Sourcegraph

Key Terms

• Agent mode - Amp's operational profiles: smart (unconstrained frontier model, Claude Opus 4.7), rush (fast/cheap, GPT-5.5 no reasoning, small tasks), deep (extended thinking, GPT-5.5). Source: Ampcode – Manual
• Oracle - A second-opinion tool available to the main agent, powered by GPT-5.5 at reasoning level "high". The main agent invokes it autonomously for complex reasoning or on explicit user request. Source: Ampcode – Manual
• Subagents - Independent agents spawned by the main agent for parallel work. Each has its own context window. Includes Search (Gemini 3 Flash), Librarian (Claude Sonnet 4.6, searches GitHub), Review (Gemini 3.1 Pro), and user-initiated task subagents. Source: Ampcode – Manual
• Thread - A conversation with Amp, including all messages, tool calls, and file changes. Threads are shareable via web URLs and persist across sessions. Source: Ampcode – Manual
• Auto-compaction - When the context window reaches 90% capacity, Amp summarizes the current context, starts a fresh window with that summary, and continues. Replaces the former Handoff feature. Source: Ampcode – Neo
• Plugin API - TypeScript-based extension system for Amp. Plugins can handle events, add tools and commands, show UI, and classify actions with AI. Source: Ampcode – Manual
• Pass-through pricing - Amp charges the exact API cost from model providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google) with zero markup for individual and non-enterprise workspace users. Source: Ampcode – Pricing
• AGENTS.md - Configuration files that guide Amp on codebase structure, build/test commands, and conventions. Placed in project directories, user config, or system-wide locations. Source: Ampcode – Manual
• Skills - Packages of instructions and resources (including bundled MCP servers) that teach Amp how to perform specific tasks. Source: Ampcode – Manual
• Proof of Human - Passkey-authenticated "sudo" sessions required for sensitive operations like remote-controlling a thread. Source: Ampcode – Proof Of Human

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Latest Changes

Changes since the 2026-04 report.

• New model: GPT-5.5 powers deep mode (May 4), replacing GPT-5.4. Also now powers oracle tool (replacing GPT-5.4) and rush mode (replacing Haiku 4.5). Source: Ampcode – Gpt 5.5
• New model: GPT Image 2 powers Painter tool (May 25), replacing Gemini 3 Pro Image. Better at preserving text, typography, and visual style at ~1/4th the price. Source: Ampcode – Gpt Image 2
• Feature added: Amp CLI rebuilt as "Neo" with auto-compaction (replaces Handoff), Plugin API, remote control from ampcode.com, and message queuing by default (May 6). Source: Ampcode – Neo
• Feature added: Rush 2.0 uses GPT-5.5 with no reasoning. Internal eval: 44% task solve rate (up from 39%), $0.58/task avg (up from $0.44), 1m32s avg time (down from 2m59s) (May 21). Source: Ampcode – Rush 2.0
• Feature added: Plugin UI available on the web, synced with TUI (May 28). Source: Ampcode – Plugins Everywhere
• Feature added: Proof of Human passkey authentication for sensitive operations. Workspace admins can enforce this for members (May 27). Source: Ampcode – Proof Of Human
• Feature added: Amp Labs - enterprise consulting service assembling small teams for AI adoption at individual companies (May 21). Source: Ampcode – Amp Labs
• Feature removed: Handoff removed. Auto-compaction now manages context when the window is 90% full. Source: Ampcode – Neo
• Feature removed: File rollback on message edit/restore removed. Models are expected to undo their own changes. Source: Ampcode – Neo
• Feature removed: Permissions-by-default removed. Amp no longer asks for approval before running tools. Old permissions system exists as a built-in plugin activated by legacy settings. Source: Ampcode – Neo
• Feature removed: Skill management commands, user-invokable skills, custom themes, manual bash invocation ($/$$) removed. Source: Ampcode – Neo
• Package change: npm package renamed from @sourcegraph/amp to @ampcode/cli. Old package names become aliases and will be removed on June 15, 2026 (May 14). Source: Ampcode – Npm Package Changes
• Model change: Oracle switched from GPT-5.4 to GPT-5.5 (reasoning level high). Source: Ampcode – Manual

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Plans

Amp uses a pay-as-you-go credit model, not traditional subscription tiers. Usage is billed at the exact API cost from model providers with zero markup for individual and team plans.

