Refactor model download handling to use background tasks

- Moved model download logic into a separate asynchronous function to allow non-blocking HTTP responses.
- Improved error handling by tracking download status and reporting errors without interrupting the main request flow.
- The frontend is now expected to poll the progress endpoint for download status updates.

backend/main.py

@@ -1209,22 +1209,22 @@ async def trigger_model_download(request: models.ModelDownloadRequest):
     
     config = model_configs[request.model_name]
     
+    async def download_in_background():
+        """Download model in background without blocking the HTTP request."""
         try:
+            await asyncio.to_thread(config["load_func"])
+            task_manager.complete_download(request.model_name)
+        except Exception as e:
+            task_manager.error_download(request.model_name, str(e))
+
     # Start tracking download
     task_manager.start_download(request.model_name)
 
-        # Trigger download by loading the model (which will download if not cached)
+    # Start download in background task (don't await)
-        # Run in background to avoid blocking
+    asyncio.create_task(download_in_background())
-        await asyncio.to_thread(config["load_func"])
-        
-        # Mark download as complete
-        task_manager.complete_download(request.model_name)
 
+    # Return immediately - frontend should poll progress endpoint
     return {"message": f"Model {request.model_name} download started"}
-    except Exception as e:
-        # Mark download as failed
-        task_manager.error_download(request.model_name, str(e))
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=str(e))
 
 
 @app.delete("/models/{model_name}")