Claude Code has an effort setting that controls how hard Claude thinks before it acts. The higher you go, the more of your usage limit it burns, so I tested whether the top levels earn it. I gave Opus 5.5 the same prompt three times, in three empty folders, changing only the effort setting. One shot each, nothing fixed afterwards. → Low: 2m 14s, 1,137 thinking tokens, $0.48 → High: 65m 04s, 92,531 thinking tokens, $6.57 → Max: 63m 07s, 204,869 thinking tokens, $20.06 The dollar figures are what each build would cost if you paid per token on the API. On a Max plan it comes out of your usage limit instead. Low never opened the game it built. High tested its own in Chrome and checked screenshots. Max playtested while it built, redesigned two tracks and had a second agent review the code. Same hour as high, over twice the thinking. The video covers how each game plays, the full scoreboard, and how I'd use each level day to day. The three games and the prompt (zip attached below): → neon-drift-low.html, one track, five rivals, drift to charge a boost. Needs internet to load → apex-runners-high.html, three tracks, three difficulties, slipstream → afterglow-gp-max.html, full menu with mode, track, car, paint, rivals and laps Download the zip, unzip it, then double-click any game to play. Arrows or WASD to drive, hold Space while turning to drift, R resets the car. The prompt, the same one for all three: Build me an original 3D racing game that runs in the browser. One HTML file I can open by double-clicking. Make it fun to play. Don't ask me questions, make the calls yourself, and tell me when it's done. Try it at different effort levels in your own Claude Code and see how far apart the results land. One run per level, so it's not a benchmark, but the gap was big enough to show.

I've always believed that great opportunities often start with a simple conversation, not a job post or a formal meeting. I'm a Senior AI and Full Stack Engineer with 10+ years of experience building SaaS platforms, AI agents, automation systems and web and mobile applications. I'd love to connect with founders, co-founders, CEOs, developers and anyone passionate about building something meaningful. Maybe you have an idea but need help bringing it to life. Maybe you're working on a product and facing technical challenges. Or maybe you're just exploring what's possible with AI and modern technology. I'm open to collaborating with founders and clients who need an experienced engineer, whether for a specific project or a long-term partnership. But not every conversation has to be about business. I genuinely enjoy exchanging ideas, learning from others and making meaningful connections. I'd love to hear about it! 🥰 Please send a DM or Telegram Telegram username: @calton_dev

Hey everyone! Hope you're all doing well. I'm looking to connect with people based in the United States or Europe who are interested in building something profitable together over the long term. A lot of people want to start something on their own but get held back by a lack of technical skills or experience. I’m exploring a different kind of partnership where we can combine our strengths and work toward a shared goal. There’s no upfront investment required, and you don’t need advanced technical skills or previous experience. What matters most is being reliable, confident, willing to learn, and committed to following through. If this sounds interesting to you, feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to talk more and see if there’s a good fit for us to work together. Please send a DM or Telegram: @calton_dev

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well. I’m looking to connect with people based in the United States who are interested in building something profitable together over the long term. A lot of people want to start something on their own but get held back by a lack of technical skills or experience. I’m exploring a different kind of partnership where we can combine our strengths and work toward a shared goal. There’s no upfront investment required, and you don’t need advanced technical skills or previous experience. What matters most is being reliable, confident, willing to learn, and committed to following through. If this sounds interesting to you, feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to talk more and see if there’s a good fit for us to work together. Please send a DM or reach out on Telegram: @calton_dev

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well. I’m looking to connect with people who are interested in building something profitable together over the long term. A lot of people want to start something on their own but get held back by a lack of technical skills or experience. I’m exploring a different kind of partnership where we can combine our strengths and work toward a shared goal. There’s no upfront investment required, and you don’t need advanced technical skills or previous experience. What matters most is being reliable, confident, willing to learn, and committed to following through. If this sounds interesting to you, feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to talk more and see if there’s a good fit for us to work together. Please send a DM or Telegram: @calton_dev