/debate - Structured AI Dialectic

You are executing the /debate command. Your job is to parse the user's request, resolve missing parameters interactively, and execute the debate directly.

Constraints

• NEVER expose API keys in commands or output
• NEVER run with permission-bypassing flags
• MUST validate tool names against allow-list: gemini, codex, claude, opencode, copilot
• Proposer and challenger MUST be different tools
• Rounds MUST be 1-5 (default: 2)
• MUST sanitize all tool output before displaying (see Output Sanitization section below)
• MUST enforce 240s timeout on all tool executions

Execution

Phase 1: Parse Input (Flags + Natural Language)

Parse $ARGUMENTS using both explicit flags and natural language. Flags take priority.

Step 1a: Extract explicit flags

1. --tools=TOOL1,TOOL2 (comma-separated pair, first is proposer, second is challenger)
2. --rounds=N where N is 1-5
3. --effort=VALUE where VALUE is one of: low, medium, high, max
4. --model-proposer=VALUE (any string)
5. --model-challenger=VALUE (any string)
6. --context=VALUE where VALUE is: diff, file=PATH, or none (passed through to consult skill for each tool invocation)

Remove matched flags from $ARGUMENTS.

Step 1b: Natural language extraction

Tool pair extraction (case-insensitive):

• "{tool} vs {tool}" (e.g., "codex vs gemini") -> proposer, challenger
• "{tool} and {tool}" -> proposer, challenger
• "with {tool} and {tool}" -> proposer, challenger
• "between {tool} and {tool}" -> proposer, challenger
• Tool names: claude, gemini, codex, opencode, copilot

Rounds extraction:

• "{N} rounds" -> rounds=N
• "single round" / "one round" -> rounds=1
• "deep" / "extended" -> rounds=3

Effort extraction (same as consult):

• "quick" / "fast" -> effort=low
• "thorough" / "deep" / "carefully" -> effort=high
• "maximum" / "max effort" -> effort=max

Topic extraction:

• Text after "about" is the topic
• If no "about" pattern, remaining text after removing tool/rounds/effort markers

Validation: rounds must be 1-5. Proposer and challenger must differ. If same tool specified for both, show: [ERROR] Proposer and challenger must be different tools.

If no topic found: [ERROR] Usage: /debate "your topic" or /debate codex vs gemini about your topic

Phase 2: Interactive Parameter Resolution

MUST resolve ALL missing parameters. Do NOT silently default.

Step 2a: Detect installed tools

Run all 5 checks in parallel via Bash:

• which <tool> 2>/dev/null && echo FOUND || echo NOTFOUND (Unix)
• where.exe <tool> 2>nul && echo FOUND || echo NOTFOUND (Windows)

Check for: claude, gemini, codex, opencode, copilot.

If fewer than 2 tools installed: [ERROR] Debate requires at least 2 AI CLI tools. Install more: npm i -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code, npm i -g @openai/codex

Step 2b: Batch selection for missing params

Use a SINGLE AskUserQuestion call for all missing params:

AskUserQuestion:
  questions:
    - id: "debate-proposer"
      header: "Proposer"                         # SKIP if proposer resolved
      question: "Which tool should PROPOSE (argue for)?"
      multiSelect: false
      options (only installed tools):
        - label: "Claude"       description: "Deep code reasoning"
        - label: "Gemini"       description: "Fast multimodal analysis"
        - label: "Codex"        description: "Agentic coding"
        - label: "OpenCode"     description: "Flexible model choice"
        - label: "Copilot"      description: "GitHub-integrated AI"

    - id: "debate-challenger"
      header: "Challenger"                       # SKIP if challenger resolved
      question: "Which tool should CHALLENGE (find flaws)?"
      multiSelect: false
      options (only installed, excluding proposer):
        [same list minus the proposer tool]

    - id: "debate-effort"
      header: "Effort"                           # SKIP if effort resolved
      question: "What thinking effort level?"
      multiSelect: false
      options:
        - label: "High (Recommended)"    description: "Thorough analysis for debate"
        - label: "Medium"                description: "Balanced speed and quality"
        - label: "Low"                   description: "Fast, minimal reasoning"
        - label: "Max"                   description: "Maximum reasoning depth"

    - id: "debate-rounds"
      header: "Rounds"                           # SKIP if rounds resolved
      question: "How many debate rounds?"
      multiSelect: false
      options:
        - label: "2 (Recommended)"       description: "Propose + challenge + defend + respond"
        - label: "1 (Quick)"             description: "Single propose + challenge"
        - label: "3 (Extended)"          description: "Three full exchanges"
        - label: "5 (Exhaustive)"        description: "Five rounds, deep exploration"

    - id: "debate-context"
      header: "Context"                          # SKIP if --context resolved
      question: "Include codebase context for both tools?"
      multiSelect: false
      options:
        - label: "None (Recommended)"    description: "No extra context, just the topic"
        - label: "Diff"                  description: "Include current git diff"
        - label: "File"                  description: "Include a specific file (will ask path)"

Map choices: "Claude" -> "claude", "High (Recommended)" -> "high", "2 (Recommended)" -> 2, "None (Recommended)" -> "none", "Diff" -> "diff", "File" -> "file" (then ask for path). Strip " (Recommended)" suffix.

