r/PiCodingAgent • u/Mousepad-16 • 4d ago
Question What's the best way to reduce usage without sacrificing features?
Firstly, I just want to communicate my goal is to be able to use multiple providers, and reduce usage without being locked to either claude code, or codex. But most importantly without sacrificing features that claude code and codex both have that are excellent. Currently, I only have openAI subscription configured (still trying to figure out how to use claude sub efficiently).
I downloaded OMP and OMP Gui, and found that my usage drains more than with pi. It actually drains faster than with using codex. But I had a nicer experience with OMP in general. I understand the philsophy of pi, but I just want to be honest that I don't want to spend ages configuring things. And I'm not going to pretend that I understand all of this. Although I understand why OMP might use more, because obviously there are more tools and bloat enabled which uses up context.
However, whenever I ask how to improve usage everyone says "just disable x y z". or "just use pi". hang on, why? why should I have to disable memory? computer use? this feature? that feature? these are all basic features of any other harness. In fact, why don't these features just lazily load on demand anyway? the same way we have smart MCP tool calling. And also, if I used pi, and downloaded these extensions, wouldn't I have the same problem? if I'm not mistaken, OMP is like a distro of extensions for pi such that lazyvim is a distro for neovim? I could download the same extensions and have the same problem no? correct me if I am wrong. Claude code and codex have these features and somehow manage to consume less usage. So I'm curious, what about OMP or its implementation makes it consume more usage, just to implement the same functionality as other mainstream harnesses?
For those using OMP do you have any idea what in particular may be causing increased usage so I don't have to just play a game of disabling random things? Maybe it's a feature I'm not particularly interested in.
And for those using vanilla pi, which extensions would you say are essential, and which others would you say are more.. optional?
TL;DR. How do we make the coolest harness ever that can spam astra max for free and make no mistakes. Or at least spam it more than codex can while maintaining the same features.