Terms explained:

• SSO (SAML/Okta) - Employees authenticate through their corporate identity provider instead of separate Amp passwords. Ampcode – Manual
• SCIM (directory sync) - Automatically provisions and deprovisions Amp accounts when employees join or leave the company. Ampcode – Manual
• Zero data retention - The model provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google) does not store or train on text inputs sent through Amp Enterprise. Ampcode – Security
• Entitlements - Per-user cost quotas that let workspace admins control how much each team member can spend. Ampcode – Workspace Entitlements
• Proof of Human - Passkey-authenticated sessions required for sensitive operations. Workspace admins can enforce this for all members. Ampcode – Proof Of Human

Notes:

• All unused credits expire after 1 year of account inactivity. Source: Ampcode – Pricing
• Execute mode (amp -x) and programmatic invocations consume paid credits only. Amp Free usage applies only to interactive CLI sessions. Source: Ampcode – Amp Free Frontier
• Invoices are issued through Stripe, which supports adding a VAT ID. Source: Ampcode – Pricing

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API Pricing

Amp does not expose a standalone API. All usage goes through the Amp CLI or IDE integrations. Billing is based on pass-through costs from the underlying model providers.

Underlying model costs (as used by Amp, per provider API rates):

Important: Amp does not publish the exact per-token rates it charges. The manual states "zero markup on the providers' API pricing" for individual and workspace plans, and "50% more expensive" for Enterprise. Actual per-thread costs are visible in the CLI (with amp.showCosts enabled by default) and on each thread's web page. Source: Ampcode – Pricing

Per-task cost data from Amp's internal Rush 2.0 eval (May 2026):

Source: Ampcode – Rush 2.0

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Model Performance / Benchmarks

Amp does not publish public benchmark scores. The company reports internal eval scores in blog posts:

The eval suite, prompts, and scoring criteria are not published.

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Latest News

May 2026

GPT-5.5 powers deep mode (May 4, 2026)

GPT-5.5 replaced GPT-5.4 in deep mode. Key changes:

• Default reasoning effort lowered from high to medium because GPT-5.5 high cost more and performed worse than medium in Amp's evals.
• xhigh effort is reserved for cases where maximum quality matters more than cost.
• GPT-5.5 described as "more agent-shaped": better at the agent loop (read code, make change, verify, explain) without explicit process instructions.
• Recommended prompt pattern: "tell GPT-5.5 what success looks like" rather than spelling out every step.
• Full model card published at Ampcode – Gpt 5.5

Source: Ampcode – Gpt 5.5

Amp CLI rebuilt as "Neo" (May 6, 2026)

The CLI was rebuilt on a new architecture. Key changes:

• Auto-compaction: Context is summarized and reset when the window reaches 90% capacity. Handoff removed.
• Plugin API: TypeScript plugins can handle events, register tools and commands, show UI (notifications, confirmations, inputs), and classify actions with AI.
• Remote control: Threads can be controlled from ampcode.com (send messages, queue/dequeue, cancel).
• Permissions changed: Tools now run without approval by default. Old permissions system exists as a built-in plugin for users with legacy settings.
• Performance: 79% less CPU, 70% less memory on threads with ~5000 messages vs old CLI.
• Removed: Handoff, file rollback on message edit, skill management commands, user-invokable skills, custom themes, manual bash invocation ($/$$).
• Rollout was gradual. By May 12, they paused adding people to the Neo beta to fix bugs. By May 27, Neo was available to everyone and the "Neo" name was dropped.

