/oracle

name: oracle
description: "Oracle CLI second-model review/debug/refactor/design with selected files, dry-run token checks, API or browser engine."
homepage: https://askoracle.dev
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oracle

Oracle bundles a prompt + selected files for one second-model pass. Treat output as advisory; verify against code + tests.

Main path

Current CLI default model: `gpt-5.5-pro`. Browser engine is useful for long ChatGPT Pro runs; API engine is useful when `OPENAI_API_KEY` or Azure config is ready.

Recommended defaults:

• Preview first: `--dry-run summary --files-report`
• Browser long run: `--engine browser --model gpt-5.5-pro`
• API explicit: `--engine api --model gpt-5.5`

Golden path

1. Pick a tight file set (fewest files that still contain the truth). 2. Preview payload + token spend (`--dry-run` + `--files-report`). 3. Use browser mode for long Pro thinking; API mode for explicit API calls. 4. If the run detaches/timeouts: reattach to the stored session. Do not blindly re-run.

Commands (preferred)

• Help:
• `oracle --help`
• If the binary isn't installed: `npx -y @steipete/oracle --help` (avoid `pnpx` here; sqlite bindings).

• Preview (no tokens):
• `oracle --dry-run summary -p "<task>" --file "src/**" --file "!**/*.test.*"`
• `oracle --dry-run full -p "<task>" --file "src/**"`

• Token sanity:
• `oracle --dry-run summary --files-report -p "<task>" --file "src/**"`

• Browser run (main path; long-running is normal):
• `oracle --engine browser --model gpt-5.5-pro -p "<task>" --file "src/**"`

• Manual paste fallback:
• `oracle --render --copy -p "<task>" --file "src/**"`
• Note: `--copy` is a hidden alias for `--copy-markdown`.

Attaching files (`--file`)

`--file` accepts files, directories, and globs. You can pass it multiple times; entries can be comma-separated.

• Include:
• `--file "src/**"`
• `--file src/index.ts`
• `--file docs --file README.md`

• Exclude:
• `--file "src/**" --file "!src/**/*.test.ts" --file "!**/*.snap"`

• Defaults (implementation behavior):
• Default-ignored dirs: `node_modules`, `dist`, `coverage`, `.git`, `.turbo`, `.next`, `build`, `tmp` (skipped unless explicitly passed as literal dirs/files).
• Honors `.gitignore` when expanding globs.
• Does not follow symlinks.
• Dotfiles filtered unless opted in via pattern (e.g. `--file ".github/**"`).
• Files > 1 MB rejected.

Engines (API vs browser)

• Auto-pick: `api` when `OPENAI_API_KEY` is set; otherwise `browser`.
• Browser supports GPT + Gemini only; use `--engine api` for Claude/Grok/Codex or multi-model runs.
• Browser attachments:
• `--browser-attachments auto|never|always` (auto pastes inline up to ~60k chars then uploads).
• Remote browser host:
• Host: `oracle serve --host 0.0.0.0 --port 9473 --token <secret>`
• Client: `oracle --engine browser --remote-host <host:port> --remote-token <secret> -p "<task>" --file "src/**"`

Sessions + slugs

• Stored under `~/.oracle/sessions` (override with `ORACLE_HOME_DIR`).
• Runs may detach or take a long time (browser + Pro often does). If the CLI times out: do not re-run; reattach.
• List: `oracle status --hours 72`
• Attach: `oracle session <id> --render`
• Use `--slug "<3-5 words>"` to keep session IDs readable.
• Duplicate prompt guard exists; use `--force` only when you truly want a fresh run.

Prompt template (high signal)

Oracle starts with **zero** project knowledge. Assume the model cannot infer your stack, build tooling, conventions, or "obvious" paths. Include:

• Project briefing (stack + build/test commands + platform constraints).
• "Where things live" (key directories, entrypoints, config files, boundaries).
• Exact question + what you tried + the error text (verbatim).
• Constraints ("don't change X", "must keep public API", etc).
• Desired output ("return patch plan + tests", "give 3 options with tradeoffs").

Attachments

• Leave `.env`, key files, and auth tokens out of attachments unless the user asks to include them.

"Exhaustive prompt" restoration pattern

For long investigations, write a standalone prompt + file set so you can rerun days later:

• 6-30 sentence project briefing + the goal.
• Repro steps + exact errors + what you tried.
• Attach all context files needed (entrypoints, configs, key modules, docs).

Oracle runs are one-shot; the model doesn't remember prior runs. "Restoring context" means re-running with the same prompt + `--file …` set (or reattaching a still-running stored session).