diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9cc7b53706..ce9ec257dc 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot
 - Agents: auto-compact on context overflow prompt errors before failing. (#1627) Thanks @rodrigouroz.
 - Agents: use the active auth profile for auto-compaction recovery.
 - Models: default missing custom provider fields so minimal configs are accepted.
+- Models/Heartbeat: normalize provider-less default model fallback and skip empty checklist items. (#1762) Thanks @senoldogann.
 - Media understanding: skip image understanding when the primary model already supports vision. (#1747) Thanks @tyler6204.
 - Gateway: skip Tailscale DNS probing when tailscale.mode is off. (#1671)
 - Gateway: reduce log noise for late invokes + remote node probes; debounce skills refresh. (#1607) Thanks @petter-b.
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index d6eb0532fc..2ab4fe5510 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ AI PRs are first-class citizens here. We just want transparency so reviewers kno
 We are currently prioritizing:
 - **Stability**: Fixing edge cases in channel connections (WhatsApp/Telegram).
 - **UX**: Improving the onboarding wizard and error messages.
-- **Skills**: Expanding the library of bundled skills and improving the Skill Creation developer experience.
+- **Skills**: ClawdHub-first (no new core/bundled skills).
 - **Performance**: Optimizing token usage and compaction logic.
 
 Check the [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/clawdbot/clawdbot/issues) for "good first issue" labels!
diff --git a/docs/tools/creating-skills.md b/docs/tools/creating-skills.md
index 77e3415d2a..c305d06cdc 100644
--- a/docs/tools/creating-skills.md
+++ b/docs/tools/creating-skills.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ A skill is a directory containing a `SKILL.md` file (which provides instructions
 ## Step-by-Step: Your First Skill
 
 ### 1. Create the Directory
-Skills live in your workspace, usually `~/clawd/skills/`. Create a new folder for your skill:
+Skills live in your workspace at `<workspace>/skills` (default: `~/clawd/skills`). Create a new folder for your skill:
 ```bash
 mkdir -p ~/clawd/skills/hello-world
 ```
@@ -23,18 +23,18 @@ description: A simple skill that says hello.
 ---
 
 # Hello World Skill
-When the user asks for a greeting, use the `echo` tool to say "Hello from your custom skill!".
+When the user asks for a greeting, use the `exec` tool to run `echo "Hello from your custom skill!"`.
 ```
 
 ### 3. Add Tools (Optional)
-You can define custom tools in the frontmatter or instruct the agent to use existing system tools (like `bash` or `browser`).
+You can define custom tools in the frontmatter or instruct the agent to use existing system tools (like `exec` or `web`).
 
 ### 4. Refresh Clawdbot
-Ask your agent to "refresh skills" or restart the gateway. Clawdbot will discover the new directory and index the `SKILL.md`.
+If the skills watcher is enabled (default), changes are picked up automatically. Otherwise restart the gateway or start a new session to refresh the skills snapshot.
 
 ## Best Practices
 - **Be Concise**: Instruct the model on *what* to do, not how to be an AI.
-- **Safety First**: If your skill uses `bash`, ensure the prompts don't allow arbitrary command injection from untrusted user input.
+- **Safety First**: If your skill uses `exec`, ensure the prompts don't allow arbitrary command injection from untrusted user input.
 - **Test Locally**: Use `clawdbot agent --message "use my new skill"` to test.
 
 ## Shared Skills
diff --git a/src/agents/model-selection.ts b/src/agents/model-selection.ts
index e05370edd8..4205e0258c 100644
--- a/src/agents/model-selection.ts
+++ b/src/agents/model-selection.ts
@@ -137,10 +137,11 @@ export function resolveConfiguredModelRef(params: {
       if (aliasMatch) return aliasMatch.ref;
 
       // Default to anthropic if no provider is specified, but warn as this is deprecated.
+      const normalized = normalizeProviderModelId("anthropic", trimmed);
       console.warn(
-        `[clawdbot] Model "${trimmed}" specified without provider. Falling back to "anthropic/${trimmed}". Please use "anthropic/${trimmed}" in your config.`,
+        `[clawdbot] Model "${trimmed}" specified without provider. Falling back to "anthropic/${normalized}". Please use "anthropic/${normalized}" in your config.`,
       );
-      return { provider: "anthropic", model: trimmed };
+      return { provider: "anthropic", model: normalized };
     }
 
     const resolved = resolveModelRefFromString({
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/heartbeat.test.ts b/src/auto-reply/heartbeat.test.ts
index dd952e0373..8be176892c 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/heartbeat.test.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/heartbeat.test.ts
@@ -133,6 +133,15 @@ describe("isHeartbeatContentEffectivelyEmpty", () => {
     expect(isHeartbeatContentEffectivelyEmpty("# HEARTBEAT.md\n\n")).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  it("returns true for empty list items", () => {
+    expect(isHeartbeatContentEffectivelyEmpty("- ")).toBe(true);
+    expect(isHeartbeatContentEffectivelyEmpty("- [ ]")).toBe(true);
+    expect(isHeartbeatContentEffectivelyEmpty("- [x]")).toBe(true);
+    expect(isHeartbeatContentEffectivelyEmpty("* [ ]")).toBe(true);
+    expect(isHeartbeatContentEffectivelyEmpty("+ [ ]")).toBe(true);
+    expect(isHeartbeatContentEffectivelyEmpty("# HEARTBEAT.md\n- [ ]")).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it("returns true for comments only", () => {
     expect(isHeartbeatContentEffectivelyEmpty("# Header\n# Another comment")).toBe(true);
     expect(isHeartbeatContentEffectivelyEmpty("## Subheader\n### Another")).toBe(true);