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Version: Next

0007: Auto effort is a standing preference, not per-ticket

  • Status: Accepted
  • Date: 2026-08-28
  • Related: 0005

Context​

Each actor in the roster can run at a chosen claude --effort level (low, medium, high, xhigh, max), configurable the same way its model is. Anthropic's own guidance favors leaving effort on auto rather than hand-tuning it per task. Separately, model and effort are prompt-cache keys: changing either mid-run invalidates the prompt cache for that run.

Decision​

Auto effort is a standing preference, set once in the roster (~/.orion/agents.json, per 0005), not chosen per ticket. Escalating effort for a specific run must happen at a fresh run — never mid-run — because model and effort are prompt-cache keys.

Consequences​

  • There is no per-ticket effort override; changing effort means changing the roster entry before starting the next run, not asking a run already in progress to escalate.
  • Any tooling, prompt, or documentation suggesting "bump the effort for just this ticket" mid-run is inconsistent with this decision and should be corrected rather than accommodated.