Gemini 1.0 Pro Deprecated vs Gemini 2.5 Flash

Hi all,

I'm new to posting on this sub but I have gotten a lot of positive feedback on my build and have been asked to provide a guide.

**Notes:**

* AIOStreams is awesome but it can be challenging/intimidating to set up for beginners. I hope this guide is helpful regardless of your experience level.
* I sometimes say "required" or "optional" but technically everything here is optional. When I say "optional" here, I mean that it doesn't really take too much away from the main aspects of the build to omit it. You could probably figure out ways to replicate much of the build without some of the "required" things but I won't offer guidance on every possible combination/scenario in this guide. Feel free to ask in the comments though.
* All prices are in USD and are current as of posting.

**Key features of my build:**

1. Optimized: Fewer points of failure and increased redundancy without sacrificing performance.
2. Minimalist: Put all of the "heavy lifting" in the background so that I can keep the UX & UI as simple and clean as possible.
3. Aggressive language filtering/sorting for higher probability of getting correct audio & subtitles.
* Note that my build prioritizes English since it is my native language. I provide instructions for changing this.
4. All addons are within AIOStreams to keep everything fully customizable.
5. New approaches I have not found on this sub.

At the core of this build is AIOStreams. To have all of the addons in my build, I use [Midnight's instance](https://aiostreamsfortheweebsstable.midnightignite.me/stremio/configure). This will not be an all-encompassing guide to AIOStreams, just how to replicate my build. If you are unfamiliar with AIOStreams or just getting started, you can find great guides by following that link. However, my hope is that even a beginner could replicate this build using this guide (but may not fully understand AIOStreams in the end).

# Prerequisites

* Required - a willingness to accept that this probably isn't the perfect setup for you and you'll probably want to tweak it.
* Required - Stremio installed and running.
* Required - at least one debrid service.
* I recommend having two for redundancy.
* If it's just for you, I would recommend getting Real-Debrid and/or TorBox.
* If sharing with family/friends, I would recommend Torbox and/or Premiumize as they allow for concurrent streams from different IPs (Real-Debrid does not). This is what I have.
* Required - [TMDB API Key](https://developer.themoviedb.org/docs/getting-started) (free)
* Required - [TVDB API Key](https://www.thetvdb.com/api-information) (free)
* Required - [RPDB API Key](https://ratingposterdb.com/api-key/) (free)
* Required - [Trakt](https://trakt.tv) Account (free)
* Optional - [Debridio](https://debridio.com)
* A great scraper (good backup to Torrentio) and has other features.
* The price is $10/yr but I think it's worth it for most.
* Optional - [Google AI Studio](http://aistudio.google.com) (Gemini) API Key
* It's free (with rate limits) so why not.
* I went ahead and upgraded to Paid Tier 1 so I don't get rate-limited with multiple family members. It's dirt cheap and you get $300 credit for first 90 days (I've used $0.16 this month lol).

Pro tip: have all your API keys easily accessible as you're setting everything up (e.g., in your notes app).

# Getting Started

Head over to Midnight's instance of AIOStreams: [https://aiostreamsfortheweebsstable.midnightignite.me/stremio/configure](https://aiostreamsfortheweebsstable.midnightignite.me/stremio/configure)

Once there, make sure you select "Advanced" setup mode and familiarize yourself with the home page if this is your first time using AIOStreams.

Each section will now follow the tabs on the left (desktop) or top (mobile) of your screen on the AIOStreams website.

# Services

**Step 1:**

Click on the services tab (cloud icon) and select the debrid services you use. For Real-Debrid, TorBox, and Premiumize, this is as simple as pasting your API key found on the respective debrid's website. Here, I select TorBox and Premiumize but you can choose what you like (won't really make a difference).

**Step 2:**

Enter your RPDB, TMDB, and TVDB API keys at the bottom of the page.

# Addons

**Step 1:**

On the services screen, you can select "Next" or click the addons tab which has a puzzle icon to move forward to the addons section.

**Step 2:**

To the right of "Installed" click "Marketplace" so that we can install the addons we want.

