EP3. Installing Cocrates Harness
🛠️ Your 'AI Coach' in 5 Minutes
Over two episodes we've internalized that the same AI yields different results depending on attitude—and that keeping agency means honoring "The unexamined code is not worth generating."
So how do you actually run Cocrates Harness, the tool that puts that Socratic philosophy on your machine?
Sounds complicated? It's not. Invest five minutes—we'll walk you through a simple install. Eyes open, follow along! 🚀
🧩 Cocrates Harness Is a Plugin
First: Cocrates Harness isn't a standalone app. It lives on opencode as a plugin.
- opencode: The platform that runs and manages AI agents
- @cocrates/cocrates-harness: The plugin that brings Cocrates' Agent and Skills to that stage
Clear architecture. Installation breaks into three steps: install opencode → add the plugin → copy skill files. Done.
🛠️ Step 1. Install opencode (Pick Your Style)
opencode offers three ways to run. Choose what fits you.
| Install method | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| opencode terminal | TUI fans of Claude/GPT in the terminal | Keyboard-first text UI |
| opencode desktop | Cursor / VS Code comfort | Clean GUI editor (currently beta) |
| opencode extension | Can't leave your existing IDE | Add an extension to Cursor or VS Code |
👉 OS-specific downloads: opencode.ai/download
💡 Tip from a senior
If the terminal UI feels unfamiliar, don't hesitate—use the VS Code or Cursor extension. Especially with the OpenChamber extension, you get a Copilot/Cursor-like GUI—the easiest on-ramp.
- Install opencode terminal.
- Install VS Code.
- Install the OpenChamber extension (see the image below).
⚙️ Step 2. Add the cocrates-harness Plugin
Stage is set—time to install Cocrates. One small edit to opencode's config.
Look in ~/.config/opencode/ for opencode.jsonc. (If you set OPENCODE_CONFIG_DIR, use that path.)
Open the file and add cocrates in plugin:
{
"$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
"plugin": ["@cocrates/cocrates-harness"]
}
Two steps down. Plugin connected.
📚 Step 3. Copy the 'Skill' Files
A plugin alone isn't enough—Cocrates' real power is in Skills: workflow definitions for education, architecture-driven generation, and more.
Skill files live in the skills/ folder of the Cocrates GitHub repository. Copy everything into ~/.config/opencode/skills/ on your machine. Setup complete.
😎 "Too tedious—can't I ask AI to do it?"
Absolutely. You're the director. After installing opencode, deliver one firm line to the execution window:
👤 "Install Cocrates Harness using https://cocrates.ai/install.md as the guide."
A capable agent can follow the guide—plugin config, skill download, copy—and handle it for you. No wandering GitHub manually. Good times.
🎉 Installed—Your First Conversation
When install finishes, restart opencode lightly. In the Agent list, select and activate Cocrates Agent.
You're set up on the surface. But remember: installing alone won't flip your coding life 180°. Cocrates is a coach, not a vending machine.
It waits for you to join the dialogue—to review skeletons, think hard, and decide with agency.
When you're ready, toss a first question at Cocrates:
💬 "Tell me about Bloom's taxonomy."
📌 Key Takeaways
- Plugin architecture: Cocrates Harness runs as a plugin on opencode.
- Multiple UIs: Terminal, desktop, or IDE extension—beginners: VS Code + OpenChamber is a strong default.
- Cheat-code install: Don't want manual setup? One line: install from install.md.
🎬 Coming Up Next
Did you ask about Bloom's taxonomy? Don't expect a wall of textbook text like other AIs.
Cocrates won't hand you the answer—it'll slip you a first mission with a subtly flawed example.
Next episode: experience Cocrates' three-step learning pipeline—Education → Knowledge Capture → Reflection—through a real dialogue script.
Your first meeting with thought-provoking AI—worth the wait. See you next time! 🦉
This series introduces the Cocrates Harness framework. Cocrates is an agent harness designed for Socratic dialogue so users keep agency and grow.