fleet-doctrine

Model routing strategy for a multi-model AI fleet. Use when spawning sub-agents, choosing models for scheduled jobs, delegating coding tasks, or deciding which model should handle a task.

Fleet Doctrine — Model Routing

Send each task to the model class that fits it. Fall back to whatever you actually have rather than failing. This is intent, not a pin list — use the current model in each class, not an old version string.

Priority

1. Opus-class — judgement, security, high-stakes calls, reviewing others
2. Coding agent (Claude Code or Codex) — implementation
3. Sonnet-class — routine / scheduled / templated work
4. Fast generalist (current GPT or Grok) — speed, second opinions
5. Dedicated image/video model — stills and video
6. Long-context / multimodal (Gemini-class) — huge docs, mixed media

Aliases

Treat these as classes, not frozen IDs:

• opus → current Opus-class reasoning model
• sonnet → current Sonnet-class workhorse
• codex → current Codex / coding-agent model
• gpt → current GPT-class generalist
• grok → current Grok generalist
• imagine → current Grok Imagine image/video model
• gemini → current Gemini-class long-context / multimodal model

Do not publish or hardcode a dated model ID unless you need a reproducible run.

Routing

Opus-class — commander

Main-session judgement, orchestration, security decisions, ambiguous calls, and review of other models' output. Do not spend it on scheduled jobs, lookups, or templates.

Coding agent — implementer

Refactors, features, repo work, PR review, debugging, technical drafting. Claude Code is a strong default; Codex is the second engine or parallel pair. Do not use a coding agent for non-coding work.

Sonnet-class — workhorse

Scheduled jobs, briefings, routine admin, drafts, form letters, anything repetitive. Default for crons unless the job needs real reasoning.

Fast generalist — backup

GPT-class or Grok when the first two are busy or you want a cheap second look: sanity-checks, lightweight review, fast research, drafts.

Image / video — dedicated model

Use a dedicated image/video model (Grok Imagine is a strong default). Do not send stills or video to a general chat model, including Gemini, unless that is all you have.

Gemini-class — long context

Very long documents and multimodal analysis. Not the default for image generation.

Decision flow

1. Routine / scheduled / templated? → Sonnet-class
2. Image or video? → dedicated image/video model
3. Huge document or mixed media? → Gemini-class
4. Coding / repo work? → coding agent (second engine if you want a pair)
5. High-stakes, security, or unclear? → Opus-class
6. Need a fast extra opinion? → GPT or Grok

Fallback

If a class is missing on your instance, use the closest thing you have. A finished job on a worse-fit model beats a failed job on the "right" one.

Anti-patterns

• Opus-class on summaries or crons
• Sonnet-class on hard multi-step reasoning
• Coding agent on non-coding work
• Chat model for image/video when a dedicated model exists
• Spawning several models on one task unless you deliberately want a second opinion