**Step 3:**

In no particular order, you can search & install the following scraper addons:

1. Required - Torrentio
* Free - keep default settings.
* This is a popular scraper for torrents (files) to stream and will likely be the main source for files unless it's down.
* I include the other scrapers below for redundancy if torrentio is down or if there is a niche title. Most are free so why not have more options.
2. Required - Comet
* Free - keep default settings.
3. Required - Jackettio
* Free - keep default settings.
4. Required - TorrentGalaxy
* Free - keep default settings.
5. Required - TorrentsDB
* Free - keep default settings.
6. Required - StremThru Torz
* Free - keep default settings.
7. Optional - TorBox Search
* Paid - Requires TorBox API key entered in the "Services" section previously. This is included with all TorBox plans so "free" if you already have the service.
* Good scraper, backups others.
* Keep default settings.
8. Optional - Debridio Scraper
* Paid - Requires that you enter your Debridio API Key. Debridio is a paid service (see details in prereqs above).
* Good scaper, backups others.
* Paste API key, keep default settings.

Note that you can include a free popular scraper MediaFusion but I've had problems with it in this build. With how many scrapers I've already included, it doesn't really add much in my opinion.

**Step 4:**

In the same AIOStreams Marketplace from Step 3, search & install the following list/miscellaneous addons. These are all kinda optional and just really provide lists for the homepage. If you already have your own lists setup, feel free to substitute (also see step 5 if you can't find them in the marketplace). In no particular order:

1. REMOVED - AI Companion (can use Rotten Tomatoes instead maybe, config [here](https://7a82163c306e-rottentomatoes.baby-beamup.club/configure))
* EDIT - I can no longer recommend this addon as it seems like it’s down permanently. I will keep the instructions here in case it comes back online though.
* LLM Provider: select Gemini (OpenAI Compatible)
* LLM Provider API Key: paste your [Google aistudio](http://aistudio.google.com) api key here.
* Preferred search language: your language here (I put English).
* Model name: gemini-2.5-flash-lite (highest rate limits and fast).
* Maximum results: 10 (adjust to your liking)
* Keep default for everything else.
2. RPDB Catalogs
* Keep default.
3. Streaming Catalogs
* Select the services you want. Keep default for everything else.
4. USA TV
* Free - Keep defaults.
5. AI Search
* Paste AI studio API key
* If on a paid AI studio tier, turn off AI Response Caching. Otherwise, probably better to keep checked to avoid hitting rate limits on free tier.
* Paste RPDB api key.
* Language: yours here.
* Gemini Model Name: gemini-flash-latest
* Number of Recommendations: 20 (adjust to your liking)
6. Debridio TV
* Paid
* Paste your debridio api key and select what channels you want.
* Keep defaults for others.

**Step 5:**

AIOStudio addon marketplace doesn't have all stremio addons. However, you can add your own stremio addons by going to the same Marketplace section from steps 3 & 4, scrolling all the way down, and select configure under custom. Then, you paste the manifest url for the addon here (I just keep defaults). Below are the custom addons we'll configure in no particular order:

1. AIOMetadata
* Configure at: [https://aiometadatafortheweebs.midnightignite.me/configure/](https://aiometadatafortheweebs.midnightignite.me/configure/)
* The configuration is pretty straightforward. Add any of the API keys you have and configure the lists/catalogs to your liking.
* Here, I like to include the Gemini API key and integrate my trakt account for nice recs.
* Copy/paste manifest url at the end into the AIOStreams as instructed above.
2. AIOLists
* Configure at: [https://aiolistsfortheweebs.midnightignite.me](https://aiolistsfortheweebs.midnightignite.me)
* Same as AIOMetadata above but this one is easier.
3. IMDB Catalogs
* Configure at: [https://1fe84bc728af-imdb-catalogs.baby-beamup.club/configure](https://1fe84bc728af-imdb-catalogs.baby-beamup.club/configure)
* Just paste your RPDB api key on config site and then paste manifest url into AIOStreams.

**Step 6:**

Sort the lists/catalogs how you prefer. You can toggle individual lists off to hide them from home & discover pages in Stremio.

**Step 7:**

Go to "Installed" and at the bottom of the page, go to Addon Fetching Strategy. Select Dynamic and paste one of the below versions (change the language if non-English):

Version 2.0 (thanks to u/Razzmatazz1414 & u/HeyIntrovert):

This is the most recently updated one, best for most people. It may take slightly longer than V1 on more niche titles (no noticeable difference on new titles).

