model-router
Choose model tier by task complexity. Keep routine work cheap. Escalate only when required.
npx skills add majiayu000/claude-skill-registry --skill model-router --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
--- name: model-router description: Route work to the cheapest model tier that can reliably complete it. Use when: (1) choosing a model for a task, (2) deciding model level for sub-agents, (3) escalating after a failed attempt, (4) avoiding premium-model overuse on routine work. category: principles user-invocable: true --- # Model Router Choose model tier by task complexity. Keep routine work cheap. Escalate only when required. ## Core Policy - Classify each task first: `ROUTINE`, `MODERATE`, or `COMPLEX`. - Start with the lowest tier that can succeed. - Escalate one tier after a quality failure. - Keep sub-agents on the cheapest viable tier by default. ## Task Classification ### ROUTINE Use lowest-cost tier. Signals: - File reads/writes - Status checks and health checks - Deterministic formatting/transformations - Bulk fetch/lookup tasks with clear success criteria ### MODERATE Use mid-tier. Signals: - Multi-step synthesis - Standard code generation/refactoring - Non-trivial summaries - Typical implementation tasks with known patterns ### COMPLEX Use top-tier. Signals: - Ambiguous requirements - Novel debugging/root-cause analysis - Architecture tradeoffs - Security-sensitive rea
- Core Policy
- Task Classification
- ROUTINE
- MODERATE
- COMPLEX
- Escalation And De-escalation
- Sub-Agent Rules
- Anti-Patterns
- Quick Decision Flow
What does the model-router skill do?
Choose model tier by task complexity. Keep routine work cheap. Escalate only when required.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add majiayu000/claude-skill-registry --skill model-router --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From majiayu000/claude-skill-registry, a repository with 534 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.