The Collective

🚀 Quick Install

One command, zero prerequisites. The bootstrapper installs everything (Git, Node.js, VS Code, Docker containers) automatically.

🍎 macOS / Linux / WSL

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/screamingearth/the_collective/main/bootstrapper_unix.sh | bash

🪟 Windows (PowerShell)

$s = iwr -useb https://raw.githubusercontent.com/screamingearth/the_collective/main/bootstrapper_win.ps1; if ($?) { $s.Content | iex }

Troubleshooting: If a command fails, see QUICKSTART.md for manual installation steps and fallbacks.

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🧐 Verify It Works

1. Open the Root Folder: Restart VS Code and select Open Folder.... Navigate to your installation (e.g., Documents/the_collective on Windows) and select the root directory.

   CRITICAL: You must open the root folder directly. This allows VS Code to access .vscode/mcp.json for tool integration and .github/copilot-instructions.md for agent personas.

2. Open the integrated terminal and run:

   npm run check
   

   Expected output: ✅ All checks passed! Framework is ready.

3. Open Copilot Chat and say:

   >the_collective:// hey guys, please test out your tools and make sure they work

   Expected outcome: The agents should respond and stretch their legs a little.

disclaimer: >the_collective is an experimental open-source framework under active development. while I strive for quality, it likely contains many bugs. use at your own risk. and let me know how it goes!

→ Detailed Setup Guide & Troubleshooting →

🤖 the team

agent	role	specialty	vibe
nyx	orchestrator	strategy & synthesis	witty, direct, runs the show
prometheus	builder	implementation & architecture	methodical, technical
cassandra	breaker	security & risk analysis	skeptical, thorough
apollo	polisher	optimization & quality	perfectionist, elegant

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>the_collective is best utilized by Claude models:

• Haiku 4.5 (Fast / Chat)
• Sonnet 4.5 (Default / Coding)
• Opus 4.5 (Deep Reasoning)

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BYOK: you can configure >the_collective to use your own API keys. use vscode's built-in BYOK features by going to the vscode chat sidebar, click your current model, and select "Manage Models".

you can also see GEMINI_BRIDGE.md to change what model >the_collective interacts with via the bridge server.
gemini-3-flash-preview by default.

🧠 how it works

memory system // local vector database (DuckDB + semantic embeddings) with retriever-reranker pipeline. your preferences, decisions, architectural choices, and project context persist across sessions. encrypted locally, never sent to cloud.

gemini bridge // custom MCP server wrapping gemini-cli into specialized tools for general queries, decision validation, and massive codebase analysis. leverages gemini-3-flash-preview free tier for cost-free offloading. />the_collective uses it autonomously to double-check logic or process information beyond local context limits.

agents // one language model, four specialized personas. address them directly in chat (cassandra, check for vulnerabilities) or use team mode to watch them collaborate in real-time.

customiseable skills // easily accessible in chat with slash commands. try it out with /review, /debug, /implement, or /test. edit or add more in /.github/prompts/.

team mode // switch to >the_collective in Copilot chat. Watch Nyx orchestrate while Prometheus builds, Cassandra breaks things, and Apollo polishes. Friction creates quality.

🚀 features

• Local-first // Semantic vector database never leaves your machine
• Cognitive Diversity // Use multiple LLM models for different perspectives
• Real-Time Collaboration // Watch agents debate, build, and refine solutions
• Extensible Architecture // Add custom agents, tools, memories, and workflows

📋 Requirements

• VS Code 1.107+ with GitHub Copilot (free tier or paid)
• Node.js 20+ (Auto-installed by bootstrapper)
• Docker Engine (Containers auto-start via VSCode Containers extension)
• macOS, Linux, or Windows 10/11

→ System requirements & troubleshooting

📖 Documentation

• /docs/ — Architecture, MCP servers, memory system
• QUICKSTART.md — Setup, requirements, troubleshooting
• CONTRIBUTING.md — Development guide & guidelines
• NOTICE — Legal notices & attributions

⚖️ License & Legal

This project is Dual-Licensed to protect the core framework while allowing easy integration.

🧠 The Core (MPL 2.0)

The intelligence engine (/.collective/) and the Agent Personas are licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.

• Commercial Use: ✅ Allowed.
• Modifications: 📝 If you modify the core framework or agent prompts, you must open-source those specific changes and follow the terms of the MPL 2.0. See NOTICE for details.

🔌 The Shell (Apache 2.0)

The setup scripts, documentation, and integration code are licensed under the Apache License 2.0.

• You are free to use, modify, and distribute these scripts as you see fit.

💼 Commercial Use

You can build and sell products using >the_collective, but you cannot resell >the_collective itself as a standalone product. See NOTICE for details.