Oracle

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name: oracle description: Use the @steipete/oracle CLI to bundle a prompt plus the right files and get a second-model review (API or browser) for debugging, refactors, design checks, or cross-validation.

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Oracle (CLI) — best use

Oracle bundles your prompt + selected files into one “one-shot” request so another model can answer with real repo context (API or browser automation). Treat outputs as advisory: verify against the codebase + tests.

Main use case (browser, GPT‑5.2 Pro)

Default workflow here: --engine browser with GPT‑5.2 Pro in ChatGPT. This is the “human in the loop” path: it can take ~10 minutes to ~1 hour; expect a stored session you can reattach to.

Recommended defaults:

Engine: browser (--engine browser)

Model: GPT‑5.2 Pro (either --model gpt-5.2-pro or a ChatGPT picker label like --model "5.2 Pro")

Attachments: directories/globs + excludes; avoid secrets.

Golden path (fast + reliable)

1. Pick a tight file set (fewest files that still contain the truth). 2. Preview what you’re about to send (--dry-run + --files-report when needed). 3. Run in browser mode for the usual GPT‑5.2 Pro ChatGPT workflow; use API only when you explicitly want it. 4. If the run detaches/timeouts: reattach to the stored session (don’t re-run).

Commands (preferred)

Show help (once/session):

- npx -y @steipete/oracle --help

Preview (no tokens):

- npx -y @steipete/oracle --dry-run summary -p "" --file "src/" --file "!/*.test.*" - npx -y @steipete/oracle --dry-run full -p "" --file "src/**"

Token/cost sanity:

- npx -y @steipete/oracle --dry-run summary --files-report -p "" --file "src/**"

Browser run (main path; long-running is normal):

- npx -y @steipete/oracle --engine browser --model gpt-5.2-pro -p "" --file "src/**"

Manual paste fallback (assemble bundle, copy to clipboard):

- npx -y @steipete/oracle --render --copy -p "" --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/**" (directory glob) - --file src/index.ts (literal file) - --file docs --file README.md (literal directory + file)

Exclude (prefix with !):

- --file "src/" --file "!src//*.test.ts" --file "!**/*.snap"

Defaults (important behavior from the implementation):

- Default-ignored dirs: node_modules, dist, coverage, .git, .turbo, .next, build, tmp (skipped unless you explicitly pass them as literal dirs/files). - Honors .gitignore when expanding globs. - Does not follow symlinks (glob expansion uses followSymbolicLinks: false). - Dotfiles are filtered unless you explicitly opt in with a pattern that includes a dot-segment (e.g. --file ".github/**"). - Hard cap: files > 1 MB are rejected (split files or narrow the match).

Budget + observability

Target: keep total input under ~196k tokens.

Use --files-report (and/or --dry-run json) to spot the token hogs before spending.

If you need hidden/advanced knobs: npx -y @steipete/oracle --help --verbose.

Engines (API vs browser)

Auto-pick: uses api when OPENAI_API_KEY is set, otherwise browser.

Browser engine supports GPT + Gemini only; use --engine api for Claude/Grok/Codex or multi-model runs.

API runs require explicit user consent before starting because they incur usage costs.

Browser attachments:

- --browser-attachments auto|never|always (auto pastes inline up to ~60k chars then uploads).

Remote browser host (signed-in machine runs automation):

- Host: oracle serve --host 0.0.0.0 --port 9473 --token - Client: oracle --engine browser --remote-host --remote-token -p "" --file "src/**"

Sessions + slugs (don’t lose work)

Stored under ~/.oracle/sessions (override with ORACLE_HOME_DIR).

Runs may detach or take a long time (browser + GPT‑5.2 Pro often does). If the CLI times out: don’t re-run; reattach.

- List: oracle status --hours 72 - Attach: oracle session --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, dependency boundaries).

Exact question + what you tried + the error text (verbatim).

Constraints (“don’t change X”, “must keep public API”, “perf budget”, etc).

Desired output (“return patch plan + tests”, “list risky assumptions”, “give 3 options with tradeoffs”).

“Exhaustive prompt” pattern (for later restoration)

When you know this will be a long investigation, write a prompt that can stand alone later:

Top: 6–30 sentence project briefing + current goal.

Middle: concrete repro steps + exact errors + what you already tried.

Bottom: attach *all* context files needed so a fresh model can fully understand (entrypoints, configs, key modules, docs).

If you need to reproduce the same context later, re-run with the same prompt + --file … set (Oracle runs are one-shot; the model doesn’t remember prior runs).

Safety

Don’t attach secrets by default (.env, key files, auth tokens). Redact aggressively; share only what’s required.

Prefer “just enough context”: fewer files + better prompt beats whole-repo dumps.