#21 Codex GPT-6 Luna (Multi-Agent Team Mode)

Build Detail

2026-09-23-codex-luna-6 · 0.155.1

The Story

The second Luna run on this page, one generation up from #18: gpt-6-luna at xhigh reasoning on Codex CLI 0.155.1. This time Codex uses its built-in team tools (spawn_agent, send_message, wait_agent) instead of the multi-agent v2 fleet with scientist names from #18. Same one-shot prompt as every other build, including the line “You must use sub-agents!” #18 answered it with 23 agents. This run used four.

The four agents quickly settled into an audit, fix, re-audit loop. spec_audit ran nine full passes over six hours. Every pass compared the spec files with the current code and returned a prioritized gap list with file and line numbers. It caught things like a checkout status enum that differs across three spec files, and a webhook signature that the security spec and the business logic spec define differently. browser_audit wrote most of the code (storefront and admin views, inventory, fulfillment, themes) and was also the “second agent” for browser verification. About halfway through, its Playwright MCP connection started returning Transport closed on every call and never recovered. From then on, acceptance sign-off relied on browser evidence the orchestrator passed along, without independent reproduction. discount_form handled smaller slices (discount form, navigation, apps). api_audit is a nested sub-agent: spec_audit spawned it, and it lived for 18 minutes to file one API contract audit.

The loop paid off. On its last pass, browser_audit found an open redirect in the customer login (redirectTo accepted /\attacker.test/, which browsers treat as an external URL). It was fixed and re-verified before the run ended. The Pest suite reads like a scoreboard: 75 passing tests at the first full audit, then 161, 205 and finally 228 (1,499 assertions).

The backend is broad and mostly solid: full admin CRUD, a real fulfillment and refund lifecycle, working shipping and tax settings, email notifications, and the platform and multi-store management that spec_audit pushed for. The gaps sit exactly in the blind spot the outage created, click-driven storefront behavior nobody could click through in the second half. Independent Playwright testing found four of them. The variant selector has no effect (“Add to cart” always adds S/White). PayPal and Bank Transfer never show their own form and do nothing on submit. “Log out” fires no request. The Add and Edit buttons on the address page open nothing. A working browser session would most likely have caught all four. Result: 125 of 143 tests pass (88% weighted), no data corruption, no cross-tenant leaks, and one unhandled 500 when confirming a bank transfer payment, a path the growing Pest suite never touched.

Net: cheaper and better audited than #18. $5.62 instead of $9.85, and this repository actually boots from a clean checkout, unlike #18 with its undeclared Sanctum dependency. The score is similar (88% vs. 94% weighted), and so is the reason: a verification gap the run couldn’t see. In #18, every auditor worked in the one environment that hid a missing package. Here, the auditor kept working while the only browser channel silently died. Against #19 DeepSeek V4 Pro (no browser tool at all, 83.9%), this run at least had one and used it well for three hours. That’s most of why it comes out ahead.

Duration

5h 53m 19s

Sep 23, 07:32 - Sep 23, 13:25

Estimated Cost

$5.62

375.3M billable tokens

Tool Calls

2.9K

6 unique, whole team

Sub-agents

4

2 auditors, 2 implementers

Team Total

5

orchestrator + sub-agents

Commits

19

git commits made

How the Work Was Split

audit, fix, re-audit

Mission Prompt (verbatim)