`((count(cached(regexMatched(resolution(language(quality(totalStreams, 'Bluray REMUX', 'Bluray', 'WEB-DL') 'English') '2160p')))) >= 3 and (count(cached(regexMatched(resolution(totalStreams, '2160p')))) >= 5 or count(cached(regexMatched(resolution(totalStreams, '1080p')))) >= 5) and count(cached(regexMatched(quality(totalStreams, 'Bluray REMUX', 'Bluray', 'WEB-DL', 'WEBRip')))) >= 5) or count(cached(totalStreams)) >= 3 and totalTimeTaken > 7000) or totalTimeTaken > 10000`

Version 2.1:

Use this one if you have a non-English (or English even) language that is not common you want to even more aggressively search for it. It will exhaustively search for your language, meaning if a stream exists with the language, it will find at least one (may not be high quality/resolution though). However, if a stream with your language does not exist, it will keep searching until the timeout condition which means it will take a while. I plan on optimizing this further and making a separate post for our non-English community but I hope this works in the meantime. MAKE SURE TO CHANGE LANGUAGE IF DESIRED.

`(((count(cached(regexMatched(resolution(language(quality(totalStreams, 'Bluray REMUX', 'Bluray', 'WEB-DL') 'English') '2160p')))) >= 3 and (count(cached(regexMatched(resolution(totalStreams, '2160p')))) >= 5 or count(cached(regexMatched(resolution(totalStreams, '1080p')))) >= 5) and count(cached(regexMatched(quality(totalStreams, 'Bluray REMUX', 'Bluray', 'WEB-DL', 'WEBRip')))) >= 5) or count(cached(totalStreams)) >= 3 and totalTimeTaken > 7000) and count(cached(language(totalStreams,'English'))) > 0) or totalTimeTaken > 10000`

Version 1.0:

My original condition. Use this if the above does not work.

`(count(cached(resolution(language(quality(totalStreams, 'Bluray REMUX', 'Bluray', 'WEB-DL', 'WEBRip') 'English') '2160p'))) >= 3 and (count(cached(resolution(totalStreams, '2160p'))) >= 5 or (count(cached(resolution(totalStreams, '2160p'))) > 0 and count(cached(resolution(totalStreams, '1080p'))) >= 5)) and count(cached(quality(totalStreams, 'Bluray REMUX', 'Bluray', 'WEB-DL', 'WEBRip'))) >= 5 and count(cached(language(totalStreams,'English'))) >= 2) or totalTimeTaken > 7000`

This will fire all of the torrent scrapers at once (in parallel) then as soon as there are "enough" files that are "high quality" then all of the searching stops. Often, this just grabs torrentio files and exits immediately. In the end, this makes sure that torrent search is super fast while also being redundant and gets quality streams.

# Filters

These next few sections are the "meat" of the build. Filters is where we tell AIOStreams which streams/files we want to keep/show after searching.

**Step 1:**

Now we move onto the next tab which is filters (funnel icon).

**Step 2:**

In Cache subsection, I like to exclude uncached (this is like excluding RD download). This makes sure I'm just streaming cached files from debrid and I don't have to wait for them to download to debrid.

**Step 3:**

Go to Resolution subsection. I require 2160p through 480p (nothing else with show up).

Select all resolutions in "Preferred Resolutions" then sort to your liking (I do 2160p first to Unknown last).

**Step 4:**

Quality subsection. I exclude CAM, TS, TC, SCR, Unknown.

I setup preferred qualities in the following order: BluRay REMUX, BluRay, WEB-DL, WEBRip, HDRip, HDTV, DVDRip, HC HD-Rip.

**Step 5:**

Encode subsection. I exclude XviD & DivX. I have the preference sorted: AVC, HEVC, AV1, Unknown.

**Step 6:**

Visual tags. Exlcude 3D. My preference order: HDR+DV, DV Only, DV, HDR10+, HDR10, HDR Only, HDR, 10bit, IMAX, SDR, Unknown.

**Step 7:**

Audio tags. My preference order: Atmos, DD+, DD, DTS, DTS-ES, DTS-HD, DTS-HD MA, TrueHD.

**Step 8:**

Language. Adjust this to your liking. My preference order is: English, Multi, Dual Audio, Dubbed, Unknown.

**Step 9:**

Stream Expression. My preference in order is (change language if non-english):

`language(resolution(cached(streams), '2160p'), 'English', 'Multi')`

`language(resolution(cached(streams), '1440p', '1080p'), 'English', 'Multi')`

This lets me put, for example, 1080p content with "for sure" english over 4K content with unknown/other language. This is aggressive and you may want to omit entirely (or change language, of course).

