Hands-on agent playbook: don't mix models, set budgets, and beware 2000-line CSS

kevinkern · x · 2026-09-13

Astra excels at computer use but may open a browser to read docs when a CLI command would do — add a line to AGENTS.md or check installed skills.
Use GPT-6 Pro in ChatGPT for brainstorming and handoff prompts; regular chats don't count toward Codex limits, GPT Work does.
Before adding a skill, ask: "Don't just agree with me — tell me if a simpler option is better."
Don't mix models to save money: in one run Astra silently discarded DeepSeek's 3D result and rebuilt it; cheaper workers often get redone anyway.
Current stack: Sol for implementation with a few curated skills, Astra as advisor; Astra only for 3D/design.
Astra writes 2000-LOC unreadable CSS that works — accept minified output or skip it for coding.
For UI reworks, have Codex generate a GPT Image mockup from your design system first.
Set max budgets/time limits, let it check remaining Codex usage, and use constraints like "stop immediately if you have questions — I'm the lead designer."

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