Problem

Different deployment contexts require different default configurations — model selection, MCP servers, default agent, UI settings. Currently there is no mechanism to pre-configure Gaia for a specific deployment target without modifying code. A profile system would allow a single codebase to serve multiple deployment scenarios.

Proposed Changes

1. Profile Format

Define a deployment profile as a single JSON file that specifies defaults:

• Default model (name, source URL, expected size)
• MCP server configuration (which servers to pre-configure)
• Default agent ID (for the agent registry/selector)
• UI defaults (theme, feature flags)

Profile storage: .gaia/profiles/<name>.json

• default.json — OSS/community default
• Custom profiles for specific deployment targets

2. Profile Loading

• --profile <name> flag at first run loads the named profile
• Profile sets initial values for all configuration areas
• User can override any profile default through the normal settings UI
• If no profile is specified, default.json is used

3. Profile Embedding in Installers

• Installers (Desktop installer: one-click install with NSIS, DMG, AppImage + auto-update #530) can embed a profile that auto-loads on first run
• Silent/unattended installs use the embedded profile without prompting
• The first-run onboarding flow (feat(agent-ui): first-run setup wizard / onboarding flow #597) pre-fills settings from the active profile

Files Likely Affected

• src/gaia/ — profile schema definition, profile loader
• .gaia/profiles/ — profile JSON files
• src/gaia_ui/backend/ — profile-aware configuration initialization

Acceptance Criteria

• Profile JSON schema defined and validated on load
• --profile <name> flag loads the named profile and sets defaults
• Profile defaults are overridable through the UI without modifying the profile file
• Installer can embed a profile for first-run auto-configuration
• Profile system is extensible for custom deployment targets

References

• Related: Desktop installer: one-click install with NSIS, DMG, AppImage + auto-update #530 (Desktop installer: one-click install)
• Related: feat(agent-ui): first-run setup wizard / onboarding flow #597 (First-run onboarding and system setup)
• Related: Agent UI: Agent Registry and Selection #612 (Agent UI: Agent Registry and Selection — profile sets default agent)