Claude Code v2.1.316

Claude Code v2.1.316 adds a CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_EFFORT setting, pooled group budgets and layered policies for the Claude apps gateway, and deprecates fast mode on Opus 4.8 (removal set for November 30, 2026), plus a long list of fixes.

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PaidProprietary (© Anthropic PBC; use subject to Anthropic's Commercial Terms)TypeScript (repo)★ 154,021 (as of 2026-10-31)by Anthropic

Why it matters

For developers and IT admins running Anthropic's Claude Code agent. Teams on fast mode with Opus 4.8 have a month to move to Opus 5.5, and admins get shared group budgets and stacked policies on the company gateway.

What's new

Fast mode for Opus 4.8 is deprecated as of October 30, 2026 and will be removed on November 30, 2026; after that, fast-mode requests on Opus 4.8 return an error instead of falling back. The notes say to move to Opus 5.5 to keep the speedup.
New CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_EFFORT sets the effort level subagents use when nothing else names one, and CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_ULTRATHINK turns off the ultrathink keyword.
Claude apps gateway: pooled_budget gives a group one shared monthly budget on top of each member's limit, and managed.policy_mode: layered applies every matching policy instead of only the first.
Fixes include shell commands left running after Claude Code exits on macOS and Linux, --restricted sessions uploading files from outside the working directories, and Grep and Glob hanging on Windows.
VS Code extension: sign in to a Claude apps gateway from the chat panel, and ultrathink now runs its turn at xhigh effort.

Taken from the project's own release notes. Claims about speed or accuracy are the maker's unless stated otherwise.

Try it if: You use fast mode with Opus 4.8, or you want subagents to run at a lower effort than your main session.

Worth knowing: After November 30, 2026, fast-mode requests on Opus 4.8 will fail rather than fall back to standard Opus 4.8, so scripts that set fast mode need updating.

Quick facts

Pricing	Requires a Claude account or Anthropic API access (plan details not checked)not verified
Free or paid	Paid
License	Proprietary (© Anthropic PBC; use subject to Anthropic's Commercial Terms)
Language	TypeScript (repo)
Platform	macOS, Linux, Windows; terminal, IDE, desktop
GitHub stars	★ 154,021 (as of 2026-10-31)
Maker	Anthropic

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Coming up

Fast mode for Claude Opus 4.8 is removed November 30, 2026

What we couldn't verify

quick_facts.pricing

Checked 2026-10-31 from the release notes's own pages. Prices and star counts change, so confirm on the official site. Listing here is not a ranking or an endorsement.