Detailed Comparison
Verdict Code vs Claude Code
Comprehensive feature-by-feature comparison (191 features)
Back to SummaryDetailed Feature Comparison
Complete comparison across all categories and features
| Feature | Verdict Code | Claude Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Architecture | |||
| Deployment Model | Gateway-based architecture | Standalone CLI tool | Claude Code runs independently; Verdict Code requires Gateway (port 6120) for model access |
| Primary Interface | Python library + CLI | Command-line interface (CLI) | Verdict Code can be imported as Python package; Claude Code is CLI-only |
| Integration Method | Direct Python integration | Subprocess execution (via adapter) | Verdict Code adapter uses direct Agent class calls (621 lines); Claude Code uses subprocess (353 lines) |
| Codebase Size | ~15,000+ lines across modules | Proprietary (not visible) | Verdict Code is fully open-source and extensible |
| Architecture Type | Microservices-oriented | Monolithic CLI | Verdict Code integrates with Gateway, Telemetry, Memory, and Skills services |
| Configuration Source | AgentConfig dataclass + environment | CLI arguments + config files | Verdict Code uses Python dataclasses for type-safe configuration |
| Session Management | SessionManager component | Built into CLI | Verdict Code has explicit session models with persistence |
| State Management | AgentState enum (IDLE, THINKING, TOOL_USE, ERROR, COMPLETE) | Internal to CLI | Verdict Code exposes explicit state transitions |
| Extensibility | Highly extensible via custom commands, hooks, skills | Limited to provided features | Verdict Code supports user/project-level custom commands |
| Dependencies | Python + Gateway + optional services | Python runtime + Anthropic SDK | Verdict Code can function with degraded services |
| Agent Capabilities | |||
| Tool Use Support | Conditional (requires capable model) | Native Claude tool use | Verdict Code requires models with tool support (e.g., claude-sonnet-4-5) |
| Multi-file Editing | Supported via Edit tool | Supported via Edit tool | Both use string replacement with validation |
| Background Tasks | Supported via Bash run_in_background parameter | Unknown (not exposed in adapter) | Verdict Code tracks background tasks with threading.Lock |
| Custom Commands | Yes - user-level (~/.verdict/commands/) and project-level (.verdict/commands/) | Not available | Verdict Code has full command discovery and loader system |
| Hooks System | Yes - pre/post execution hooks | Not available | Verdict Code has HookRegistry and HookExecutor |
| MCP Integration | Yes - MCP client and registry | Unknown | Verdict Code supports Model Context Protocol servers |
| Checkpointing | Not explicitly implemented | Unknown | Verdict Code has rewind/resume commands for state recovery |
| Vision Support | Model-dependent (configurable) | Model-dependent | Both rely on underlying model capabilities |
| Task Tool (Sub-agents) | Yes - spawns specialized sub-agents (EXPLORE, PLAN, BASH, GENERAL) | Not available | Verdict Code SubAgent class with specialized prompts |
| Skill Routing | Yes - skill-aware routing for optimal model selection | Not available | Integrated with agents registry for cost optimization |
| Custom Agent Types | Yes - SubagentConfig for custom agent definitions | Not available | Supports custom system prompts and tool access |
| ReAct Loop Implementation | Explicit generator yielding TurnResult objects | Internal to Claude Code | Verdict Code exposes turn-by-turn execution via Agent.chat() |
| Max Turns Configuration | Yes - DEFAULT_MAX_TURNS = 100, configurable via AgentConfig | Unknown | Verdict Code prevents infinite loops |
| Timeout Handling | Yes - DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS = 120,000ms (2 minutes), configurable | Yes | Both support task-level timeouts |
| Streaming Output | Yes - via callback system (on_text, on_tool_start, on_tool_end) | Yes (via CLI) | Verdict Code supports custom output formatters (text, JSON, stream-JSON) |
| Tool Support | |||
