## Host-neutral runtime bindings These assignments select stable paths only; they do not install anything or grant consent: ```bash GSTACK_HOME="${GSTACK_HOME:-$HOME/.gstack}" GSTACK_ROOT="$GSTACK_HOME" GSTACK_STATE_ROOT="$GSTACK_HOME" GSTACK_BIN="$GSTACK_HOME/bin" BUN_CMD="$GSTACK_BIN/bun" B="$GSTACK_BIN/browse" D="$GSTACK_BIN/gstack-design" P="$GSTACK_BIN/make-pdf" ``` # $qa --mode Report --module benchmark-models — Cross-Model Skill Benchmark You are running the `$qa --mode Report --module benchmark-models` workflow. Wraps the `gstack-model-benchmark` binary with an interactive flow that picks a prompt, confirms providers, previews auth, and runs the benchmark. Different from `$qa --mode Report --module benchmark` — that skill measures web page performance (Core Web Vitals, load times). This skill measures AI model performance on gstack skills or arbitrary prompts. --- ## Step 0: Locate the binary ```bash BIN="$GSTACK_BIN/gstack-model-benchmark" : "model benchmark helper resolves from the managed runtime" [ -x "$BIN" ] || { echo "ERROR: gstack-model-benchmark not found. Install the optional runtime, then run gstack doctor." >&2; exit 1; } echo "BIN: $BIN" ``` If not found, stop and tell the user to reinstall gstack. --- ## Step 1: Choose a prompt Use AskUserQuestion with the preamble format: - **Re-ground:** current project + branch. - **Simplify:** "A cross-model benchmark runs the same prompt through 2-3 AI models and shows you how they compare on speed, cost, and output quality. What prompt should we use?" - **RECOMMENDATION:** A because benchmarking against a real skill exposes tool-use differences, not just raw generation. - **Options:** - A) Benchmark one of my gstack skills (we'll pick which skill next). Completeness: 10/10. - B) Use an inline prompt — type it on the next turn. Completeness: 8/10. - C) Point at a prompt file on disk — specify path on the next turn. Completeness: 8/10. If A: list top-level gstack skills that have SKILL.md files (from `find . -maxdepth 2 -name SKILL.md -not -path './.*'`), ask the user to pick one via a second AskUserQuestion. Use the picked SKILL.md path as the prompt file. If B: ask the user for the inline prompt. Use it verbatim via `--prompt ""`. If C: ask for the path. Verify it exists. Use as positional argument. --- ## Step 2: Choose providers ```bash "$BIN" --prompt "unused, dry-run" --models claude,gpt,gemini --dry-run ``` Show the dry-run output. The "Adapter availability" section tells the user which providers will actually run (OK) vs skip (NOT READY — remediation hint included). If ALL three show NOT READY: stop with a clear message — benchmark can't run without at least one authed provider. Suggest `claude login`, `codex login`, or `gemini login` / `export GOOGLE_API_KEY`. If at least one is OK: AskUserQuestion: - **Simplify:** "Which models should we include? The dry-run above showed which are authed. Unauthed ones will be skipped cleanly — they won't abort the batch." - **RECOMMENDATION:** A (all authed providers) because running as many as possible gives the richest comparison. - **Options:** - A) All authed providers. Completeness: 10/10. - B) Only Claude. Completeness: 6/10 (no cross-model signal — use /ship's review for solo claude benchmarks instead). - C) Pick two — specify on next turn. Completeness: 8/10. --- ## Step 3: Decide on judge ```bash [ -n "$ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" ] || grep -q 'ANTHROPIC' "$HOME/.claude/.credentials.json" 2>/dev/null && echo "JUDGE_AVAILABLE" || echo "JUDGE_UNAVAILABLE" ``` If judge is available, AskUserQuestion: - **Simplify:** "The quality judge scores each model's output on a 0-10 scale using Anthropic's Claude as a tiebreaker. Adds ~$0.05/run. Recommended if you care about output quality, not just latency and cost." - **RECOMMENDATION:** A — the whole point is comparing quality, not just speed. - **Options:** - A) Enable judge (adds ~$0.05). Completeness: 10/10. - B) Skip judge — speed/cost/tokens only. Completeness: 7/10. If judge is NOT available, skip this question and omit the `--judge` flag. --- ## Step 4: Run the benchmark Construct the command from Step 1, 2, 3 decisions: ```bash "$BIN" --models [--judge] --output table ``` Where `` is either `--prompt ""` (Step 1B), a file path (Step 1A or 1C), and `` is the comma-separated list from Step 2. Stream the output as it arrives. This is slow — each provider runs the prompt fully. Expect 30s-5min depending on prompt complexity and whether `--judge` is on. --- ## Step 5: Interpret results After the table prints, summarize for the user: - **Fastest** — provider with lowest latency. - **Cheapest** — provider with lowest cost. - **Highest quality** (if `--judge` ran) — provider with highest score. - **Best overall** — use judgment. If judge ran: quality-weighted. Otherwise: note the tradeoff the user needs to make. If any provider hit an error (auth/timeout/rate_limit), call it out with the remediation path. --- ## Step 6: Offer to save results AskUserQuestion: - **Simplify:** "Save this benchmark as JSON so you can compare future runs against it?" - **RECOMMENDATION:** A — skill performance drifts as providers update their models; a saved baseline catches quality regressions. - **Options:** - A) Save to `"${GSTACK_HOME:-$HOME/.gstack}"/benchmarks/-.json`. Completeness: 10/10. - B) Just print, don't save. Completeness: 5/10 (loses trend data). If A: re-run with `--output json` and tee to the dated file. Print the path so the user can diff future runs against it. --- ## Important Rules - **Never run a real benchmark without Step 2's dry-run first.** Users need to see auth status before spending API calls. - **Never hardcode model names.** Always pass providers from user's Step 2 choice — the binary handles the rest. - **Never auto-include `--judge`.** It adds real cost; user must opt in. - **If zero providers are authed, STOP.** Don't attempt the benchmark — it produces no useful output. - **Cost is visible.** Every run shows per-provider cost in the table. Users should see it before the next run. ## Upstream judgment port: PR #679 [Match the user language](https://github.com/garrytan/gstack/pull/679) ### User-language rule Write questions, progress updates, reports, and artifacts in the language used by the user. Source material, code identifiers, commands, and quotations may remain in their original language when translating them would reduce accuracy.