Planner-Executor In Action
Practice planner-executor as a multi-model cost tradeoff: when a larger planner and smaller executor win over one shared model.
Single Model Versus Split Roles
Planner-executor is a technique that separates planning from execution: a planner turns a customer ask into reviewable work slices, and executors implement those slices. Most factories start with a single-model setup—the same model handles both roles. That default is simple: one configuration, one price sheet, and no role-to-model mapping to maintain. A multi-model setup keeps the same planner-executor pattern but assigns a larger planner model and a smaller executor model. The split can win on cost when planning needs heavier judgment than routine execution, or on quality when a stronger planner produces cleaner slices while a lighter executor still finishes the work well enough. Choose the split when those gains outweigh the extra model wiring; keep one shared model when they do not.The Multi-Model Pattern
In the multi-model form of planner-executor, a larger model owns planning and a smaller model owns execution. The roles stay the same; only the model mapping changes. Scan the pattern below before comparing costs.- Larger model plansA stronger planner model turns the customer ask into reviewable work slices and keeps the overall factory direction coherent.
- Smaller model executesA lighter executor model implements those slices without carrying the full planning load on every step.
- Same roles, split modelsPlanner and executor stay distinct jobs; the multi-model win comes from assigning different models to those jobs, not from inventing new roles.
Try Model And Token Choices
A model-cost playground lets you pick primary and secondary models and token budgets, then see the resulting cost for the same planner-executor roles. Practice those choices when the interactive widget is available; otherwise the labeled model-cost playground marker shows where that practice fits after the pattern list.Compare Single-Model And Split Cost
Compare one shared model priced for all planner and executor tokens against a split where a larger planner model handles planning tokens and a smaller executor model handles execution tokens. Focus follows the split series so you can see when the multi-model mapping lowers total USD for the same work shape.Single-model versus split planner-executor cost
Y axis: USD.
- Single shared model
- Larger planner / smaller executor