| Bash Tool | Yes - with persistent shell session | Yes | Verdict Code tracks background tasks and supports timeout/description |
| Read Tool | Yes - with offset/limit parameters | Yes | Default reads 2000 lines, configurable |
| Write Tool | Yes - creates or overwrites files | Yes | Verdict Code requires Read before Edit (validation) |
| Edit Tool | Yes - exact string replacement | Yes | Verdict Code tracks files_read set for validation |
| Glob Tool | Yes - pattern-based file search | Yes | Both support **/*.py style patterns |
| Grep Tool | Yes - ripgrep-compatible search | Yes | Verdict Code supports output modes: content, files_with_matches, count |
| TodoWrite Tool | Yes - task tracking with status | Yes | Verdict Code has active_form for display |
| AskUserQuestion Tool | Yes - interactive user input | Yes | Verdict Code supports optional answers |
| Task Tool (Sub-agents) | Yes - spawns specialized agents | No | Unique to Verdict Code |
| Tool Schema Format | Anthropic-compatible (via ToolSchema.to_anthropic_schema()) | Anthropic-compatible | Both use standard Anthropic tool format |
| Tool Registry | ToolRegistry class with get_schemas() and execute() | Internal | Verdict Code has extensible tool registration |
| Tool Execution Tracking | Yes - TelemetryCollector tracks tool calls | Yes | Verdict Code records duration_ms, success, parameters |
| Custom Tools | Can extend ToolRegistry | Not supported | Verdict Code architecture allows custom tool additions |
| Tool Timeout Handling | Yes - per-tool timeout parameter | Yes | Default 2 minutes, max 10 minutes in Verdict Code |
| Tool Error Recovery | Yes - ToolResult includes error content | Yes | Both continue execution after tool failures |
| Background Tool Execution | Yes - Bash.run_in_background with TaskOutput retrieval | Unknown | Verdict Code uses threading.Lock for task tracking |
| Memory Management | |||
| Context Compaction | Yes - CompactionEngine with auto_compact flag | Unknown (likely automatic) | Triggers at 90% of max_context_tokens by default |
| Token Counting Method | Optional tiktoken or character ratio (1 token ~ 4 chars) | Internal (exact from API) | Verdict Code falls back to char ratio if tiktoken unavailable |
| Max Context Tokens | Configurable (default 8192) | Model-dependent | Verdict Code supports models up to 200K tokens (Claude) |
| Context Statistics | Yes - get_context_stats() returns usage, turn_count, token counts | Not exposed | Verdict Code provides visibility into context usage |
| Compaction Strategies | Multiple - OldestTurns, Summarization, ToolResultCompaction | Unknown | Verdict Code balances summary quality vs token savings |
| Auto-compact Trigger | Yes - compact_threshold (default 90%) | Unknown | Verdict Code automatically compacts when threshold exceeded |
| Compaction Callback | Yes - on_auto_compact callback for UI updates | Unknown | Notifies when compaction occurs |
| Agentic Memory | Yes - AgenticMemoryClient with graceful degradation | Unknown | Optional memory service (port 6250) for context persistence |
| Memory Service Types | SAM (service), LOCAL (file-based), DISABLED | Not applicable | Verdict Code falls back to stateless mode if unavailable |
| Context Storage | Yes - store_context() with session_id and tags | Not applicable | Persists conversation context across sessions |
| Context Retrieval | Yes - retrieve_context() returns cached context | Not applicable | Enables session resumption |
| Pattern Learning | Yes - store_pattern() and retrieve_pattern() | Not available | Agents can learn and reuse patterns |
| Memory Graceful Degradation | Yes - returns MemoryResult.degraded=True if unavailable | Not applicable | Logs warnings but continues execution |
| Session Persistence | Yes - session/manager.py with SessionManager | Unknown | Verdict Code supports session resume via /resume command |
| Token Usage Tracking | Partial - TelemetryCollector placeholder (TODO: extract from Gateway) | Yes (via API) | Verdict Code adapter notes token counting needs Gateway integration |
