Run a multi-AI debate (Claude + Codex + Gemini) via gptengage. Use when the user asks for a debate, multi-AI discussion, or says /debate.
Run a structured multi-AI debate through gptengage.
<TOPIC> — the debate topic.~/.local/bin/gptengage debate "<TOPIC>" [OPTIONS] 2>&1
Use timeout 600 wrapper since debates are long-running:
timeout 600 ~/.local/bin/gptengage debate "<TOPIC>" [OPTIONS] 2>&1
| Flag | Description | Example |
|---|
-r, --rounds N | Number of rounds (default: 3) | --rounds 5 |
--agent CLI | Single CLI for all participants | --agent claude |
--instances N | Number of instances with --agent | --instances 3 |
-m, --model MODEL | Model override (requires --agent) | --model claude-sonnet-4-20250514 |
-p, --participants | Participants with personas | -p "claude:CTO,codex:Architect" |
--agent-file FILE | JSON agent definitions | --agent-file agents.json |
--template NAME | Predefined template | --template code-review |
-o, --output FORMAT | Output: text, json, markdown | --output json |
-t, --timeout SECS | Timeout per invocation (default: 120) | --timeout 180 |
--write | Allow write access in current directory | |
--synthesize | Generate synthesis after debate | |
--synthesizer CLI | CLI for synthesis (default: claude) | --synthesizer codex |
No personas (default): Claude, Codex, and Gemini debate without assigned roles.
With personas: -p "cli:persona,cli:persona,..."
-p "claude:CTO,claude:Architect,codex:Engineer"
-p "claude:Security Expert,gemini:UX Designer"
-p "claude:CEO:claude-sonnet-4-20250514,codex:CTO:gpt-4o"
Multi-instance: Same CLI debates itself leveraging nondeterminism.
--agent claude --instances 3
Agent file: Structured JSON definitions from gptengage generate-agents.
--agent-file agents.json
# Default 3-way debate
~/.local/bin/gptengage debate "Should we migrate to microservices?"
# With personas
~/.local/bin/gptengage debate "Tech stack decision" -p "claude:CTO,codex:Architect,gemini:PM"
# Multi-instance Claude debate
~/.local/bin/gptengage debate "Code review strategy" --agent claude --instances 3
# 5 rounds with synthesis
~/.local/bin/gptengage debate "REST vs GraphQL" --rounds 5 --synthesize
# JSON output
~/.local/bin/gptengage debate "REST vs GraphQL" --rounds 5 --output json
gptengage status to check CLI availability.