/claudex-route

name: claudex-route
description: "Recommend a model and a scoped handoff for a task in Claude Code or Codex. Use when choosing who should handle a task, seeking a second opinion, getting unstuck, or delegating focused work; execute one handoff when requested."

Claudex Route

Choose a useful next step for the task: keep it with the current agent, obtain a second opinion, investigate a blocker, or delegate a bounded piece of work. Give a brief recommendation before any requested execution. This skill is self-contained and does not start Claudex Loop, require a formal plan, or create review logs.

Understand the job

Use the current conversation and just enough relevant project context to identify the host, current model when known, desired outcome, and constraints. Consider ambiguity, code dependencies, verification difficulty, context size, and cost or speed preferences. A short prompt can describe a difficult task. Preserve explicit model and provider choices; do not silently replace them with your preferred pairing.

Treat a request for advice as recommendation-only. A request to route and perform work authorizes the scoped handoff within the user's existing permissions. The skill invocation by itself does not authorize implementation. Ask a question only when a missing fact materially changes the recommendation or authorized work; otherwise state your assumption.

Choose the role before the model

| Situation | Useful next step | |---|---| | Straightforward task, sufficient context, no reason to delegate | Stay with the current agent; avoid handoff overhead | | A consequential or ambiguous plan is ready | Ask another provider to challenge requirements, assumptions, and acceptance criteria before building | | An implementation is ready | Ask another provider to inspect relevant changes against requirements, including test validity | | Repeated attempts have failed | Give another provider the reproduction, evidence, and failed approaches; ask for a testable alternative explanation | | A separable task has clear inputs and acceptance checks | Delegate that piece to a suitable smaller model and inspect its result | | The user wants repeated planning, revision, building, and independent inspection | Recommend Claudex Loop; load that separate skill only if the user requests that workflow |

The current agent keeps the user's requirements and coordinates the work. A different provider offers another perspective, not guaranteed correctness. A cheaper delegate does not need to be a peer reviewer of the entire architecture.

Select a practical candidate

Start with models available in the user's environment. The following are dated starting points (October 2026), not a permanent leaderboard:

• **GPT-6 Luna** (`gpt-6-luna`): consider for narrow, repetitive tasks with explicit checks, such as fixtures, extraction, documentation updates, or an isolated helper.
• **GPT-6.1 Sol** (`gpt-6.1-sol`) and **Claude Opus 5.5** (`claude-opus-5-5`): consider for bounded coding or investigation requiring more judgment and context than the Luna task above.
• **GPT-6 Astra** (`gpt-6-astra`) and **Claude Fable 5.1** (`claude-fable-5-1`): candidates for ambiguous work, difficult debugging, or a substantial independent review. From Codex, Fable is a candidate for cross-provider review; from Claude Code, Astra is a candidate.
• **Claude Sonnet or another available model**: retain as options when their task fit, existing context, account access, or the user's preference favors them. Cross-provider delegation is optional.

Use local model listings and CLI status/help when accessible without launching a model task. Distinguish listed, authenticated, and proven runnable: none alone establishes the others. If access or the active model is unknown, make the recommendation conditional and explain what needs checking. Do not launch paid comparison calls just to choose a model.

For price-sensitive choices or comparative claims, consult current official [OpenAI model information](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/models) and [Anthropic model information](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/about-claude/models/overview). Check [Codex usage guidance](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/pricing) when using subscription allowances. API token prices are different from subscription usage; task costs also include context transfer, reasoning, retries, and host verification. Do not call Sol cheaper than Sonnet, claim Luna is universally stronger, or promise savings without relevant evidence. If sources cannot be checked, omit numeric claims and label the cost assumption.

Return a short routing brief

Normally use fewer than 200 words:

• **Recommendation:** stay here or use a named provider/model for a specific role.
• **Why:** one or two reasons tied to this task, plus a material uncertainty if present.
• **Handoff:** the bounded assignment, relevant context/files, expected result, permitted actions, and how to check success. If staying here, give the immediate next step instead.

Offer at most one alternative when it helps a real tradeoff. Do not interview the user, generate a catalog of models, or start a plan-review loop. Do not claim to have changed the current session's model; a child CLI invocation is a separate session.

Execute one handoff when requested

Use the selected provider's CLI from the correct project directory, explicitly selecting the recommended or requested model for that call. Check the actual binary's version and help; consult the relevant official [Codex non-interactive guide](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/non-interactive-mode) or [Claude programmatic guide](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/headless) if needed. Avoid changing global defaults, installing software, or switching models silently to make a call succeed.

Pass a self-contained brief with the goal, relevant requirements and files, constraints, expected output, and verification. For debugging, include failed attempts. For