Reference
Command reference
Reference for commands and options available in the Palabre CLI.
This page lists the main Palabre commands.
Startup commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
palabre | Opens the TUI home screen, creates the global configuration on first launch, and refreshes detected known agents. |
palabre init | Explicitly creates the global configuration and detects agents. |
palabre init --local | Creates a configuration in the current folder. |
palabre doctor | Displays a diagnostic by sections: configuration, local tools, agents, and items to check. |
palabre agents | Lists declared agents and their local detection. |
palabre -a | Shortcut for palabre agents. |
palabre history, palabre historique | Lists recent Palabre Markdown exports. |
palabre context scan --json | Previews the project context Palabre would retain. |
Configuration
The TUI home screen performs the same conservative known-agent synchronization as palabre config --sync-agents: it adds newly detected known agents and refreshes known command names while preserving custom agents and user defaults.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
palabre config | Opens the configuration assistant. |
palabre config --set-defaults codex claude | Sets the default agents. |
palabre config -t 4 | Sets the default number of turns. |
palabre config --summary-agent claude | Sets the default summary agent. |
palabre config --summary-agent none | Removes the default summary agent. |
palabre config --ask-summary-agent opencode | Sets the default summary agent for ask mode. |
palabre config --mode ask | Sets the default mode (debate or ask). |
palabre config --ask-agents codex claude opencode | Sets the default ask agents, 4 maximum. |
palabre config --interface tui | Sets the default interface (tui or terminal). |
palabre config --language en | Sets the Palabre and agent prompt language. |
palabre config --clear-defaults | Removes default settings. |
palabre config --sync-agents | Adds missing detected agents and refreshes known commands. |
palabre config --ollama-models --json | Lists installed Ollama models and the configured model status. |
palabre config --set-ollama-model <model> | Sets the model for the ollama-local agent. |
palabre config --sync-ollama-model | Replaces the configured Ollama model if it is no longer installed. |
Debates
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
palabre new | Opens the guided assistant for a debate or Ask request. |
palabre -s "Subject" -t 4 | Launches with default agents. |
palabre codex-claude "Subject" -t 4 | Launches with a preset. |
palabre run --subject "Subject" --agent-a codex --agent-b claude | Launches with explicit agents. |
palabre ask "Subject" --agents codex claude | Runs a request with independent responses. |
TUI Commands
These commands are available from the TUI home screen or from /config depending on context.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/ask | Switches the TUI home screen to Ask mode. |
/debat | Switches the TUI home screen to debate mode. |
/agents | Displays available agents or updates active agents when names are provided. |
/roles | Displays available roles or updates active roles when roles are provided. |
/config | Opens TUI settings. |
/history | Shows recent Markdown exports. Alias: /historique. |
/ollama | Displays the configured Ollama model and installed models from /config. |
/ollama-model <model> | Changes the configured ollama-local model from /config. |
/ollama-sync | Replaces the configured Ollama model with an installed model when the current one is missing. |
/language fr, /language en | Changes the language from /config. Alias: /lang. |
/interface tui, /interface terminal | Changes the default interface from /config. |
/home | Returns to the TUI home screen. Alias: /back. |
/quit | Exits the TUI. |
Integrations
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
palabre presets --json | Lists presets and their local availability. |
palabre history --json | Lists recent Markdown exports as JSON v1. |
palabre config --ollama-models --json | Returns local Ollama state as JSON v1 for integrations. |
palabre context scan [paths...] --json | Returns the folders, files, and warnings from the --context scan as JSON v1. |
General options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-h, --help | Displays help. |
-v, --version | Displays the version. |
--config <path> | Uses an explicit configuration file. |
--language <fr|en>, --lang <fr|en> | Forces the Palabre and agent prompt language for this command. |
--tui | Forces the TUI interface, even if configuration asks for terminal rendering. |
--terminal, --no-tui | Uses raw terminal rendering. Also useful with palabre doctor for logs. |
--plain | Historical alias for --terminal. |
--renderer <auto|pretty|plain|tui|ndjson> | Selects the terminal or integration renderer. tui enables the full-terminal interface. |
Debate options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-s, --subject <text> | Session subject. |
--topic <text> | Compatible alias for --subject. |
--preset <name> | Selects an agent pair. |
--agent-a <name> | First agent. |
--agent-b <name> | Second agent. |
--mode <debate|ask> | Selects the orchestration mode. |
--agents <names...> | Ask mode agents, 4 maximum. |
-t, --turns <number> | Total number of turns, between 1 and 20. |
--no-early-stop | Disables early stopping. |
--model-a <model> | Model passed to agent A. |
--model-b <model> | Model passed to agent B. |
--pull-models | Allows Ollama to download a missing model. |
--summary-agent <name> | Summary agent. |
--summary-model <model> | Summary model. |
--no-summary | Disables the final summary. |
--files <paths...> | Injects specific files. |
--context <paths...> | Scans text files or folders. |
--show-prompt | Displays the first turn prompt without calling any agent. |
Update
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
palabre update | Displays update instructions. |
palabre update --apply | Applies the update from a git checkout. |