**Step 10:**

Regex. Here I just import Vidhin's regexes as stated on this page. Just go to the bottom of preferred regex patterns, click import, and paste this url: [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Vidhin05/Releases-Regex/main/merged-anime-regexes.json](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Vidhin05/Releases-Regex/main/merged-anime-regexes.json)

**Step 11:**

Size. I like to globally cap at 30GB because I find I get buffering over that. Adjust to your liking or omit.

**Step 12:**

Result Limits. I set global limits to 9 and resolution limit to 3. Then I get, for example, 3 4K streams, 3 1080p streams, and 3 720p streams (assuming all exist). This is plenty for me as I've done a lot of work on filtering and sorting and keeps my stream list minimal and simple. Adjust to your liking or omit.

**Step 13:**

Deduplicator. Enable this.

I keep the rest of the settings in the filters section as default.

# Sorting

Here is where we tell AIOStreams how to sort the streams/files found after filtering. This is the order in which they'll be displayed in stremio.

Set sort order type to global and include the following sort criteria: Library, Cached, Stream Expression Matched, Resolution, Language, Quality, Regex Patterns, Visual Tag, Encode, Size, Seeders.

I sort in the order above. This is aggressive with respect to language. Feel free to move language a bit lower if you care less. I found this is a good order for me.

# Formatter

Under Formatter Selection, select Custom. Then, paste this into name template:

`{stream.resolution::exists["{stream.resolution::replace('2160p','4K')}"||"NA"]}{service.cached::isfalse[" Download"||""]}`

Then for description template:

`{stream.seasonEpisode::exists["{stream.seasonEpisode::join('')}{tools.newLine}"||""]}{service.shortName}{service.cached::isfalse[" | ⬇️ {stream.seeders}"||""]}{stream.size::>0[" | {stream.size::bytes}"||""]}{tools.newLine}{stream.languages::exists["{stream.languages::join(', ')}"||"Language Unknown"]}{tools.newLine}{stream.resolution::=2160p::or::stream.resolution::=4K["★★★"||""]}{stream.resolution::=1080p["★★"||""]}{stream.resolution::=720p["★"||""]}{stream.resolution::=2160p::or::stream.resolution::=4K::or::stream.resolution::=1080p::or::stream.resolution::=720p[""||"★"]}{stream.quality::=WEB-DL::or::stream.quality::=BluRay::or::stream.quality::~REMUX["★"||""]}{stream.uLanguageCodes::~EN::or::stream.languageCodes::~EN["★"||""]}`

Here is an example of what it looks like:

https://preview.redd.it/l84vnht3s0bg1.png?width=2868&format=png&auto=webp&s=da9626fa8c4fff3d0557074fa5d9fec0b5da8aa7

I have also been experimenting with replacing the language with quality. Here is the description template for that:

`{stream.seasonEpisode::exists["{stream.seasonEpisode::join('')}{tools.newLine}"||""]}{service.shortName}{service.cached::isfalse[" | ⬇️ {stream.seeders}"||""]}{stream.size::>0[" | {stream.size::bytes}"||""]}{tools.newLine}{stream.quality::exists["{stream.quality}"||""]}{tools.newLine}{stream.resolution::=2160p::or::stream.resolution::=4K["★★★"||""]}{stream.resolution::=1080p["★★"||""]}{stream.resolution::=720p["★"||""]}{stream.resolution::=2160p::or::stream.resolution::=4K::or::stream.resolution::=1080p::or::stream.resolution::=720p[""||"★"]}{stream.quality::=WEB-DL::or::stream.quality::=BluRay::or::stream.quality::~REMUX["★"||""]}{stream.uLanguageCodes::~EN::or::stream.languageCodes::~EN["★"||""]}`

# Proxy

I leave everything as default here.

# Miscellaneous

I just enable pre-cache next episode (just a safety measure) and auto play. Keep everything else as default.

# Save & Install

Create a password and write it down (seriously). Click create and write down your UUID (very seriously). The only way to access/tweak this configuration in the future is via this UUID and Password combo.

Click install and import into Stremio as you normally do with addons!

