How to run big Claude Code tasks as workflows with ultracode

With ultracode on, Claude Code stops working through a task turn by turn and instead writes a workflow script that splits the work across many agents. On X it spread as "Opus plans, Haiku scans, Sonnet ships." The official docs list three ways to turn it on.

To run a single task as a workflow, put the keyword ultracode in your prompt. Asking in plain words, like "use a workflow," works too.

ultracode: audit every API endpoint under src/routes/ for missing auth checks

To keep it on for the session, type /effort ultracode; turn it off with /effort ultracode off. To start with it already on, launch like this, which also sets effort to xhigh.

claude --model opus --effort ultracode

To turn it on for every session, add it to your settings file.

// ~/.claude/settings.json
{
  "ultracode": true
}

Models aren't split per stage automatically. Unless the script or your settings name one, workflow agents run on the session's model. For light stages such as scanning files, say so when you ask, and ask for a smaller model there.

With it on, one request can turn into several workflows in a row, so it costs more tokens and time, and on a subscription plan you hit usage limits sooner. If the keyword triggers by accident, press Option+W on macOS or Alt+W on Windows and Linux to dismiss it for that prompt.

--effort ultracode needs v2.1.203 or later, and /effort ultracode off needs v2.1.284 or later.