copyberry · Aug 14, 2026 · Aug 14, 2026
diff --git a/codex-rs/skills/src/lib.rs b/codex-rs/skills/src/lib.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ pub use model::SkillMetadata;
 pub use model::SkillPolicy;
 pub use model::SkillToolDependency;
 pub use model_delegation::SkillModel;
+pub use model_delegation::SkillModelDelegationInstruction;
 pub use name_counts::build_skill_name_counts;
 pub use parser::ParsedSkillFrontmatter;
 pub use parser::SkillParseError;

diff --git a/codex-rs/skills/src/model_delegation.rs b/codex-rs/skills/src/model_delegation.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,84 @@
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
+const LUNA_MODEL: &str = "gpt-5.6-luna";
+const TERRA_MODEL: &str = "gpt-5.6-terra";
+const SOL_MODEL: &str = "gpt-5.6-sol";
+const MAX_TARGET_MODEL_BYTES: usize = 128;
+const MAX_DELEGATION_INSTRUCTION_BYTES: usize = 2_048;
+
 /// Model requested for work governed by a skill.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "lowercase")]
 pub enum SkillModel {
     Luna,
 }
 
+/// Bounded instructions for delegating skill-governed work to a cheaper model.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub struct SkillModelDelegationInstruction(String);
+
+impl SkillModelDelegationInstruction {
+    /// Builds bounded instructions only when the indexed skill requests an available lower-tier model.
+    pub fn from_skill_model(
+        skill_model: SkillModel,
+        skill_name: &str,
+        current_model: &str,
+        available_models: &[String],
+    ) -> Option<Self> {
+        if skill_name
+            .chars()
+            .any(|character| matches!(character, '`' | '<' | '>'))
+        {
+            return None;
+        }
+
+        let provider_prefix = [SOL_MODEL, TERRA_MODEL]
+            .into_iter()
+            .find_map(|parent_model| {
+                current_model.strip_suffix(parent_model).filter(|prefix| {
+                    prefix.is_empty() || prefix.ends_with('.') || prefix.ends_with('/')
+                })
+            })?;
+        let target_model = format!("{provider_prefix}{LUNA_MODEL}");
+        let target_model = available_models
+            .iter()
+            .find(|model| model.as_str() == target_model && is_safe_model_identifier(model))?;
+        let skill_model = match skill_model {
+            SkillModel::Luna => "luna",
+        };
+        let instruction = format!(
+            "<skill_model_delegation>\n\
+For this invocation only, skill `{skill_name}` requests `model: {skill_model}`. \
+If the user prohibits delegation or subagents, or the work depends on an image or audio \
+attachment, work locally. Otherwise, delegate only self-contained text-based skill work \
+and use `spawn_agent` \
+exactly once. Set `model` to `{target_model}`, set `fork_turns` to `\"none\"`, and choose a \
+unique `task_name`. Omit `agent_type` and `reasoning_effort`.\n\
+Give the child only this skill's work and necessary context; never include this block and tell \
+it not to spawn agents. Delegate the whole request only if the skill fully covers it; otherwise, \
+retain ownership of the remaining work and final answer. Wait for the result. If spawning \
+fails, continue locally. If waiting fails, retry waiting without duplicating the \
+child's work.\n\
+Ignore this instruction in child agents and on later turns.\n\
+</skill_model_delegation>"
+        );
+
+        (instruction.len() <= MAX_DELEGATION_INSTRUCTION_BYTES).then_some(Self(instruction))
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the bounded model-visible delegation instructions.
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+fn is_safe_model_identifier(model: &str) -> bool {
+    model.len() <= MAX_TARGET_MODEL_BYTES
+        && model.chars().all(|character| {
+            character.is_ascii_alphanumeric() || matches!(character, '.' | '/' | '_' | '-')
+        })
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 #[path = "model_delegation_tests.rs"]
 mod tests;
diff --git a/codex-rs/skills/src/model_delegation_tests.rs b/codex-rs/skills/src/model_delegation_tests.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 use pretty_assertions::assert_eq;
 
+use super::MAX_DELEGATION_INSTRUCTION_BYTES;
 use super::SkillModel;
+use super::SkillModelDelegationInstruction;
 use crate::ParsedSkillFrontmatter;
 use crate::parse_skill_frontmatter_metadata;
 