# AGENTS.md instructions for /Users/wesner/Herd/shop <INSTRUCTIONS> # Shop Self-contained e-commerce platform with multi-tenant support, product catalog, cart, checkout, payments (mock PSP), order management, customer accounts, and an admin panel. ## Tech Stack - PHP 8.4 / Laravel 12 - Livewire v4 / Flux UI Free v2 - Tailwind CSS v4 - SQLite - Pest v4 ## Specs The complete specification is in `specs/`. Start with `specs/09-IMPLEMENTATION-ROADMAP.md` for the build order, then reference the other files as needed: - `specs/01-DATABASE-SCHEMA.md` - Database schema - `specs/02-API-ROUTES.md` - Routes and API endpoints - `specs/03-ADMIN-UI.md` - Admin panel - `specs/04-STOREFRONT-UI.md` - Storefront - `specs/05-BUSINESS-LOGIC.md` - Business logic - `specs/06-AUTH-AND-SECURITY.md` - Auth and security - `specs/07-SEEDERS-AND-TEST-DATA.md` - Seeders and test data - `specs/08-PLAYWRIGHT-E2E-PLAN.md` - E2E browser tests - `specs/09-IMPLEMENTATION-ROADMAP.md` - Implementation roadmap === <laravel-boost-guidelines> === foundation rules === # Laravel Boost Guidelines The Laravel Boost guidelines are specifically curated by Laravel maintainers for this application. These guidelines should be followed closely to ensure the best experience when building Laravel applications. ## Foundational Context This application is a Laravel application running on PHP 8.4. You are an expert with the Laravel ecosystem. Always use the APIs that match the installed major version of each package — do not assume a version. Before relying on a package's API, confirm its installed version: - PHP packages: run `composer show --direct` to list direct dependencies with versions, or `composer show <vendor/package>` for a single package. - JS packages: check `package.json` for the installed versions. ## Skills Activation This project has domain-specific skills available in `**/skills/**`. You MUST activate the relevant skill whenever you work in that domain—don't wait until you're stuck. ## Conventions - You must follow all existing code conventions used in this application. When creating or editing a file, check sibling files for the correct structure, approach, and naming. - Use descriptive names for variables and methods. For example, `isRegisteredForDiscounts`, not `discount()`. - Check for existing components to reuse before writing a new one. ## Verification Scripts - Do not create verification scripts or tinker when tests cover that functionality and prove they work. Unit and feature tests are more important. ## Application Structure & Architecture - Stick to existing directory structure; don't create new base folders without approval. - Do not change the application's dependencies without approval. ## Frontend Bundling - If the user doesn't see a frontend change reflected in the UI, it could mean they need to run `npm run build`, `npm run dev`, or `composer run dev`. Ask them. ## Documentation Files - You must only create documentation files if explicitly requested by the user. ## Replies - Be concise in your explanations - focus on what's important rather than explaining obvious details. === boost rules === # Laravel Boost ## Tools - Laravel Boost is an MCP server with tools designed specifically for this application. Prefer Boost tools over manual alternatives like shell commands or file reads. - Use `database-query` to run read-only queries against the database instead of writing raw SQL in tinker. - Use `database-schema` to inspect table structure before writing migrations or models. - Use `get-absolute-url` to resolve the correct scheme, domain, and port for project URLs. Always use this before sharing a URL with the user. - Use `browser-logs` to read browser logs, errors, and exceptions. Only recent logs are useful, ignore old entries. ## Searching Documentation (IMPORTANT) - Use `search-docs` before changes that depend on Laravel ecosystem APIs, behavior, configuration, or version-specific syntax. Skip it for copy-only edits and other changes where package documentation is irrelevant. Reuse sufficient results already in context instead of searching again. - Pass a `packages` array to scope results when you know which packages are relevant. - Use multiple broad, topic-based queries: `['rate limiting', 'routing rate limiting', 'routing']`. Expect the most relevant results first. - Do not add package names to queries because package info is already shared. Use `test resource table`, not `filament 4 test resource table`. ### Search Syntax 1. Use words for auto-stemmed AND logic: `rate limit` matches both "rate" AND "limit". 2. Use `"quoted phrases"` for exact position matching: `"infinite scroll"` requires adjacent words in order. 3. Combine words and phrases for mixed queries: `middleware "rate limit"`. 4. Use multiple queries for OR logic: `queries=["authentication", "middleware"]`. ## Project Rules - This project contains committed, area-grouped rules in `.ai/rules` when that directory exists (settled decisions, non-obvious traps, standing constraints). Framework and package guidelines that only apply to specific paths (testing, frontend, components) also live there, under `.ai/rules/boost` — this is not just recorded decisions, it is load-bearing guidance you have not seen inline. Before you enter plan mode or create/edit any file, you MUST first: open @.ai/rules/index.md (it maps file globs to rule files), read every rule file whose globs cover the path(s) in scope, and run `grep -rin 'keyword' .ai/rules` to catch what a path match alone misses. Do not write code until you have read and are following every matching rule. If `.ai/rules` does not exist, continue without it. - Record a rule with `record-rule` only when the user explicitly asks for one. Instructions for the work at hand are not rules, no matter how emphatic: "remove this typo", "use X here" are work to do, not rules to record. Never record a rule on your own initiative, as a byproduct of a change, or to summarize what you just did. When the user does ask, pass a `glob` (e.g. `app/Http/Controllers/**`), a short `title`, and a few-line `note`. Use `record-rule` rather than your native memory or notes tool, because native memory is personal and session-scoped, while only `.ai/rules` is shared with the team and persists in the repo. ## Artisan - Run Artisan commands directly via the command line (e.g., `php artisan route:list`). Use `php artisan list` to discover available commands and `php artisan [command] --help` to check parameters. - Inspect routes with `php artisan route:list`. Filter with: `--method=GET`, `--name=users`, `--path=api`, `--except-vendor`, `--only-vendor`. - Read configuration values using dot notation: `php artisan config:show app.name`, `php artisan config:show database.default`. Or read config files directly from the `config/` directory. ## Tinker - Execute PHP in app context for debugging and testing code. Do not create models without user approval, prefer tests with factories instead. Prefer existing Artisan commands over custom tinker code. - Always use single quotes to prevent shell expansion: `php artisan tinker --execute 'Your::code();'` - Double quotes for PHP strings inside: `php artisan tinker --execute 'User::where("active", true)->count();'` === php rules === # PHP - Always use curly braces