Claude Clue #5: Sometimes Pinky Is Enough

Not every task needs the Brain. If you've used Claude Code, you've probably noticed those magic thinking keywords that even change color when you type 'ultrathink'—it's the model going full Brain mode, plotting world domination. I spent months defaulting to ultrathink for everything, convinced more thinking meant better results. Turns out, I was burning tokens and time on tasks that didn't need all that cognitive horsepower. The real unlock came when I split my workflow: Claude Desktop handles research and planning (where thinking modes shine), while Claude Code focuses on execution.

Here's the simple rule I landed on: if Claude needs to figure something out—architectural decisions, complex refactoring, judgment calls—bring in the Brain with an ultrathink. But when I've already worked through the plan and I'm handing over clear instructions? Pinky mode is fine. No special keywords, just regular Claude. The model sees the same systematic prompts I do, and if I don't need to puzzle over the next step, neither does it. You don't always need to take over the world when a series of simple tasks will do.

Made with coffee and Claude.