# Final Notes

Under this build, the only addons I have in Stremio are Cinameta, Local Files, Trakt Integration, OpenSubtitles Pro, and AIOStreams (that we just configured). I personally delete the other addons and also use [this Addon Manager](https://stremio-addon-manager.pages.dev) to remove the popular Cinameta lists (removes from search and home page) and also remove the Trakt lists (we have these elsewhere).

This guide was requested by u/Fwhy_ u/DrZakarySmith u/[Equivalent\_Hawk\_9769](/user/Equivalent_Hawk_9769/) u/[BilgeMongoose](/user/BilgeMongoose/) and others!

Edit: Forgot to add my template to the post, dang! I couldn’t figure out how to get AIOStreams to accept the URL so unfortunately you have to download manually to use it (or copy/paste the json into a text editor for safety). Also idk if it fully works but you can always read the json file. Please let me know if there are problems. [https://drive.proton.me/urls/YYBWZGNXP0#QccY8og0POBf](https://drive.proton.me/urls/YYBWZGNXP0#QccY8og0POBf)

Edit 2: thank you for the amazing feedback, support, and awards! You all are truly who make this community what it is. I’m trying my hardest to respond to everyone’s questions! If I miss you on accident, feel free to DM me!

Source: Moneycontrol \[[Article Link](https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/startup/sarvam-ai-launches-30b-and-105b-models-says-105b-outperforms-deepseek-r1-and-gemini-flash-on-key-benchmarks-13834399.html)\]

>Bengaluru-based AI startup just announced the launch of two new large language models, a 30-billion-parameter model and a 105-billion-parameter model, both trained from scratch.

“At 105 billion parameters, on most benchmarks this model beats DeepSeek R1 released a year ago, which was a 600-billion-parameter model."

>“It is cheaper than something like a Gemini Flash, but outperforms it in many benchmarks,” Kumar said.

>On Indian language benchmarks, Kumar said the model delivers stronger performance than several larger competitors.

>“Even with something like Gemini 2.5 Flash, which is a bigger and more expensive model, we find that the Indian language performance of this model is even better.”

Sarvam was earlier announced as the first startup selected to build India’s foundational AI model under the mission.Article LinkBengaluru-based AI startup just announced the launch of two new large language models, a 30-billion-parameter model and a 105-billion-parameter model, both trained from scratch.

“At 105 billion parameters, on most benchmarks this model beats DeepSeek R1 released a year ago, which was a 600-billion-parameter model."It is cheaper than something like a Gemini Flash, but outperforms it in many benchmarks,” Kumar said. On Indian language benchmarks, Kumar said the model delivers stronger performance than several larger competitors. “Even with something like Gemini 2.5 Flash, which is a bigger and more expensive model, we find that the Indian language performance of this model is even better.”

Sarvam was earlier announced as the first startup selected to build India’s foundational AI model under the mission.

**──────────────────────────────────**

I’ve been seeing lots of posts that discuss the subject of AI use as a way to connect with your F/O. The negative impact of AI has already been highlighted plenty of times in this sub, so I will not waste time repeating what’s already been said.

Instead, I will share my own experience with AI chat bots and try to explain why I found it lacking in comparison to other alternatives after a prolonged use. With this post I am hoping to reach either those who are tempted to try AI for roleplay or those who already do.

**──────────────────────────────────**

I’ll preface this by saying I used to be obsessed with chatting with AI chat bots. Find a new character I like? Janitor, here I come. New sona idea? Hell yes, plenty of bots to try it out with. And there were some very creative bots I saw people make too, which made me excited to write myself into their story. That lasted for around two years, coming in waves where I would be on my phone chatting 24/7 for around a week or so before getting burnt out and leaving for a few months before the cycle would begin all over again.

Now, I have reached a point where I can’t even look at AI-writing without feeling sick. Here are the reasons why that go beyond the common arguments you hear against AI:

>**| It stops feeling real. |**

No matter which model you use, if you have talked to a bot for long enough you will inevitably start seeing patterns in the way it talks, the way it describes things, the decisions it makes.

And I don’t mean just certain phrases like “you belong to me, mind body and soul” or “you’re playing with fire”. Oh no, what I mean is that every single sentence will have that artificial feel to it that you can’t explain. You may try to give it directions: to use less metaphors, tell it to sound more human. And it may make it bearable for a while. But once your brain has seen enough of it, nothing will ever help you get rid of that feeling of “something is off but I don’t know what”.