for control structures, even for single-line bodies. - Use PHP 8 constructor property promotion: `public function __construct(public GitHub $github) { }`. Do not leave empty zero-parameter `__construct()` methods unless the constructor is private. - Use explicit return type declarations and type hints for all method parameters: `function isAccessible(User $user, ?string $path = null): bool` - Use TitleCase for Enum keys: `FavoritePerson`, `BestLake`, `Monthly`. - Prefer PHPDoc blocks over inline comments. Only add inline comments for exceptionally complex logic. - Use array shape type definitions in PHPDoc blocks. === deployments rules === # Deployment - Laravel can be deployed using [Laravel Cloud](https://cloud.laravel.com/), which is the fastest way to deploy and scale production Laravel applications. - Activate the `deploying-to-cloud` skill whenever deploying to Laravel Cloud, configuring Cloud environments or resources, using the Cloud CLI, or troubleshooting Cloud deployments. === herd rules === # Laravel Herd - The application is served by Laravel Herd at `https?://[kebab-case-project-dir].test`. Use the `get-absolute-url` tool to generate valid URLs. Never run commands to serve the site. It is always available. - Use the `herd` CLI to manage services, PHP versions, and sites (e.g. `herd sites`, `herd services:start <service>`, `herd php:list`). Run `herd list` to discover all available commands. === tests rules === # Test Enforcement - Add or update tests for behavior and logic changes when a test provides meaningful regression coverage. - Pure copy, styling, and layout-only changes do not require new or updated tests. - When test coverage applies, run the affected tests and ensure they pass. - Test the changed behavior and its important failure modes, but do not add tests beyond them. - Read the `testing-best-practices` skill before writing tests. === laravel-fortify/core rules === # Laravel Fortify - Fortify is a headless authentication backend that provides authentication routes and controllers for Laravel applications. - IMPORTANT: Always use the `search-docs` tool for detailed Laravel Fortify patterns and documentation. - IMPORTANT: Activate `developing-with-fortify` skill when working with Fortify authentication features. === laravel/core rules === # Do Things the Laravel Way - Use `php artisan make:` commands to create new files (i.e. migrations, controllers, models, etc.). You can list available Artisan commands using `php artisan list` and check their parameters with `php artisan [command] --help`. - If you're creating a generic PHP class, use `php artisan make:class`. - Pass `--no-interaction` to all Artisan commands to ensure they work without user input. You should also pass the correct `--options` to ensure correct behavior. ### Model Creation - When creating new models, create useful factories and seeders for them too. Ask the user if they need any other things, using `php artisan make:model --help` to check the available options. ## APIs & Eloquent Resources - For APIs, default to using Eloquent API Resources and API versioning unless existing API routes do not, then you should follow existing application convention. ## URL Generation - When generating links to other pages, prefer named routes and the `route()` function. ## Testing - When creating models for tests, use the factories for the models. Check if the factory has custom states that can be used before manually setting up the model. - Faker: Use methods such as `$this->faker->word()` or `fake()->randomDigit()`. Follow existing conventions whether to use `$this->faker` or `fake()`. - When creating tests, make use of `php artisan make:test [options] {name}` to create a feature test, and pass `--unit` to create a unit test. Most tests should be feature tests. ## Vite Error - If you receive an "Illuminate\Foundation\ViteException: Unable to locate file in Vite manifest" error, you can run `npm run build` or ask the user to run `npm run dev` or `composer run dev`. === laravel/v12 rules === # Laravel 12 - CRITICAL: ALWAYS use `search-docs` tool for version-specific Laravel documentation and updated code examples. - Since Laravel 11, Laravel has a new streamlined file structure which this project uses. ## Laravel 12 Structure - In Laravel 12, middleware are no longer registered in `app/Http/Kernel.php`. - Middleware are configured declaratively in `bootstrap/app.php` using `Application::configure()->withMiddleware()`. - `bootstrap/app.php` is the file to register middleware, exceptions, and routing files. - `bootstrap/providers.php` contains application specific service providers. - The `app/Console/Kernel.php` file no longer exists; use `bootstrap/app.php` or `routes/console.php` for console configuration. - Console commands in `app/Console/Commands/` are automatically available and do not require manual registration. ## Database - When modifying a column, the migration must include all of the attributes that were previously defined on the column. Otherwise, they will be dropped and lost. - Laravel 12 allows limiting eagerly loaded records natively, without external packages: `$query->latest()->limit(10);`. ### Models - Casts can and likely should be set in a `casts()` method on a model rather than the `$casts` property. Follow existing conventions from other models. === livewire/core rules === # Livewire - Livewire allows you to build dynamic, reactive interfaces in PHP without writing JavaScript. - You can use Alpine.js for client-side interactions instead of JavaScript frameworks. - Keep state server-side so the UI reflects it. Validate and authorize in actions as you would in HTTP requests. === pint/core rules === # Laravel Pint Code Formatter - If you have modified any PHP files, you must run `vendor/bin/pint --dirty --format agent` before finalizing changes to ensure your code matches the project's expected style. - Do not run `vendor/bin/pint --test --format agent`, simply run `vendor/bin/pint --format agent` to fix any formatting issues. === pest/core rules === # Pest - This project uses Pest. Create tests with `php artisan make:test --pest {name}`. - Do not include the test suite directory in `{name}`. Use `SomeFeatureTest`, not `Feature/SomeFeatureTest`. - Read the `testing-best-practices` skill for guidance on coverage, naming, structure, dependency isolation, and review. - Do not delete tests or test files without approval. They are part of the application. ## Running Tests - Run the narrowest set of tests that covers the change. Pass a file path or `--filter=testName` to `php artisan test --compact`. - Rerun a test after each change to it. - Run `vendor/bin/pest` to call the test runner directly. It accepts the same file path and `--filter=testName` arguments. - After the feature tests pass, ask the user to run the complete suite with `php artisan test --compact`. </laravel-boost-guidelines> </INSTRUCTIONS> <environment_context> <cwd>/Users/wesner/Herd/shop</cwd> <shell>zsh</shell> <current_date>2026-09-23</current_date> <timezone>Europe/Berlin</timezone> <filesystem><workspace_roots><root>/Users/wesner/Herd/shop</root></workspace_roots><permission_profile type="disabled"><file_system type="unrestricted" /></permission_profile></filesystem> </environment_context>