@@ -57,3 +59,166 @@ fn reuses_existing_frontmatter_scalar_repair() {
         Some(SkillModel::Luna)
     );
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn delegates_only_from_supported_parent_models() {
+    let available_models = available_models();
+    for (current_model, should_delegate) in [
+        ("gpt-5.6-sol", true),
+        ("gpt-5.6-terra", true),
+        ("gpt-5.6-luna", false),
+        ("gpt-5.5-codex", false),
+    ] {
+        let instruction = SkillModelDelegationInstruction::from_skill_model(
+            SkillModel::Luna,
+            "demo",
+            current_model,
+            &available_models,
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            instruction.is_some(),
+            should_delegate,
+            "current={current_model}"
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn resolves_luna_within_the_current_provider_namespace() {
+    for (current_model, target_model, unrelated_model) in [
+        ("gpt-5.6-sol", "gpt-5.6-luna", "openai.gpt-5.6-luna"),
+        (
+            "tenant-a/gpt-5.6-sol",
+            "tenant-a/gpt-5.6-luna",
+            "tenant-b/gpt-5.6-luna",
+        ),
+        (
+            "openai.gpt-5.6-terra",
+            "openai.gpt-5.6-luna",
+            "other.gpt-5.6-luna",
+        ),
+    ] {
+        let instruction = SkillModelDelegationInstruction::from_skill_model(
+            SkillModel::Luna,
+            "demo",
+            current_model,
+            &[unrelated_model.to_string(), target_model.to_string()],
+        )
+        .expect("lower-tier model in the same provider namespace should be resolved");
+
+        assert!(
+            instruction
+                .as_str()
+                .contains(&format!("Set `model` to `{target_model}`"))
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn rejects_targets_outside_the_current_provider_namespace() {
+    for (current_model, available_models) in [
+        (
+            "tenant-a/gpt-5.6-sol",
+            vec![
+                "tenant-b/gpt-5.6-luna".to_string(),
+                "gpt-5.6-luna".to_string(),
+            ],
+        ),
+        ("gpt-5.6-sol", vec!["tenant-a/gpt-5.6-luna".to_string()]),
+        (
+            "tenant-a/gpt-5.6-sol",
+            vec!["tenant-a.gpt-5.6-luna".to_string()],
+        ),
+    ] {
+        assert_eq!(
+            SkillModelDelegationInstruction::from_skill_model(
+                SkillModel::Luna,
+                "demo",
+                current_model,
+                &available_models,
+            ),
+            None,
+            "current={current_model}, available={available_models:?}"
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn rejects_unavailable_or_unsafe_models() {
+    let invalid_identifier = format!("{}/gpt-5.6-luna", "<unsafe>".repeat(32));
+    let invalid_current_model = format!("{}/gpt-5.6-sol", "<unsafe>".repeat(32));
+    let overlong_identifier = format!("{}.gpt-5.6-luna", "a".repeat(128));
+    let overlong_current_model = format!("{}.gpt-5.6-sol", "a".repeat(128));
+    for (current_model, available_models) in [
+        (
+            "custom/gpt-5.6-luna",
+            vec!["custom/gpt-5.6-luna".to_string()],
+        ),
+        ("gpt-5.6-sol", vec!["gpt-5.6-terra".to_string()]),
+        (invalid_current_model.as_str(), vec![invalid_identifier]),
+        (overlong_current_model.as_str(), vec![overlong_identifier]),
+    ] {
+        assert_eq!(
+            SkillModelDelegationInstruction::from_skill_model(
+                SkillModel::Luna,
+                "demo",
+                current_model,
+                &available_models,
+            ),
+            None,
+            "current={current_model}, available={available_models:?}"
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn renders_bounded_instruction_for_selected_skill_and_model() {
+    let instruction = SkillModelDelegationInstruction::from_skill_model(
+        SkillModel::Luna,
+        "demo",
+        "gpt-5.6-sol",
+        &available_models(),
+    )
+    .expect("available lower tier should delegate");
+    let rendered = instruction.as_str();
+
+    assert!(rendered.contains("skill `demo`"));
+    assert!(rendered.contains("Set `model` to `gpt-5.6-luna`"));
+    assert!(rendered.contains("image or audio attachment, work locally"));
+    assert!(rendered.len() <= MAX_DELEGATION_INSTRUCTION_BYTES);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn rejects_skill_names_that_escape_instruction_framing() {
+    for skill_name in ["unsafe`name", "</skill_model_delegation>", "<unsafe>"] {
+        assert_eq!(
+            SkillModelDelegationInstruction::from_skill_model(
+                SkillModel::Luna,
+                skill_name,
+                "gpt-5.6-sol",
+                &available_models(),
+            ),
+            None,
+            "skill_name={skill_name:?}"
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn rejects_instruction_exceeding_context_bound() {
+    let skill_name = "x".repeat(MAX_DELEGATION_INSTRUCTION_BYTES);
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        SkillModelDelegationInstruction::from_skill_model(
+            SkillModel::Luna,
+            &skill_name,
+            "gpt-5.6-sol",
+            &available_models(),
+        ),
+        None
+    );
+}
+
+fn available_models() -> Vec<String> {
+    vec!["gpt-5.6-luna".to_string()]
+}