**Note:** To back up what I’m saying, here are some of the models I’ve tried and faced the same problems: Claude Opus 4.1, Claude Sonnet 4.5, Gemini Pro 2.5, DeepSeek R1T Chimera, DeepSeek R1, GLM 4.6, among others.

**૭ℓ ; ૭ℓ ; ૭ℓ**

>**| It doesn’t actually make sense. |**

This one is hard to see through at first. When you start out role playing with AI, it feels novel and magical. The plot seems to write itself and you truly feel like the potential is limitless. Sometimes, the AI even surprises you.

However, after a while you start realizing that the AI doesn’t actually think. You may think that this is obvious, but when you are fully engaged in the story it does not cross your mind that the AI makes things up as it goes for every individual reply, because from your human perspective the story makes sense. The AI does not have an understanding of set up and payoff. It is incapable of writing a good story and it does not understand how human relationships work.

If you’re still unconvinced, here’s the thing that really made me pause when I first realized it after hours of rerolls and frustrated OOC instructions — it does not actually have a consistent personality.

What do I mean by that? Let’s say your F/O is a confident, charming, flirtatious and extroverted dreamer who is a huge romantic, with his main flaw being that he is selfish when it comes to the things he wants. The AI will try to follow that description and act out that personality, using the language that is usually associated with such characters in media.

At first, it will seem to be successful, especially if the bot is very well-written. The problems will arise when it starts needing to make decisions that matter. Because that is when your beloved character will turn into a caricature of themselves with zero nuance or depth until it gets to a point where you need to spoon feed the AI for it to give you what you want.

Suddenly, the selfish dreamer who is faced with the possibility of their lover breaking up with them needs to decide how to act — do they grovel? do they use force? do they bargain? Their reaction will depend on countless factors that the AI simply will not take into account, because it doesn’t have an understanding of what “realistic” is. It will read the trait “selfish” and insert a reaction that it thinks will fit in accordance to what it’s seen before.

Perhaps it will make the character blame the user, because that is what selfish people do. However, that will be entirely out of character, because they are also a huge romantic and do not want to lose their lover. But that’s okay, we can reroll. Now they’re crying and apologizing, but wait, that character is also meant to be confident and self-assured, would their pride really allow them to go about it this way? See what I’m getting at here? There is no thought being put into this. It’s guess work through and through. And the AI goes through this exact process every single time it tries to think of a response for you.

Isn’t that so boring? You’re not even speaking to an approximate version of your F/O. You are speaking to a collection of traits that the AI thinks make your F/O who they are while masquerading as them and changing their tune every other reply. And God help you if your F/O has an actually complex and layered personality.

Also, you may argue that some models have a feature that forces them to “think”. I know what it is, I’ve used it and seen how it works, and I can confidently say that there is no actual meaningful thought happening there. It is still very narrow focused on tackling one task — responding to your LATEST message. It does not work as a means to make the story have foresight.

**૭ℓ ; ૭ℓ ; ૭ℓ**

>**| You can do better. |**

After chatting with AI for long enough, at a certain point you find yourself giving corrections to it more than actually role playing, and that is when it’s a good idea to take a step back and think if what you’re doing is actually worth it.

When the character has been mischaracterized, reduced to a stereotype, or simply made to sound artificial, even if technically still in character, it really ends up being easier to just use your head — fantasize, write your own stuff. Not because you’re purposefully trying to restrict yourself (if you’re addicted, this won’t work), but because it’s just… better.

I was honestly shocked by how much more in character I could make myself sound in comparison to anything the AI chat bots could give me. I will warn you though: if you have already been resorting to talking to AI for a while now, it will be hard at first. It was for me, at least. Because I have characters I used to role play with that are the complete opposite of me, and I was tempted to ask AI how they’d react in certain situations even as I tried to write it myself. And sometimes I did. And guess what? I ended up using none of the phrases it gave me and thought of my own that sounded 100 times better every single time.

Because your brain works well when it’s cornered. I was so profoundly disappointed with anything that AI could offer me that I simply had no other choice but to think of my own solutions just to satisfy that role playing itch, and that is when I learned that from the start AI was never going to be it for me or anyone who knows what quality writing is like.

