SOTA Coding Models Are Only for Hardest Tasks; Harness Trumps the Model
StewartalsopIII · x · 2026-07-06
The author argues that today's most powerful models should be reserved exclusively for cutting-edge (SOTA) programming tasks. Routine work can be handled by a 2025-level model paired with an excellent harness (scheduling/engineering framework). They note that model providers are becoming commoditized, making an in-house harness far more critical than relying on vendors. While Anthropic's Fable currently holds roughly a 3-month lead, this competitive window is limited.
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