Task Tool + External Models: Quick Reference

The Simple Truth

There are TWO ways to run any agent with external AI models:

Preference Order: 1. ✅ First: Check if agent supports PROXY_MODE (see table below) 2. ✅ If yes: Use Task + PROXY_MODE approach 3. ✅ If no: Use Bash + CLI approach with --agent flag

Approach 1: Bash + CLI (Simplest, Universal)

Works with ANY agent - no PROXY_MODE support required!

# Pattern
echo "{PROMPT}" | npx claudish --agent {PLUGIN}:{AGENT} --model {MODEL_ID} --stdin --quiet
# Examples
# dev plugin agents
echo "Research React hooks best practices" | npx claudish --agent dev:researcher --model x-ai/grok-code-fast-1 --stdin --quiet
echo "Debug this error: TypeError undefined" | npx claudish --agent dev:debugger --model google/gemini-3-pro-preview --stdin --quiet
echo "Design a microservices architecture" | npx claudish --agent dev:architect --model openai/gpt-5.2 --stdin --quiet
# Any agent from any plugin
echo "Review the code at src/utils.ts" | npx claudish --agent frontend:reviewer --model deepseek/deepseek-chat --stdin --quiet

CLI Reference:

claudish [options]

--agent <name>       Specify an agent (e.g., dev:researcher, agentdev:reviewer)
--model <id>         AI model to use (e.g., x-ai/grok-code-fast-1)
--stdin              Read prompt from stdin
--quiet              Minimal output
--no-auto-approve    Disable auto-approve (prompts enabled) - rarely needed

Parallel Execution via Bash:

# Run multiple agents/models in parallel (auto-approve is default, no flag needed)
echo "Review plan.md" | npx claudish --agent dev:architect --model x-ai/grok-code-fast-1 --stdin --quiet > /tmp/grok-review.md &
echo "Review plan.md" | npx claudish --agent dev:architect --model google/gemini-3-pro-preview --stdin --quiet > /tmp/gemini-review.md &
echo "Review plan.md" | npx claudish --agent dev:architect --model openai/gpt-5.2 --stdin --quiet > /tmp/gpt5-review.md &
wait

# All 3 run in parallel!

Approach 2: Task + PROXY_MODE (Within Orchestration)

Requires agents with <proxy_mode_support> blocks.

PROXY_MODE is NOT a Task tool parameter. It goes IN THE PROMPT.

The Task tool's model parameter only accepts: sonnet, opus, haiku (Claude models).

Tool call shape (illustrative):

// CORRECT - PROXY_MODE in prompt, not as parameter
Task({
  description: "Grok code review",
  subagent_type: "agentdev:reviewer",  // Must support PROXY_MODE
  run_in_background: true,
  prompt: `PROXY_MODE: x-ai/grok-code-fast-1

Review the implementation at /path/to/file.ts

Focus on:
1. Error handling
2. Performance
3. Security`
})

Common Mistakes

Which Agents Support PROXY_MODE?

For Task + PROXY_MODE approach (Approach 2), only these agents work:

For Bash + CLI approach (Approach 1): ALL agents work!

Model IDs

Note: Model IDs change frequently. Use claudish --top-models for current list.

# Get current available models
claudish --top-models    # Best value paid models
claudish --free          # Free models

# Example model IDs (verify with commands above)
x-ai/grok-code-fast-1       # Grok (fast coding)
minimax/minimax-m2.1        # MiniMax
google/gemini-3-pro-preview # Gemini Pro
openai/gpt-5.2              # GPT-5.2
deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3   # DeepSeek
qwen/qwen3-coder:free       # Free Qwen coder

Prefix routing: Use direct API prefixes for cost savings: oai/ (OpenAI), g/ (Gemini), mmax/ (MiniMax), kimi/ (Kimi), glm/ (GLM).

When to Use Which Approach

Default: Use PROXY_MODE if agent supports it.

Parallel Multi-Model Review (Task Approach)

Tool call shape (illustrative):

// Launch multiple models in parallel (same message)
Task({
  description: "Grok review",
  subagent_type: "agentdev:reviewer",
  run_in_background: true,
  prompt: `PROXY_MODE: x-ai/grok-code-fast-1
Review /path/to/plan.md`
})

Task({
  description: "GPT-5 review",
  subagent_type: "agentdev:reviewer",
  run_in_background: true,
  prompt: `PROXY_MODE: openai/gpt-5.2
Review /path/to/plan.md`
})

Task({
  description: "Gemini review",
  subagent_type: "agentdev:reviewer",
  run_in_background: true,
  prompt: `PROXY_MODE: google/gemini-3-pro-preview
Review /path/to/plan.md`
})

Summary

If agent doesn't support PROXY_MODE (or you want simpler approach):

echo "Your task" | npx claudish --agent {plugin}:{agent} --model {model-id} --stdin --quiet

If using Task tool within orchestration:

Put PROXY_MODE: {model-id} on the FIRST LINE of the prompt.
Use a PROXY_MODE-enabled agent (see table above).

Related Skills

• orchestration:proxy-mode-reference - Complete PROXY_MODE documentation
• orchestration:multi-model-validation - Full parallel validation patterns
• orchestration:model-tracking-protocol - Progress tracking during reviews
• orchestration:error-recovery - Handle PROXY_MODE failures and timeouts