# Ask Peer

> Ask the opposite model for one focused opinion, review, or scoped pass without a live Herdr pair. Codex may consult Fable autonomously; Claude Code consults Codex only when explicitly invoked.

- Skill: `hcaiano/ask-peer` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 4 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add hcaiano/ask-peer`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/hcaiano/ask-peer/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: hcaiano (https://skillmd.com/u/hcaiano)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/hcaiano/ask-peer

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# Ask Peer

One request, one opposite-model reply. This is the phone-friendly headless path:
use it for a focused second opinion, review, or bounded work pass. Use
`pair` for a persistent multi-turn dialogue.

Detect the current harness, then read the matching reference in full:

| Current harness | Peer | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Codex | Fable | `references/ask-fable.md` |
| Claude Code | Codex | `references/ask-codex.md` |

If the harness is ambiguous, inspect the environment and available CLI before
choosing. Never ask the same model through its own CLI.

## Shared contract

- Default to read-only. Grant a write pass only when the user's request requires
  edits, with an explicit lease: target files, forbidden changes, validation, and
  stop point.
- Include the workspace root, the exact ask, relevant repo instructions, and the
  desired response format. Keep secrets out of the prompt.
- Model selection belongs to each peer's own surface: call Fable explicitly;
  leave Codex's model unset so `~/.codex/config.toml` or the CLI default owns it.
- Treat the reply as evidence, not authority. Inspect any diff and rerun the named
  validation before relying on a write pass.
- No commit, push, merge, deploy, or credential mutation unless the user
  explicitly authorized that action.