Selecting a model
Choose a model based on the task, the context it needs, and the gateway you want to use. Start with a small task to check tool support and response quality.
Find an available reference
Section titled “Find an available reference”taocode modelsCopy the full tao/<gateway>/<model> reference. You need credentials for that gateway.
Choose a model for one task
Section titled “Choose a model for one task”taocode run --model tao/chutes/Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B-TEE "Add tests for utils.ts and run the relevant test suite."The reference is an example. Replace it with a choice listed by your CLI.
Choose a model interactively
Section titled “Choose a model interactively”Run taocode, then use /models to open the model picker. Use /connect if you need to add or update a gateway first.
Compare what matters
Section titled “Compare what matters”| Consideration | What to look for |
|---|---|
| File edits and tests | Reliable tool calling and coding performance |
| Large projects | Enough context for the relevant files and instructions |
| Short tasks | Response time and the gateway’s per-request or token pricing |
| Sensitive code | Endpoint-specific data handling and verification evidence |
A large model or context window is not automatically better for every task. Compare results on a representative change you can review.
Resolve selection errors
Section titled “Resolve selection errors”For a missing gateway key, connect the gateway named in the reference. For an unknown model, refresh the list. If the CLI reports a privacy-policy restriction, inspect the model’s trust status and your configuration rather than treating the error as an authentication failure.