GPT-5.4 Wins as Default for Reliable Coding

Trust GPT-5.4 as your go-to model for backend work, debugging, planning, instruction following, tool use, multi-step tasks, and general coding reliability. It finishes jobs without getting lost, handles agentic work, computer use, and long context better than competitors, delivering consistent results across categories. Avoid it only if frontend UI taste matters more—it's solid but not the leader there. This completeness makes it the strongest general pick, outperforming others in raw capability for serious tasks.

Kimi K2.6 Code Delivers Frontend Strength and Value

Choose Kimi K2.6 Code when balancing quality, speed, frontend polish (UI feel, visual direction, landing pages, components), and cost. It surprises with strong backend performance too, staying excellent without GPT-5.4's edge in every area. Use its native Kimi CLI for optimal pacing, tool calling, and workflow—it avoids awkward wrappers. The cost-performance ratio shifts priorities: even if slightly behind on some tasks, faster execution and lower prices make it the smartest choice for most developers prioritizing value over absolute top performance.

Opus 4.7 Lags Without Verdent's Structure

Skip standalone Opus 4.7—it's capable for frontend (polished screens, components) but disappoints on backend messiness like bugs, APIs, refactors, infra, databases, and multi-file debugging. It overthinks, slows down, and demands supervision, offering no meaningful upgrade to justify premium pricing. Pair it with Verdent instead: parallel tasks, isolated workspaces, cleaner planning/reviews keep work streams organized and maintain flow. Verdent mitigates Claude Code's 5-hour limits and chaos, making Opus viable—but it doesn't elevate it to top recommendation.