Show HN: Ultracodex – Run Claude Ultracode Dynamic Workflows with Codex Agents
Ultracodex is an open-source engine that runs Claude's ultracode workflows using Codex agents, preserving Claude Fable's quota for high-value tasks. It seamlessly hands off workflows between Claude and Codex, letting users save tokens while Codex handles mundane implementation with generous limits.
Background
- Claude Fable (also called "Claude Code") is Anthropic's command-line AI coding tool that can use "ultracode mode" — a workflow where Claude writes small JavaScript programs that coordinate multiple AI sub-agents to solve complex tasks. This is powerful but consumes plan tokens very quickly.
- Codex is a competing AI coding agent, typically referring to products built on OpenAI's models (often via platforms like Cursor or the Codex CLI), known for having more generous usage limits.
- "Plan tokens" or "quota" refers to the limited monthly usage allowance users get with paid tiers of AI tools like Claude. Heavy use of agentic workflows burns through this fast.
- "Loop engineering" refers to designing iterative workflows where a model repeatedly delegates tasks, checks results, and loops back — a technique for handling large, complex problems that would exceed a single model's context window or token budget.
- Ultracodex bridges the two ecosystems: Claude (expensive, good at planning and reasoning) writes the workflow scripts; Codex agents (cheaper, generous limits) execute the mundane implementation steps. The user gets Claude's strengths without blowing through the quota.