# Model selection guide (Copilot CLI)

Reference for picking a model/agent per plan phase. Referenced from
`instructions/workflow.instructions.md` rather than inlined there, so this table can be
updated independently whenever the available model lineup or pricing changes.

Update this table directly when the model lineup changes — no need to touch the workflow
instructions to do so.

| Model | When to use it | 💡 Smartness | ⚡ Speed | 💲 Cost |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| _(fill in current lineup here)_ | | | | |

## Rough guidance

- **Hardest, most open-ended tasks** (complex refactoring, ambiguous debugging, deep
  architectural analysis, long multi-step reasoning): pick the highest-smartness model
  available, accept lower speed/higher cost.
- **Routine, well-specified work** (mechanical edits, bulk reads/exploration, formatting,
  straightforward test/lint fixes): pick a lower-cost, faster model — this is most of a
  typical phase's work.
- **PR-feedback loops and unresolved-comment rechecks**: usually mechanical; only escalate
  to a higher-smartness model if a review comment surfaces genuine ambiguity.
- When in doubt, the executing agent should state which tier it picked and why, so it can
  be verified rather than silently over- or under-spending.