| Multi-Agent Coordination | |||
| Sub-agent Support | Yes - SubAgent class extends Agent | No | Verdict Code spawns specialized agents via Task tool |
| Agent Types | EXPLORE, PLAN, BASH, GENERAL | N/A | Each type has specialized system prompt and tool access |
| Sub-agent Configuration | SubagentConfig - custom system prompts, models, tools | N/A | Supports custom agent definitions via agents registry |
| Parent Context Inheritance | Yes - SubAgent receives parent_context parameter | N/A | Sub-agents see parent conversation history |
| Tool Access Control | Yes - _get_allowed_tools() restricts tools by agent type | N/A | EXPLORE: Read/Glob/Grep; BASH: Bash only; GENERAL: all tools |
| Model Selection | Per-agent model selection | Single model per session | Sub-agent can use different model than parent |
| Skill-aware Routing | Yes - integrated with skill routing for optimal model selection | Not available | Phase 6 feature for cost-optimized sub-agent execution |
| Agent Registry | Yes - SubagentRegistry with Thoroughness levels | Not available | Manages agent configurations and capabilities |
| Multi-agent Orchestration | Manual via Task tool | Not available | User explicitly spawns sub-agents for specialized tasks |
| Agent Communication | Via parent_context and tool results | Not applicable | Sub-agents communicate through context passing |
| Agent Lifecycle Management | Explicit initialization and cleanup | N/A | SubAgent inherits close() method from Agent |
| Parallel Agent Execution | No - sequential execution only | Not available | Sub-agents run one at a time within parent session |
| Agent Telemetry | Yes - on_retry, on_tool_start, on_tool_end callbacks | Unknown | Tracks execution at agent level |
| Agent Error Handling | Yes - try/except with state transition to ERROR | Yes | Both handle agent-level errors gracefully |
| Cost Tracking | |||
| Credit Cost Tracking | Yes - cost_credits field in AgentResult | Via Anthropic API | Verdict Code Gateway returns cost information |
| Cost Display | Yes - /cost command shows session costs | Yes (via CLI) | Verdict Code has cost command for real-time tracking |
| Multi-model Cost Management | Yes - Gateway supports multiple providers with unified credits | No (Anthropic only) | Verdict Code abstracts cost across providers |
| Credit Multiplier System | Yes - model_catalog table defines credit_multiplier | Not applicable | Free models (byok/, lan/, local/) have multiplier=0.0 |
| Cost SSOT | Cloud Gateway (port 6123) | Anthropic billing | Local Gateway (6120) proxies only, no billing |
| Real-time Cost Updates | Yes - via Gateway responses | Unknown | Telemetry service (port 6122) may track costs |
| Cost Estimation | Via pricing SSOT (cloud/config/verdict_master_pricing.json) | Via Anthropic pricing | Verdict Code never hardcodes prices |
| Budget Limits | Yes - max_cost_credits in BenchmarkTask | Via Anthropic account limits | Cabf enforces per-task cost limits |
| Cost Reporting | Via Verdict reports and CLI commands | Via Anthropic dashboard | Verdict Code provides cost breakdown by model/tool |
| Free Model Support | Yes - byok/, lan/, local/ prefixes | No | Local models like Ollama incur zero credit cost |
| Error Handling | |||
| Retry Logic | Yes - RetryConfig with exponential backoff | Built into Claude SDK | max_retries=3, base_delay=1.0s, max_delay=60.0s |
| Retryable Errors | GatewayConnectionError, GatewayTimeoutError, RateLimitError | Internal | Verdict Code distinguishes retryable vs non-retryable |
| Non-retryable Errors | GatewayResponseError (4xx client errors) | Internal | Fails immediately without retry |
| Rate Limit Handling | Yes - RateLimitError with retry_after header | Via Anthropic SDK | Honors Gateway's Retry-After header |
| Graceful Shutdown | Yes - ShutdownRequested exception with is_shutdown_requested() checks | Unknown | Checks before each turn and during retry delays |
| Error State Tracking | Yes - AgentState.ERROR with error message | Yes | Both track error state explicitly |
