Runtimes & models

A runtime is the engine that executes a session. CrossMind supports many agent CLIs (the catalog includes Claude Code, Codex, Cursor CLI, ZCode, GitHub Copilot, Qwen Code and more), plus the built-in cloud runtime that runs without any local setup.

Choosing at send time

The composer’s Runtime picker lists the runtimes actually available: cloud plus whatever your paired computers have installed. The Model picker offers the models that runtime exposes (with a plan-dependent catalog), and thinking level off → xhigh sits next to it.

Workspace default order

Settings → Computers → Default runtime order defines the fallback chain used when a session doesn’t pin a runtime, for example cloud → this Mac (claude) → this Mac (codex). If the first choice is unavailable (laptop asleep, quota dry), the next in line takes the run.

Cloud vs local

• Cloud: zero setup, runs on CrossMind’s infrastructure, counts against plan quota.
• Local (your computers): runs under your own CLI subscriptions on a paired machine; nothing but metadata leaves your machine unless a tool decides otherwise.

Per-message overrides

Model choice made mid-session persists on the session; subsequent turns keep it. Switching to a bigger-context model mid-run is the standard move when the context ring turns red.