries.map((e) => e.content).join("\n\n");
 		}
 
 		return undefined;
 	}
 
+	private reportInstallTelemetry(version: string): void {
+		if (process.env.PI_OFFLINE) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		const telemetryEnv = process.env.PI_TELEMETRY;
+		const telemetryEnabled =
+			telemetryEnv !== undefined ? isTruthyEnvFlag(telemetryEnv) : this.settingsManager.getEnableInstallTelemetry();
+		if (!telemetryEnabled) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		void fetch(`https://pi.dev/install?version=${encodeURIComponent(version)}`, {
+			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(5000),
+		})
+			.then(() => undefined)
+			.catch(() => undefined);
+	}
+
 	private getMarkdownThemeWithSettings(): MarkdownTheme {
 		return {
 			...getMarkdownTheme(),
@@ -3352,6 +3378,7 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 					availableThemes: getAvailableThemes(),
 					hideThinkingBlock: this.hideThinkingBlock,
 					collapseChangelog: this.settingsManager.getCollapseChangelog(),
+					enableInstallTelemetry: this.settingsManager.getEnableInstallTelemetry(),
 					doubleEscapeAction: this.settingsManager.getDoubleEscapeAction(),
 					treeFilterMode: this.settingsManager.getTreeFilterMode(),
 					showHardwareCursor: this.settingsManager.getShowHardwareCursor(),
@@ -3427,6 +3454,9 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 					onCollapseChangelogChange: (collapsed) => {
 						this.settingsManager.setCollapseChangelog(collapsed);
 					},
+					onEnableInstallTelemetryChange: (enabled) => {
+						this.settingsManager.setEnableInstallTelemetry(enabled);
+					},
 					onQuietStartupChange: (enabled) => {
 						this.settingsManager.setQuietStartup(enabled);
 					},