GPT-5.6 Luna vs. GPT-6 Astra: Is a $1.20 Model Good Enough for Code Review?

Post by jacobgold » Mon, Sep 14, 2026, 9:11 PM UTC

aschobel wrote: post #68

jacobgold wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since you asked, the answer is that I built and use an agent multiplexer called Clor https://clor.com I have a $200/mo Claude subscription and a $200/mo Codex subscription, and I'm signed in to both. The Docker containers keep each session isolated, so dev servers, browser testing, etc. can work without conflicts. It includes `/ask-claude` and `/ask-codex` skills that I use very frequently to have the Claude or Codex…

I have a slightly jankier setup. Generally using Claude Code with Fable 5.1 (high) to plan and implement (Opus 5 (medium) as the implementer subagents), and using Codex with Astra high to review the plan and review the implementers' output. Using the OpenAI codoex plugin thingy: https://github.com/openai/codex-plugin-cc

Post by jrockway » Mon, Sep 14, 2026, 9:13 PM UTC

extr wrote: post #31

jacobgold wrote: post #8

IMHO, Codex with Astra/Sol and Claude with Fable/Opus are all any professional programmer should be using in Sep 2026, if they can afford it. These models are still terrible compared to what we'd actually wish for, but they're the best available. If you can get away with using the $200/mo subscriptions, it's really not even a money thing for most professionals. Almost all of my work is now plan, generate, review, pla…

I just tell everyone to use Fable 5.1 for everything at this point. Astra is unfortunately a dud, I'm sure they will try to fix a bunch of it with GPT-6.1 but OAI has had this issue for awhile now where every other generation has some sort of strange tic, or reward hacking issue, or something. It's almost like they are balancing the RL on the tip of a needle. Opus 5 has issues too, comment-slop, claude-ish, etc. 5.1…

Post by martin1975 » Mon, Sep 14, 2026, 9:18 PM UTC

criley2 wrote: post #10

I have been writing an internal code review tool that is a bit maximalist. I created subagents for many internal domains and technologies we manage, with prompts focused on best practices, common problems, owasp guidelines, etc), a separate tier of wider band subagents (design, rollout, security/privacy), and a final agent at the top orchestrating and combining. I also use adversarial validator passes against all fin…

Post by natebc » Mon, Sep 14, 2026, 9:26 PM UTC

nonethewiser wrote: post #55

gavinboston wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In our new world of non-deterministic output (that's why we love LLMs! they say such helpful/agreeable/sometimes wrong stuff!), I think CI won't be sufficient. CI is in the realm of Quality Control; when I build the thing, is it to spec and does it do what I need it to do? But when the model can shift underneath you, I think it will put pressure on Quality Assurance which is an evergreen task. As a parallel, drug man…

>But when the model can shift underneath you, I think it will put pressure on Quality Assurance which is an evergreen task. As a parallel, drug manufacturers don't just test their molecule and manufacturing when they build it, they test it regularly to ensure defects haven't crept in because of some unexpected input to their final output. I think that is similar to how software will evolve. The instinct seems good be…

Post by extr » Mon, Sep 14, 2026, 9:35 PM UTC

jacobgold wrote: post #38

extr wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just tell everyone to use Fable 5.1 for everything at this point. Astra is unfortunately a dud, I'm sure they will try to fix a bunch of it with GPT-6.1 but OAI has had this issue for awhile now where every other generation has some sort of strange tic, or reward hacking issue, or something. It's almost like they are balancing the RL on the tip of a needle. Opus 5 has issues too, comment-slop, claude-ish, etc. 5.1…

My trick for using Opus is using it exclusively as a subagent managed by Fable. "Use Opus subagents for this work where possible" is all it takes generally. In my experience Astra/Sol are both quite good as workhorses, but not at Fable's level. I use them every day very successfully and I'm very picky.