# How to use /setup-pstack properly? **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Tags:** plugins, auto-mode, skills\ **Created:** [September 11, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/how-to-use-setup-pstack-properly/171374 "2026-09-11T18:03:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DannyB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/dannyb/32/119004_2.png) [@DannyB](https://forum.cursor.com/u/DannyB)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/how-to-use-setup-pstack-properly/171374/1 "2026-09-11T18:03:35Z")
Hi guys I saw a comment that Lauren left on a post on X by a user who asking how to control the usage of `/poteto-mode` and she replied saying to use `/setup-pstack` I ran it and it gave me this output: > Running setup-pstack — detecting available models first. > > Detected models from Cloud Agents (Task in this session has no model picker). Confirmed aliases always valid: `auto`, `inherit-parent`. > > No `~/.cursor/rules/pstack-models.mdc` yet — starting from pstack defaults. Every default uses compound slugs (`grok-4.6-fast-xhigh`, `claude-fable-5-1-thinking-max`, etc.) that aren’t in the Cloud Agents catalog as-is, so they all need a choice. > > Current map (all ⚠ need a choice): > > - feature, refactoring → `grok-4.6-fast-xhigh` > - bug-fix / perf-issue / hillclimb / judgment and prose / hardest tasks → `claude-fable-5-1-thinking-max` > - how explorer / why investigators / swarm workers → `grok-4.6-fast-xhigh` > - how explainer / why synthesizer / reflect judgment… → `claude-fable-5-1-thinking-max` > - reflect tooling → `gpt-5.6-sol-max` > - arena / architect / interrogate panels + cross-judge → fable / sol / grok / opus compound list > > Your standing rule is Auto for almost all coding. > > How should I write the pstack model rule? > > auto / inherit-parent always work and keep roles on the parent chat model. I won’t write any real slug I haven’t confirmed. > > A) All roles → auto: Matches your Auto standing rule; panels still fan out by list length > > B) Base-id defaults: Closest confirmed Cloud Agents ids (no effort/thinking in the slug) > > C) I’ll paste slugs: You send the Task/cloud model ids to use > > D) Type your own answer I’m not sure which answer to choose. I don’t have a Default Model selected in Cursor’s Settings. I figure I should be using the latest Grok model (although I’ve heard a lot of people saying they prefer 4.5 over 4.6). Does it say “Task in this session has no model picker” because I’ve already used 100% of my “Other Models” monthly usage? On “auto” will it use Fable 5.1 Thinking Max if I have some “Other Models” monthly usage left; and THEN use Grok/Composer from my “Cursor Models” pool instead, when I run out? I have Cursor Ultra. I’ve only used 25% of my monthly “Cursor Models” in 3 weeks, but Grok Bot running `/poteto-mode` burned 75% of my monthly “Other Models” usage within a single day (maybe from running Cloud Agents?) Or should I be running `/setup-pstack` whenever I get a monthly “Other Models” reset, and then run `/setup-pstack` again when that pool runs out, to switch to Grok/Composer? I read some of the documentation listed below but I’m still not too sure which answer to choose? - [plugins/pstack/docs/guide/01-setup.md at main · cursor/plugins](https://github.com/cursor/plugins/blob/main/pstack/docs/guide/01-setup.md#pick-your-models) - [plugins/pstack/skills/setup-pstack/SKILL.md at main · cursor/plugins](https://github.com/cursor/plugins/blob/main/pstack/skills/setup-pstack/SKILL.md) Overall, I really like `/poteto-mode` and I’d prefer to use it in its default “as-designed” settings by Lauren. Although maybe I could switch Fable 5.1 Thinking Max to a lower variant, or Grok? Same question for GPT 5.6 Sol Max. Thank you so much! ---
**Author:** ![DannyB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/dannyb/32/119004_2.png) [@DannyB](https://forum.cursor.com/u/DannyB)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/how-to-use-setup-pstack-properly/171374/5 "2026-09-11T18:24:52Z")
I asked my Chief of Staff to chime in about this thread and it said: > Don’t pick A if you want Lauren’s as-designed pstack. `auto` / `inherit-parent` here just means “run this role on whatever _this_ chat is already using.” In Grok Bot that’s me, not Cursor Auto hopping Fable → Grok when a quota dies. > > “Task in this session has no model picker” is a Grok Bot limitation (our `Task` tool has no `model` field). It is **not** because Other Models is empty. > > The 75% Other Models burn is the as-designed map doing its job: bug-fix / judgment / hardest / panels go to Fable Max, Sol Max, Opus. Those aren’t Cursor Models (Grok/Composer). Re-running `/setup-pstack` at monthly reset won’t magically switch pools. > > If you want it as Lauren shipped it: write the default compound slugs (`grok-4.6-fast-xhigh`, `claude-fable-5-1-thinking-max`, etc.). I was being too strict because I only confirmed Cloud Agents _base_ ids. > > If you want to stop torching Other Models: all `auto`, or everything on `grok-4.6`. That’s cheaper, not as-designed. > > I’d go as-designed for product bots that need the panel, and `auto` only if the bill is the constraint. Don’t drop Fable Max to a lower variant unless you’re choosing cost over that default. …but I’d still like some human opinions please 🙂 Thanks guys ---
**Author:** ![mohitjain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/mohitjain/32/100229_2.png) [@mohitjain](https://forum.cursor.com/u/mohitjain)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 9:30am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/how-to-use-setup-pstack-properly/171374/7 "2026-09-14T09:30:58Z")
Hey @DannyB, your Chief of Staff had it right. The “no model picker” line just means you ran `/setup-pstack` inside Grok Bot, where sub-tasks always run on the bot’s own model, so there’s nothing to configure there. It’s not related to your Other Models usage. To actually set the panel, run `/setup-pstack` in the Cursor app or CLI instead, where it can see the models you’ve enabled. On the pools, it’s the reverse of what you described: - Fable, Sol and Opus always draw from Other Models. - Cursor Grok 4.6/4.5 and Composer draw from Cursor Models. - Auto draws from Cursor Models first and only spills into Other Models once that runs out. So the 75% Other Models burn is just the default panel working as designed (bug-fix, judgment and the review panels point at Fable/Sol/Opus). Re-running at reset won’t change that. Pick based on what you want: - As Lauren shipped it: keep the defaults. They’ll keep using Other Models, so with that pool nearly gone you’ll hit the cap until reset unless you enable on-demand. - To protect the pool: set everything to `auto`, or point the heavy roles at `cursor-grok-4.6-xhigh` so they draw from Cursor Models (where you’ve barely used 25%). No need to re-run each cycle. The config is a plain-text file at `~/.cursor/rules/pstack-models.mdc` you can edit directly. 4.5 vs 4.6: both count toward Cursor Models, defaults use 4.6, pick whichever you prefer. ---
**Author:** ![DannyB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/dannyb/32/119004_2.png) [@DannyB](https://forum.cursor.com/u/DannyB)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 11:47pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/how-to-use-setup-pstack-properly/171374/8 "2026-09-24T23:47:15Z")
> [@mohitjain](#): > > /setup-pstack Running `/setup-pstack` in Cursor (not Grok Bot) was the trick, thank you! It guided me through properly after that, and I just had to pick my reasoning budget.