Sub-agent mandate

2 / 4

read-only/audit-first agents · 2 implementers

Audit rounds filed

9 + 1

spec_audit's 9 full-tree passes, plus api_audit's 1 nested pass

Agent Timeline

4 sub-agents, wall clock
Orchestrator (gpt-6-luna)
1.5K tool calls · plan, implement, spawn, integrate
5h 53m 19s
browser_audit (implementer)
681 tools
07:33:40
spec_audit (auditor)
489 tools
07:33:37
discount_form (implementer)
259 tools
09:49:28
api_audit (auditor)
34 tools
09:36:10
07:32:3509:00:5510:29:1511:57:3513:25:55

Team Roster

4 auto-named specialists

browser_audit

/implementer

681 tools

07:33:40 · 5h 48m 36s · $1.37

**Browser test capability**

spec_audit

/auditor

489 tools

07:33:37 · 5h 38m 51s · $1.01

## Phased acceptance checklist

discount_form

/implementer

259 tools

09:49:28 · 2h 14m 30s · $0.51

Implemented the discount create/edit form, including validation, store-scoped product and collection rules, usage limits, dates, status, and permission checks.

api_audit

/auditor

34 tools

09:36:10 · 18m 1s · $0.07

## Verified gaps

Cost & Tool Usage

$5.62 total

Note: These are hypothetical API costs for openai/gpt-6-luna at OpenRouter list prices fetched on 2026-09-23 ($0.10/M input, $0.01/M cache read, $0.50/M output). Luna is not tiered by prompt size on OpenRouter, unlike the Sol-tier models. This session ran on a Codex Pro plan with fixed pricing, so no per-token charges actually applied.

