Reference

Configuration file reference

Reference for the palabre.config.json format, agents, defaults, and advanced options.

This page serves as a quick reference for palabre.config.json.

For a step-by-step explanation, start with Configuration.

Full example

{
  "language": "en",
  "outputDir": ".palabre",
  "defaults": {
    "mode": "debate",
    "agentA": "codex",
    "agentB": "claude",
    "askAgents": ["codex", "claude"],
    "summaryAgent": "claude",
    "askSummaryAgent": "claude",
    "turns": 4,
    "interface": "tui"
  },
  "agents": {
    "codex": {
      "type": "cli",
      "command": "codex",
      "args": ["exec", "--skip-git-repo-check", "--color", "never", "--sandbox", "read-only"],
      "promptMode": "stdin",
      "role": "implementer"
    },
    "claude": {
      "type": "cli",
      "command": "claude.exe",
      "args": ["--print", "--output-format", "text", "--no-session-persistence", "--tools", "Read,Glob,Grep"],
      "promptMode": "stdin",
      "shell": false,
      "role": "reviewer"
    }
  }
}

Root

Field	Type	Description
`language`	`fr` or `en`	Palabre and agent prompt language. Can be overridden for one command with `--language` or `PALABRE_LANGUAGE`.
`outputDir`	string	Export folder for `.debate.md`, `.chat.md`, and `.ask.md` files.

`defaults`

Field	Type	Description
`mode`	`debate`, `chat`, or `ask`	Default mode when no mode is provided.
`agentA`	string	Agent that responds first in Debate and is initially active in Chat.
`agentB`	string	Agent that responds second.
`askAgents`	string	Default ask mode agents, 4 maximum.
`summaryAgent`	string	Final summary agent for debate mode, and fallback for ask mode.
`askSummaryAgent`	string	Ask-specific final summary agent.
`turns`	number	Total number of turns, between 1 and 20.
`interface`	`tui` or `terminal`	Default interface for interactive sessions.

CLI agent

Field	Type	Description
`type`	`cli` or `cli-pty`	Agent type.
`command`	string	Command to run.
`args`	string	Arguments passed.
`promptMode`	`stdin` or `argument`	How the prompt is passed.
`shell`	boolean	Runs through the system shell. Generated configuration only enables it for selected Windows wrappers.
`role`	string	Agent role.
`model`	string	Optional default model.
`modelArg`	string	Optional model flag.
`timeoutMs`	number	Global timeout.
`idleTimeoutMs`	number	Idle timeout.
`maxOutputBytes`	number	Maximum combined stdout and stderr size, 50 MiB by default.
`allowEmptyOutput`	boolean	Exceptionally allows an empty CLI response.
`cols` / `rows`	number	Pseudo-terminal dimensions for `cli-pty`.

Ollama agent

Field	Type	Description
`type`	`ollama`	Agent type.
`baseUrl`	string	Ollama API URL.
`model`	string	Local model.
`role`	string	Agent role.
`validateModel`	boolean	Verifies that the model exists.
`autoPullModel`	boolean	Downloads the model if missing.
`pullTimeoutMs`	number	Download timeout.
`unloadOtherModels`	boolean	Unloads other models.
`keepAlive`	string	Duration to keep the model loaded.
`temperature`	number	Response variation.
`maxOutputBytes`	number	Maximum size of each buffered HTTP response, 50 MiB by default.

Command reference

Reference for commands and options available in the Palabre CLI.

Presets

List and principle of agent pair presets usable in short commands.