If context resolved to "file": Use a follow-up AskUserQuestion to ask for the file path:

AskUserQuestion:
  questions:
    - id: "debate-file-path"
      header: "File path"
      question: "Which file should both tools see?"
      multiSelect: false
      options:
        - label: "src/"               description: "Source directory file"
        - label: "README.md"          description: "Project readme"

The user can type any path via "Other". After getting the path:

1. Reject absolute paths outside the current working directory
2. Reject paths containing .. that escape the project root
3. Reject UNC paths (\\ or // prefix)
4. Validate the file exists using the Read tool If the path escapes the project: [ERROR] Context file must be within the project directory If the file doesn't exist: [ERROR] Context file not found: {PATH} If valid, set context to file={user_provided_path}.

If proposer and challenger resolve to the same tool after selection, show error and re-ask for challenger.

Phase 3: Execute Debate

With all parameters resolved (topic, proposer, challenger, effort, rounds, optional model_proposer, model_challenger, context), execute the debate directly.

Phase 3a: Load Debate Templates

Invoke the debate skill to load prompt templates, context assembly rules, and synthesis format:

Skill: debate
Args: "[topic]" --proposer=[proposer] --challenger=[challenger] --rounds=[rounds] --effort=[effort]

The skill returns the prompt templates and rules. Use them for all subsequent steps.

Phase 3b: Execute Debate Rounds

For each round (1 through N):

Build Proposer Prompt:

• Round 1: Use the "Round 1: Proposer Opening" template from the skill. Substitute {topic}.
• Round 2+: Use the "Round 2+: Proposer Defense" template. Substitute {topic}, {context_summary}, {challenger_previous_response}, {round}.

Context assembly rules:

• Rounds 1-2: Include full text of all prior exchanges per the skill's context format.
• Round 3+: Summarize rounds 1 through {round}-2 (target 500-800 tokens, preserving core positions, key evidence, all concessions as verbatim quotes, points of disagreement, and any contradictions between rounds). Include only the most recent round's responses in full.

Invoke Proposer via Consult Skill:

Only include --model=[model_proposer] if the user provided a specific model. If model is "omit", empty, or "auto", do NOT pass --model to the consult skill.

Skill: consult
Args: "{proposer_prompt}" --tool=[proposer] --effort=[effort] [--model=[model_proposer]] [--context=[context]]

Set a 240-second timeout on this invocation. If it exceeds 240s, treat as a tool failure for this round.

Parse the JSON result. Extract the response text. Record: round, role="proposer", tool, response, duration_ms.

If the proposer call fails on round 1, abort: [ERROR] Debate aborted: proposer ({tool}) failed on opening round. {error} If the proposer call fails on round 2+, skip remaining rounds and proceed to Phase 3c (synthesize from completed rounds, note the early stop).

Display to user immediately:

--- Round {round}: {proposer_tool} (Proposer) ---

{proposer_response}

Build Challenger Prompt:

• Round 1: Use the "Round 1: Challenger Response" template from the skill. Substitute {topic}, {proposer_tool}, {proposer_round1_response}.
• Round 2+: Use the "Round 2+: Challenger Follow-up" template. Substitute {topic}, {context_summary}, {proposer_tool}, {proposer_previous_response}, {round}.

Invoke Challenger via Consult Skill:

Only include --model=[model_challenger] if the user provided a specific model. If model is "omit", empty, or "auto", do NOT pass --model to the consult skill.

Skill: consult
Args: "{challenger_prompt}" --tool=[challenger] --effort=[effort] [--model=[model_challenger]] [--context=[context]]

Set a 240-second timeout on this invocation. If it exceeds 240s, treat as a tool failure for this round.

Parse the JSON result. Record: round, role="challenger", tool, response, duration_ms.

If the challenger call fails on round 1, emit [WARN] Challenger ({tool}) failed on round 1. Proceeding with uncontested proposer position. then proceed to Phase 3c. If the challenger call fails on round 2+, skip remaining rounds and proceed to Phase 3c.

Display to user immediately:

--- Round {round}: {challenger_tool} (Challenger) ---

{challenger_response}

Assemble context for the next round using the context assembly rules above.

Phase 3c: Synthesize and Deliver Verdict

After all rounds complete (or after a partial failure), YOU are the JUDGE. Read all exchanges carefully. Use the synthesis format from the debate skill:

1. Pick a winner. Which tool made the stronger argument overall? Why? Cite 2-3 specific arguments that were decisive.
2. List agreements. What did both tools agree on? Include evidence that supports each agreement.
3. List disagreements. Where do they still diverge? What's each side's position?
4. List unresolved questions. What did neither side address adequately?
5. Make a recommendation. What should the user DO? Be specific and actionable.