Codex's token-counter behavior is version-dependent and was verified here rather than assumed (see #18 and #15 for the shared-counter case). CLI 0.155.1 keeps an independent counter per rollout, confirmed three ways: zero overlap between the orchestrator's cumulative-usage triples and all 4 sub-agents' (1,551 vs. 520/728/267/36 triples, 0% membership), each file's own step-to-step token deltas matching its own per-request prompt size for ~96-97% of steps, and each series starting from its own first prompt rather than the orchestrator's running total. Totals below are therefore the orchestrator plus all 4 sub-agents, and per-agent cost is genuinely attributable. Cache reads were 97.4% of all input and, as always, are what dominates the bill.

Cost Breakdown (whole run: orchestrator + all 4 sub-agents)

Input Tokens9.7M · $0.97
Cached Input363.6M · $3.64
Output Tokens2.0M · $1.01

Reasoning tokens (991.0K) are included in output tokens and not billed separately.

Full Calculation (gpt-6-luna)

CategoryTokensCost
Input9.7M$0.97
Cached Input363.6M$3.64
Output2.0M$1.01
Total$5.62

Orchestrator $2.67 · sub-agents $2.95

Tool Usage (whole team - 2.9K calls)

exec
2664
send_message
145
list_agents
62
wait_agent
30
followup_task
29
spawn_agent
4

Nearly every call is exec. This CLI version routes shell commands, file edits, and test runs through one sandbox tool rather than separate named tools like apply_patch. The rest are the built-in team-mode primitives (spawn_agent/send_message/wait_agent/list_agents/followup_task). Split: 1.5K orchestrator, 1.5K sub-agent.

Sub-agents by Workload

4 sub-agents

Unlike #15, Codex 0.155.1 tracks tokens per rollout, so each sub-agent below has real, separately attributable usage and cost. api_audit is nested one level deep: spec_audit spawned it, and it reports its findings back to spec_audit instead of root.

#AgentMandateStartedDurationTool CallsCost
1browser_auditimplementer07:33:405h 48m 36s681$1.37
2spec_auditauditor07:33:375h 38m 51s489$1.01
3discount_formimplementer09:49:282h 14m 30s259$0.51
4api_auditauditor09:36:1018m 1s34$0.07
4 sub-agents total1.5K$2.95

Commits

19 commits
07:22:59Init
07:23:43Init
07:34:49docs: track shop implementation progress
07:35:13docs: record baseline test results
09:01:32feat: establish shop foundation and storefront
09:35:02feat: cover tenant checkout and operational flows
09:51:07feat: complete variants and scheduled maintenance flows
10:22:18Implement admin collection and discount APIs
10:31:06feat: add signed product media uploads
10:41:07feat: add store-scoped developer token and webhook management
10:44:16feat: complete discount and fulfillment lifecycle
10:47:28feat: add admin theme page and shipping APIs
11:23:40feat: complete admin APIs and checkout shipping
11:28:39feat: complete catalog and promotion admin workflows
12:03:50feat: select checkout tax providers and handle fallback
12:09:39fix: restore shipping after removing free shipping discount
12:35:15feat: complete shop management workflows and acceptance coverage
12:54:24fix: preserve customer sessions and cart badge state
13:25:04fix: close final shop acceptance audit gaps

Session Details

01a0ccc0
Session ID01a0ccc0-3e5c-71c0-a1cf-3688cddf6676
Codex CLIv0.155.1
Approval Policynever
Model Provideropenai
Working Directory/Users/wesner/Herd/shop
Git Branch2026-09-23-codex-luna-6
Git Repositorytecsteps/shop.git
Modelgpt-6-luna
Reasoning Effortxhigh
Collaboration Modedefault
Context Window258.4K
User Messages2

Parsed Report Data

2.9K tool calls · 5 agents total · 375.3M billable tokens · 19 commits

Parsed from 1 orchestrator session + 4 sub-agent logs