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
- Pick a tight file set (fewest files that still contain the truth).
- Preview payload + token spend (
--dry-run+--files-report). - Use browser mode for long Pro thinking; API mode for explicit API calls.
- 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(avoidpnpxhere; 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:
--copyis 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
.gitignorewhen 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:
apiwhenOPENAI_API_KEYis set; otherwisebrowser. - Browser supports GPT + Gemini only; use
--engine apifor 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 withORACLE_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
--forceonly 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").
Safety
- Don't attach secrets by default (
.env, key files, auth tokens). Redact aggressively; share only what's required.
"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).