| Error Recovery Counting | Yes - recovery_count in AgentResult and TelemetryCollector | Unknown | Tracks successful recoveries from errors |
| Error Callbacks | Yes - on_error callback for UI updates | Unknown | Notifies listeners of errors |
| Exception Hierarchy | 7 specific exception types | Proprietary | AgentError, GatewayConnectionError, GatewayTimeoutError, GatewayResponseError, RateLimitError, ModelNotFoundError, ShutdownRequested |
| Timeout Handling | Yes - asyncio.wait_for() with task.timeout_seconds | Yes | Cabf enforces per-task timeout limits |
| HTTP Error Handling | Explicit status code handling (200, 404, 429, 4xx, 5xx) | Via SDK | Verdict Code parses Gateway error responses |
| JSON Parse Errors | Yes - GatewayResponseError for invalid JSON | Via SDK | Returns truncated response body for debugging |
| Connection Error Handling | Yes - distinguishes ConnectError vs ConnectTimeout vs ReadTimeout | Via SDK | Provides specific error messages |
| Memory Service Degradation | Yes - graceful degradation with MemoryResult.degraded=True | N/A | Continues execution if memory unavailable |
| Performance Metrics | |||
| Token Usage Tracking | Partial - placeholder with TODO for Gateway integration | Yes (exact from API) | Verdict Code adapter needs token extraction from Gateway |
| Execution Time Tracking | Yes - start_time, end_time, execution_time in AgentResult | Yes | Both track wall-clock time |
| Tool Call Metrics | Yes - tool_calls list with duration_ms for each call | Yes | Verdict Code tracks per-tool timing via TelemetryCollector |
| Success Rate Tracking | Via Cabf - success_rates: Dict[str, float] in ComparisonReport | Via Cabf | Both support benchmark-level aggregation |
| Average Execution Time | Via Cabf - avg_execution_times: Dict[str, float] | Via Cabf | Aggregated across benchmark runs |
| Token Efficiency | Via Cabf - avg_tokens_per_task: Dict[str, float] | Via Cabf | Both track input/output tokens |
| Statistical Analysis | Via Cabf - statistically_significant, p_value, confidence_interval | Via Cabf | Both support hypothesis testing |
| Performance Profiling | Yes - verbose mode with DEBUG output | Unknown | Verdict Code logs request/response snippets |
| Health Checks | Yes - health_check() verifies Gateway, workspace, model | Yes (via --version) | Verdict Code checks HTTP connectivity to Gateway |
| Metrics Export | Via Cabf reports - JSON, Markdown, visualizations | Via Cabf reports | Both support multiple output formats |
| Telemetry Integration | Yes - on_retry, on_tool_start, on_tool_end callbacks | Unknown | Verdict Code supports custom telemetry collectors |
| Developer Experience | |||
| Setup Complexity | Medium - requires Gateway stack | Low (pip install claude) | Verdict Code needs Gateway, optional services (Memory, Skills) |
| Configuration | Python dataclasses + environment variables | CLI args + config file | Verdict Code uses AgentConfig for type-safe configuration |
| Documentation Quality | In-repo docs (SPECs, PRDs, howtos) | Official Anthropic docs | Verdict Code has extensive but scattered documentation |
| CLI Usability | Functional but less polished | Polished (Anthropic-designed) | Verdict Code prioritizes flexibility over UX polish |
| Output Formats | Text, JSON, stream-JSON | Text (CLI) | Verdict Code supports machine-readable output formats |
| Interactive Features | Yes - AskUserQuestion tool | Yes (native) | Both support interactive user input |
| Session Resumption | Yes - /resume command with session persistence | Unknown | Verdict Code SessionManager loads saved sessions |
| Command Discovery | Yes - /help command with command registry | Built-in help | Verdict Code has custom command loader |
| Custom Commands | Yes - user and project-level commands | Not supported | Verdict Code discovers commands from ~/.verdict/commands/ and .verdict/commands/ |
| IDE Integration | VSCode extension (in repo) + IDE protocol | VSCode extension (official) | Verdict Code has ide/protocol.py and ide/bridge.py |