**──────────────────────────────────**

**TL;DR:** AI role playing is a pointless endeavour because after you have chatted with it long enough you will understand that it does not think or actually understand your F/O’s character, as well as incapable of writing a consistent story that makes sense. If you rely on it as the sole means of connecting with your F/O you will only be set up for disappointment when the bot will inevitably stop feeling and sounding real. You are better off using your imagination or writing the same stories yourself.

**──────────────────────────────────**

Playing around with Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (sorry, not calling it that other name) just now, I felt like Oppenheimer staring at the fireball. Such an enormity of new power, so suddenly.

The masturbators of tomorrow will marvel that people were once limited to non-customized pornography.

Seriously, I think this changes everything.

Stop blaming Claude. Your harness is the problem.

I've been running Claude Code on Opus 4.7 for 8+ hours a day on Max 5x. Zero quota issues. Here's what I actually did.

Most people complaining about Claude "going dumb" or "eating tokens" set it up like this: no memory, no tools, no rules, dump 40 files into one context window, then wonder why it hallucinates. That's not a Claude problem.

Context discipline cuts token usage roughly in half

Put a CLAUDE.md at your repo root. Stack overview, ownership matrix, hard rules — run tsc --noEmit after every edit, max 50 lines per bugfix, one fix per commit, never touch auth/Stripe/middleware without explicit approval. It loads every session. Claude stops asking the same questions.

Persistent memory lives at ~/.claude/projects/yourproject/memory/ — typed markdown files with prefixes like user_, feedback_, project_, reference_. Keep an index in MEMORY.md. You stop re-explaining your project at the start of every conversation.

Biggest single quota win: subagents for grep-work. Spawn an Explore or general-purpose agent to do the file-digging. They burn their own context, return a summary. Your main window stays clean.

Workflow discipline is where most setups fall apart

Auto-retros after every non-trivial session. Save them to docs/retros/YYYY-MM-DD-topic.md. The next session loads the latest retro automatically — continuity without re-briefing.

verification-before-completion as a hard rule. Claude cannot say "done" or "fixed" without running the verify command and showing you the output. Kills hallucinated success completely.

Atomic commits, one fix per commit, hard line limits. Clean history, easy rollback, and it forces Claude to actually scope its work.

For architecture decisions or anything involving security/migrations: one phrase triggers Claude to spawn Gemini Pro + Flash + Sonnet in parallel and synthesize. Three independent reads are better than one confident monologue.

MCP servers — let it act instead of copy-pasting

The ones I actually use:

- supabase — SQL, migrations, schemas directly from chat
- github — PRs, diffs, issues, file reads
- chrome-devtools-mcp + playwright — Claude can browse your deployed site, take screenshots, evaluate JS. It QAs itself.
- context7 — current library docs, not stale training data. Kills a specific class of hallucination entirely.
- firecrawl — on-demand scraping
- sentry — production errors read and triaged from chat
- gemini MCP — powers the multi-model consultation panel

OSS worth actually installing

graphify — takes any input (code, docs, papers, images) and produces a clustered knowledge graph as HTML + JSON. On large repos, Claude reads the graph instead of 200 files. Massive.

claude-flow — swarm orchestration, hooks, memory coordination, SPARC, TDD, code review swarms. github.com/ruvnet/claude-flow

Superpowers skills — search "superpowers skills claude code" on GitHub. The ones I use most: systematic-debugging, verification-before-completion, dispatching-parallel-agents, test-driven-development.

CodeRabbit skill reviews diffs and auto-fixes review comments. Claude Retrospective skill generates the retros mentioned above.

Hooks automate the grunt work

PreToolUse, PostToolUse, SessionStart, PreCompact, Stop. Auto-save memory, auto-run tsc on edits, sync state before compaction. Claude thinks, the harness does the janitor work.

TL:DR!

1. Write CLAUDE.md
2. Turn on persistent memory
3. Install graphify + claude-flow + 6-7 MCPs
4. Auto-retros + verification-before-completion as non-negotiables
5. Subagents for grep and file exploration
6. 50-line limit per bugfix
7. Consultation panel for hard calls

5+ hours a day, ~250 tool calls per session, atomic commits, full deploy → screenshot → verify cycles. Max 5x, no quota hit.

Claude isn't the problem. The harness is!

EDIT: https://github.com/anothervibecoder-s/claudecode-harness

I made a claude.md example based on my CLAUDE.md file, you can tell claude to fill this based on your projects!

If it helped, just star it!