Frontier

---
name: frontier
description: Maestro Frontier local multi-CLI fusion engine — switch mode, or run a prompt through the panel
---

Drive the **Maestro Frontier** engine — a zero-dependency local multi-CLI fusion
engine (a parallel panel of local CLIs → a judge model's analysis → a grounded
synthesis). It is the same engine the Claude Code plugin ships; here it runs
through the `maestro` CLI with `--scope cline`.

**Install path (pick one):**

- Project-scoped: `.cline/skills/frontier/SKILL.md`
- Global: `~/.cline/skills/frontier/SKILL.md`

**This is a typing shortcut, not the Claude Code plugin.** Cline has no prompt
hook, so arming a mode does **not** auto-run the engine on later prompts — it
only persists the mode. To actually fuse a prompt, invoke `run` explicitly
(step 4).

When the user invokes this skill, map their request to one engine CLI call and
run it in the terminal (Cline will request approval before executing). Do not
edit the engine's state file by hand.

## 1. Inspect or compose

`frontier catalog` is the source of truth for locally selectable models, named
presets (including legacy presets), aliases, and readiness. It does not print
secrets or configured model IDs. `compose` validates ready models and arms the
resolved custom panel unless `--dry-run` is supplied:

```bash
maestro frontier catalog
maestro frontier compose --models <model-a>,<model-b> --scope cline
maestro frontier compose --models <model-a>,<model-b> --judge <model> --synth <model> --effort <level> --save my-panel --scope cline
maestro frontier compose --models <model-a>,<model-b> --dry-run --scope cline
maestro frontier effort <auto|low|medium|high|xhigh|max|ultra> --scope cline
```

## 2. Switch mode

Persists under Maestro's platform-specific config directory:
`$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/maestro` when set; otherwise `%APPDATA%\maestro` on Windows
or `~/.config/maestro`; default `off`.
`--scope cline` keeps Cline's armed mode independent from Claude Code, Codex,
Cursor, and Gemini on the same machine:

```bash
maestro frontier mode off --scope cline
maestro frontier mode single --model <model> --effort <level> --scope cline
maestro frontier mode fusion --preset <preset> --effort <level> --scope cline
maestro frontier mode fusion --preset custom --models <a,b,c> --scope cline
maestro frontier mode fusion --preset <preset> --judge <model> --synth <model> --scope cline
```

Existing named presets remain supported; use `frontier catalog` instead of a
static list. `--judge` / `--synth` can override either stage for a named
preset. For a ready explicit panel, prefer `frontier compose` above.

## 3. Show current mode/preset

```bash
maestro frontier status --scope cline
```

## 4. Run a prompt through the current mode

This is the action that actually fuses, since nothing auto-runs here. Set a
mode first (step 2), then:

```bash
maestro frontier run "<prompt>" --scope cline
```

- `off`: prints a notice, spawns nothing.
- `single`: dispatches the one selected CLI, prints its answer.
- `fusion`: runs the panel in parallel → judge → synthesizer; prints the final
  answer (a one-line run meta goes to stderr). Report stdout verbatim.

On error the engine prints `ERROR [<reason>]: <detail>` to stderr and exits
non-zero — relay the reason.

## Notes

- Real `single`/`fusion` runs spawn local CLIs and cost tokens; use small prompts.
  `off` is free. Every panel, judge, and synthesizer subprocess runs in the
  provider CLI's read-only/planning mode.
- Each model's CLI must be on `PATH`, or point at a specific build with
  `MAESTRO_CLAUDE_BIN` / `MAESTRO_CODEX_BIN` / `MAESTRO_GEMINI_BIN`.
- Claude selectors: `opus` pins Opus 5.5 (`claude-opus-5-5`), `fable` pins
  Fable 5.1 (`claude-fable-5-1`), `sonnet-5` keeps Sonnet 5
  (`claude-sonnet-5`), and `haiku` adds Haiku 4.5
  (`claude-haiku-4-5-20251001`). Claude Code v2.1.280+ is required for Opus
  5.5; v2.1.257+ is required for Fable 5.1. Opus, Fable, and Sonnet support
  `low`, `medium`, `high`, `xhigh`, and `max`; Haiku has no effort flag.
  Codex selectors include `astra` (`gpt-6-astra`), `sol` (`gpt-6-sol`),
  `terra` (`gpt-5.6-terra`), `luna` (`gpt-6-luna`), `auto-review`, and the
  retained GPT-5.5, GPT-5.4, GPT-5.4 Mini, and GPT-5.3 Codex Spark selectors.
  GPT-6 supports `low`, `medium`, `high`, `xhigh`, and `max` in Maestro’s UI,
  without `none` or `ultra`. Earlier explicit selectors and third-party
  adapters remain available. Confirm exact aliases, supported efforts, and
  readiness with `frontier catalog`.
- `MAESTRO_FRONTIER_MODEL_TERRA`, `MAESTRO_FRONTIER_MODEL_LUNA`, and
  `MAESTRO_FRONTIER_MODEL_SOL` remain optional model-ID overrides.
- Run `node frontier/smoke.cjs` from the installed engine root for release
  verification.
- Requires `maestro` on `PATH` (installed during Maestro setup). If it is missing,
  install Maestro first.