---
title: "A Claude Code mod that tells you which model your prompt needs, before you send it"
url: "https://claudemods.dev/en/builds/a-claude-code-mod-that-tells-you-which-model-your-prompt-nee-966bdc"
source: "https://github.com/hashswingingslasher/model-hint"
source_type: "github"
repo: "https://github.com/hashswingingslasher/model-hint"
author: "berd_is_the_word"
author_handle: "berd_is_the_word"
stars: 0
category: "Multi-agent orchestration"
categories: ["agents"]
tags: ["hooks", "model-selection", "prompt-editing", "statusline", "ui-render"]
permission_level: 3
scan_complete: true
install: "claude plugin marketplace add hashswingingslasher/model-hint\nclaude plugin install model-hint@model-hint"
added: "2026-10-21T02:04:18.215Z"
updated: "2026-10-20T14:25:07Z"
locale: "en"
content_locale: "en"
---

# A Claude Code mod that tells you which model your prompt needs, before you send it

model-hint is an open-source Claude Code mod that suggests haiku, sonnet or opus as you type a prompt, showing a one-line reason in a band above the input. It uses the mods (function hooks) API such as prompt.edit, ui.render and $.model.complete, with word rules for instant feedback and a haiku-based judgement after a short pause.

## Description

The post describes building model-hint, an open-source Claude Code mod that reads your draft prompt and displays a suggested model (haiku, sonnet or opus) with a one-line reason before you send it. It uses the mods/function hooks API: prompt.edit to read the draft, ui.render to draw the band, and $.model.complete to have haiku judge the draft. Word rules give instant answers, while a 300ms pause triggers a haiku judgement that scored 10/10 on test prompts in about 1.5s. It includes Switch, Hide and Off buttons, notes VS Code chat panel behavior, and mentions a security audit fix so drafts that look like API keys are never sent. Repository: https://github.com/hashswingingslasher/model-hint

## Install

```
claude plugin marketplace add hashswingingslasher/model-hint
claude plugin install model-hint@model-hint
```

## Original README

TLDR: Dynamic model suggestions as you are typing a task I typed "build a AAA game like GTA 5" and my first version said sonnet. So I rebuilt it to read the prompt properly. What I built model-hint is an open-source Claude Code mod. As you type, a band above the prompt says haiku, sonnet or opus with a one-line reason, before you hit Enter. Buttons: Switch, Hide, Off. How Claude Code was used I'm not a developer. I built all of it in Claude Code sessions, using the mods (function hooks) API: prompt.edit to read the draft, ui.render to draw the band, and $.model.complete to have haiku judge the draft. Claude Code also wrote the 63 tests and drove live terminal sessions to check the band actually draws before calling anything done. What I learned Word rules are fast and miss intent. Nothing in "GTA 5" says huge. Now the rules answer instantly, and after a 300 ms pause haiku reads the draft. It got 10 out of 10 on my test prompts, in about 1.5 s. Speed is the network, not the model. Haiku 4.5 and 5.5 measured the same. The VS Code chat panel sends mods no keystrokes. From extension 2.1.301 it draws the band, so the mod reads the draft on a timer there. Switch, like /model , saves your default model, not just the session's. Found by testing, and now the toast says it. An independent security audit caught that "off" only hid the band while drafts were still being sent. Fixed, and drafts that look like API keys are never sent. https://github.com/hashswingingslasher/model-hint   submitted by   /u/berd_is_the_word   to   r/ClaudeCode [link]   [comments]