Source: Ampcode – Neo, Ampcode – Drop The Neo

npm package renamed (May 14, 2026)

CLI npm package renamed from @sourcegraph/amp to @ampcode/cli. SDK renamed from @sourcegraph/amp-sdk to @ampcode/sdk. Old names are aliases and will be removed June 15, 2026. CLI now shipped as a single-file executable compiled by Bun instead of JavaScript source.

Source: Ampcode – Npm Package Changes

Rush 2.0 (May 21, 2026)

Rush mode switched from Haiku 4.5 to GPT-5.5 with no reasoning. Tuned for small, well-defined tasks:

• Task solve rate: 44% (up from 39% with Haiku 4.5)
• Cost per task: $0.58 (up 18% from $0.44)
• Average time: 1m32s (down from 2m59s)
• For comparison, deep mode solves 58% on the same evals (14 points higher)
• Recommended pattern: rush + oracle (rush builds, oracle plans/reviews)

Source: Ampcode – Rush 2.0

Amp Labs (May 21, 2026)

New consulting service: small teams of Amp engineers deployed to individual companies for AI adoption. Amp profits only through warrants unlocked if the partner company's stock appreciates. One company per industry and region. No competitors served simultaneously.

Source: Ampcode – Amp Labs

GPT Image 2 powers Painter (May 25, 2026)

Painter tool switched from Gemini 3 Pro Image to GPT Image 2. Better at preserving text, typography, and visual style when editing UI screenshots, at approximately 1/4th the price.

Source: Ampcode – Gpt Image 2

"Drop the Neo" / generally available (May 27, 2026)

Amp Neo is now just "Amp" and available to everyone. The --take-me-back flag (for using pre-Neo Amp) removed from latest version. Infrastructure improvements made based on beta feedback.

Source: Ampcode – Drop The Neo

Proof of Human (May 27, 2026)

New security feature: passkey-authenticated "sudo" sessions required for sensitive operations like remote-controlling a thread. Workspace admins can enforce this for all members. Designed as a proof-of-human mechanism for future features.

Source: Ampcode – Proof Of Human

Plugins everywhere (May 28, 2026)

Plugin UI (notifications, confirmation dialogs, input fields, select elements) now available on the web, synced with the TUI.

Source: Ampcode – Plugins Everywhere

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Community Signals

HackerNews

• "Amp, Rebuilt" (May 6, 2026) - 11 points, 0 comments. Low engagement for a major architectural release. The submission by tosh (likely affiliated) did not generate discussion. Source: News – Item

• "I keep coming back to Amp Code" (February 2026) - Blog post by asadjb praising Amp's multi-model approach and CLI-first design. 2 points. Source: News – Item

• "How do you pick a Coding Agent HN?" (January 2026) - Ask HN thread mentioning Amp Code as "picking up traction" alongside Claude Code and Codex. User noted they like Claude's UX and Opus 4.5 better but Amp is in the conversation. 4 points. Source: News – Item

• "Amp, Inc. - spinning out of Sourcegraph" (December 2025) - 90 points, 37 comments. Still the highest-engagement Amp post on HN by a wide margin. Source: News – Item

General observations

• Amp's HN engagement remains consistently low (1-11 points per submission), with most submissions coming from a small number of users (tosh, pdubroy, beyang). The only high-engagement post was the corporate spinout announcement (90 points). The May 2026 "Amp, Rebuilt" release, arguably the biggest product change in Amp's history, received only 11 points.
• Reddit's r/AmpCode community was not accessible for this month's report (Reddit search returned verification pages). Prior months showed recurring concerns about free tier credit expiration and stability issues.
• Amp's approach of rapidly removing features (handoff, rollback, permissions-by-default, themes, Tab) continues to be polarizing. The company frames it as staying on the frontier, but the community signal suggests users who depend on stability may find the pace disruptive.
• No X/Twitter community data was collected for this report.

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Enterprise Readiness

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Transparency Gaps