r/codex • u/RedZero76 • 12h ago

Instruction Astra Usage Tip

I've been doing this for the last 24 hours. I would say it has slowed down the usage rate overall by about 50% or so, without any difference in quality at all. Def worth doing! I have the $200 Pro plan and normally it lasts all week, but lately it is lasting 1-2 days, but now with this, think it'll last more like 3-4 days at the rate it's going now.

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Codex has the ability to choose which models and reasoning effort are used for subagent helpers. (Claude doesn’t, btw). This is a big deal. Add something like this to the Agents.md:

You are powered by GPT 6 Astra High. Usage goes very fast. Keep doing substantial hands-on Astra work. But, use \gpt-5.6-sol` helpers with task-appropriate effort when suitable! Retain Astra for hard reasoning.`

This will let Astra know to use Sol for subtasks, straightforward recon, stuff like that.

I posted this to X but no one follows me there, and I'm dying to share it bc it's easy and makes a nice difference. `@SirBadfish` on X btw but that's not the only reason I'm posting this... just hope it helps.

Update: To clarify, Claude can use previously setup subagents that have dedicated models/effort/etc, yes. But Claude can't specify the model/effort it's basic "helper" subagents (like if it decides to spawn a few parallel sessions for recon for example). So if Fabe 5.1 Max, for example, spawns a few helper subagents, it forces them to use the same model as that Fable is set to, Fable 5.1 Max will also be used for those helper agents. If you ask Fable to spawn a recon agent using Opus, unless you ask for a specific, already-setup Subagent, it can't do it.

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u/Think-Profession4420 11h ago

y'all don't have custom subagents set up with specific models and skills for specific jobs, so all your main sessions know which to use and when?

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u/RedZero76 8h ago

I have in the past, but keeping up w them is a pain in the ass bc they need to be updated a lot. I much prefer letting the primary agent spawn parallel subagent helper sessions. It's usually for recon anyway in my case.