# brainstorm-mcp

Runs multi-model debates inside your editor to stress-test architectural choices and code changes across competing AI perspectives.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 71
- Author: spranab
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/spranab/brainstorm-mcp
- Updated: 2026-09-29
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/brainstorm-mcp

## What it does

The server orchestrates multi-round debates between different LLMs instead of relying on a single answer. Models inspect responses from rivals and challenge weak spots across rounds. At the end, the server returns a three-point verdict covering the recommendation, key tradeoffs, and the core disagreement.

Execution splits across hosted, API, and CLI channels. Hosted mode operates without separate API keys by querying models within the host setup. Supplying keys like `OPENAI_API_KEY` or `GEMINI_API_KEY` triggers direct concurrent queries to external endpoints, including local Ollama instances. It also discovers command-line agents on your `PATH` to run queries through subscription quotas instead of API credits.

Tools include `brainstorm_review` for structured code audits and `brainstorm_quick` for rapid multi-angle feedback under ten seconds. Without external API credentials or installed agent CLIs, debates stay constrained to the host environment.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `OPENAI_API_KEY`, `GEMINI_API_KEY`, `DEEPSEEK_API_KEY` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add brainstorm-mcp -e OPENAI_API_KEY=<OPENAI_API_KEY> -e GEMINI_API_KEY=<GEMINI_API_KEY> -e DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=<DEEPSEEK_API_KEY> -- npx -y brainstorm-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add brainstorm-mcp --env OPENAI_API_KEY=<OPENAI_API_KEY> --env GEMINI_API_KEY=<GEMINI_API_KEY> --env DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=<DEEPSEEK_API_KEY> -- npx -y brainstorm-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "brainstorm-mcp": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "brainstorm-mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "OPENAI_API_KEY": "<OPENAI_API_KEY>",
                "GEMINI_API_KEY": "<GEMINI_API_KEY>",
                "DEEPSEEK_API_KEY": "<DEEPSEEK_API_KEY>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "brainstorm-mcp": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "brainstorm-mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "OPENAI_API_KEY": "<OPENAI_API_KEY>",
                "GEMINI_API_KEY": "<GEMINI_API_KEY>",
                "DEEPSEEK_API_KEY": "<DEEPSEEK_API_KEY>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e OPENAI_API_KEY=<OPENAI_API_KEY> -e GEMINI_API_KEY=<GEMINI_API_KEY> -e DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=<DEEPSEEK_API_KEY> brainstorm-mcp npx -y brainstorm-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- compare competing model assessments before finalizing architecture decisions
- run a multi-model code review with severity ratings using `brainstorm_review`
- challenge implementation plans through red-team debate styles
- gather fast alternative perspectives under ten seconds with `brainstorm_quick`

## Example prompts
- Debate whether to adopt REST or GraphQL using sonnet and opus.
- Run `brainstorm_review` on this pull request diff using red-team mode.
- Get fast multi-model feedback on this database schema with `brainstorm_quick`.

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