| Debugging Support | Verbose mode with DEBUG logging | Via CLI output | Verdict Code prints request/response snippets |
| Error Messages | Technical but detailed | User-friendly | Verdict Code provides stack traces and Gateway error details |
| Learning Curve | Steeper - requires understanding Gateway, services | Shallow | Verdict Code is more complex but more powerful |
| Community Support | Open-source repo (GitHub) | Anthropic community | Verdict Code benefits from open-source contributions |
| Integration & Extensibility | |||
| Python API | Yes - can import Agent class directly | No (CLI only) | Verdict Code supports library usage, not just CLI |
| Custom Tool Development | Can extend ToolRegistry | Not supported | Verdict Code architecture allows custom tools |
| Hook System | Yes - pre/post execution hooks | Not available | Verdict Code has HookRegistry and HookExecutor |
| Custom Commands | Yes - Python-based commands with argparse | Not available | Supports command discovery and loading |
| MCP Server Support | Yes - MCP client and registry | Unknown | Verdict Code integrates Model Context Protocol servers |
| Skills System | Yes - Skills Manager (5 microservices, 42 CLI commands) | Not available | Phase 1-5 complete, production-ready |
| Service Integration | Gateway, Telemetry, Memory, Skills, RBAC | Anthropic API only | Verdict Code integrates with microservices architecture |
| Model Provider Support | Multi-provider via Gateway (OpenAI, local, OpenRouter, etc.) | Anthropic only | Verdict Code abstracts provider differences |
| Database Integration | Yes - PostgreSQL (NeonDB), Neo4j, FAISS | Not applicable | Verdict Code supports multiple datastores |
| RBAC Integration | Yes - role-based access control | Not applicable | Verdict Code has RBAC service |
| Web UI Integration | Yes - HMI (Human-Machine Interface) | Not available | Verdict Code has services/webui/hmi_app.py |
| API Gateway Integration | Yes - Local (6120) and Cloud (6123) Gateways | Not applicable | Verdict Code routes through Gateway for model access |
| Extensibility Model | Open - add custom commands, hooks, tools, skills | Closed (Anthropic-controlled) | Verdict Code designed for extensibility |
| Plugin Architecture | Yes - custom commands, MCP servers, skills | Not available | Verdict Code supports multiple extension mechanisms |
| Ecosystem | |||
| License | Open-source (in Verdict repo) | Commercial (Anthropic) | Verdict Code is part of larger Verdict platform |
| Development Model | Open-source with active development | Closed-source (Anthropic) | Verdict Code has frequent commits and feature additions |
| Dependencies | Python + Gateway services | Anthropic SDK | Verdict Code has more dependencies but more capabilities |
| Testing Infrastructure | pytest with unit and integration tests | Internal (Anthropic) | Verdict Code has test_concurrent_operations.py, test_services_integration.py, test_stress_tests.py |
| Benchmarking | Yes - CABF (Coding Agent Benchmark Framework) | Not standardized | Verdict Code has standardized benchmark suite |
| Model Support | Multi-model via Gateway (Claude, GPT, local, etc.) | Claude models only | Verdict Code supports any model in Gateway catalog |
| Documentation Style | In-repo SPECs, PRDs, howtos, quickrefs | Official docs | Verdict Code has comprehensive but technical docs |
| Update Mechanism | Via git pull | Via pip/claude CLI | Verdict Code updates manually or via git |
| Community Contributions | Accepted via GitHub PRs | Not accepted | Verdict Code benefits from open-source community |
| Commercial Support | Community/self-supported | Anthropic support | Verdict Code relies on community for support |
About This Comparison
This comparison is based on architectural analysis and feature comparison from the research documentCOMPARISON_Claude_Code_Vs_Verdict_Code.md. For objective performance metrics, the CABF (Coding Agent Benchmark Framework) provides standardized benchmarks comparing actual task performance, token efficiency, and success rates across different agent frameworks using the same models.