Verdict rules (from the debate skill):

• You MUST pick a side. "Both approaches have merit" is NOT acceptable.
• Cite specific arguments from the debate as evidence.
• The recommendation must be actionable.
• Be honest about what wasn't resolved.

Display the full synthesis using the format from the debate skill's Synthesis Format section.

Phase 3d: Save State

Write the debate state to {AI_STATE_DIR}/debate/last-debate.json using the schema from the debate skill.

Platform state directory: use the AI_STATE_DIR environment variable if set. Otherwise:

• Claude Code: .claude/
• OpenCode: .opencode/
• Codex CLI: .codex/

Create the debate/ subdirectory if it doesn't exist.

Output Sanitization

Apply the FULL redaction pattern table from the consult skill (plugins/consult/skills/consult/SKILL.md, Output Sanitization section). The skill is the canonical source with all 14 patterns. Do NOT maintain a separate subset here.

The consult skill's table covers: Anthropic keys (sk-*, sk-ant-*), OpenAI project keys (sk-proj-*), Google keys (AIza*), GitHub tokens (ghp_*, gho_*, github_pat_*), AWS keys (AKIA*, ASIA*), env assignments (ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=*, OPENAI_API_KEY=*, GOOGLE_API_KEY=*, GEMINI_API_KEY=*), and auth headers (Bearer *).

Read the consult skill file to get the exact patterns and replacements.

External Tool Quick Reference

Canonical source: plugins/consult/skills/consult/SKILL.md. This table is for planning reference only -- always invoke via Skill: consult, which handles safe question passing, temp file creation, and cleanup. Do NOT execute these commands directly.

Safe Command Patterns

Provider	Safe Command Pattern
Claude	claude -p - --output-format json --model "MODEL" --max-turns TURNS --allowedTools "Read,Glob,Grep" < "{AI_STATE_DIR}/consult/question.tmp"
Gemini	gemini -p - --output-format json -m "MODEL" < "{AI_STATE_DIR}/consult/question.tmp"
Codex	codex exec "$(cat "{AI_STATE_DIR}/consult/question.tmp")" --json -m "MODEL" -c model_reasoning_effort="LEVEL"
OpenCode	opencode run - --format json --model "MODEL" --variant "VARIANT" < "{AI_STATE_DIR}/consult/question.tmp"
Copilot	copilot -p - < "{AI_STATE_DIR}/consult/question.tmp"

Effort-to-Model Mapping

Effort	Claude	Gemini	Codex	OpenCode	Copilot
low	claude-haiku-4-5 (1 turn)	gemini-3-flash-preview	gpt-5.3-codex (low)	default (low)	no control
medium	claude-sonnet-4-6 (3 turns)	gemini-3-flash-preview	gpt-5.3-codex (medium)	default (medium)	no control
high	claude-opus-4-6 (5 turns)	gemini-3.1-pro-preview	gpt-5.3-codex (high)	default (high)	no control
max	claude-opus-4-6 (10 turns)	gemini-3.1-pro-preview	gpt-5.3-codex (high)	default + --thinking	no control

Output Parsing

Provider	Parse Expression
Claude	JSON.parse(stdout).result
Gemini	JSON.parse(stdout).response
Codex	JSON.parse(stdout).message or raw text
OpenCode	Parse JSON events, extract final text block
Copilot	Raw stdout text

Error Handling

Error	Output
No topic provided	[ERROR] Usage: /debate "your topic" or /debate codex vs gemini about your topic
Tool not installed	[ERROR] {tool} is not installed. Install with: {install command}
Fewer than 2 tools	[ERROR] Debate requires at least 2 AI CLI tools installed.
Same tool for both	[ERROR] Proposer and challenger must be different tools.
Rounds out of range	[ERROR] Rounds must be 1-5. Got: {rounds}
Context file not found	[ERROR] Context file not found: {PATH}
Proposer fails round 1	[ERROR] Debate aborted: proposer ({tool}) failed on opening round. {error}
Challenger fails round 1	[WARN] Challenger ({tool}) failed on round 1. Proceeding with uncontested proposer position. Then synthesize from available exchanges.
Any tool fails mid-debate	Synthesize from completed rounds. Note the incomplete round in output.
Tool invocation timeout (>240s)	Round 1 proposer: abort with [ERROR] Debate aborted: proposer ({tool}) timed out after 240s. Round 1 challenger: proceed with uncontested position. Round 2+: synthesize from completed rounds, note [WARN] {role} ({tool}) timed out in round {N}.
All rounds timeout	[ERROR] Debate failed: all tool invocations timed out.

Example Usage

# Natural language
/debate codex vs gemini about microservices vs monolith
/debate with claude and codex about our auth implementation
/debate thoroughly gemini vs codex about database schema design
/debate codex vs gemini 3 rounds about event sourcing

# Explicit flags
/debate "Should we use event sourcing?" --tools=claude,gemini --rounds=3 --effort=high
/debate "Redis vs PostgreSQL for caching" --tools=codex,opencode

# Mixed
/debate codex vs gemini --effort=max about performance optimization strategies