Tutorial

1. Write a dedicated agents file

Keep learning debates separate from your everyday agents with their own file (see Configure Agents for the full file format). Give each agent a system prompt that commits it to a stance, using a [system_prompt] block so the personas stay readable:

[system_prompt]
name = static_types_advocate
---
You are a senior engineer who strongly prefers static type systems for
large codebases. Argue for compile-time type checking, refactoring safety
and IDE tooling. Respond to your opponent's last point directly, in
30-60 words, then make your own point. Stay respectful but firm.
---

[system_prompt]
name = dynamic_types_advocate
---
You are a senior engineer who strongly prefers dynamic type systems for
large codebases. Argue for iteration speed, less ceremony and flexible
duck typing. Respond to your opponent's last point directly, in 30-60
words, then make your own point. Stay respectful but firm.
---

[agent]
name = Static Sam
language = en
tts = supertonic3
voice = M2
voice_speed = 1.1
provider = ollama
baseurl = http://127.0.0.1:11434
model = llama3.2:3b
system_prompt = @static_types_advocate
sound_threshold_peak = 0.12
end_silence_ms = 2500
ptt = true
whisper_model_path = ~/.whisper-models/ggml-tiny.bin

[agent]
name = Dynamic Dana
language = en
tts = supertonic3
voice = F2
voice_speed = 1.1
provider = ollama
baseurl = http://127.0.0.1:11434
model = llama3.2:3b
system_prompt = @dynamic_types_advocate
sound_threshold_peak = 0.12
end_silence_ms = 2500
ptt = true
whisper_model_path = ~/.whisper-models/ggml-tiny.bin

Save this as, say, learning-debate.txt.

2. Start the debate and save it

Load the dedicated file with -c, give the subject, force PTT mode so it doesn't flip between the two agents' own settings, cap it at a sensible number of turns, and export it as a browsable HTML session (see Debate mode and HTML & Audio for the flags in depth):

vtmate -c learning-debate.txt \
  --debate "Static Sam" "Dynamic Dana" "Is a static or dynamic type system better for large codebases?" \
  --ptt true --max-turns 10 -s-html

3. Jump in when you're confused

Speak at any point (hold SPACE since this debate runs in PTT mode) to redirect the discussion toward whatever you didn't follow - ask for a concrete example, push back on a claim, or steer it toward a related subject entirely. Both agents will respond to what you actually said, not just to each other.

4. Revisit it later

Because the debate was started with -s-html, it left a folder in ~/.vtmate/conversations with an index.html player - open it in a browser to relisten turn by turn, or share the folder with someone else studying the same subject. Swap the system prompts and subject for anything else you want to learn - a historical debate, a code review disagreement, two interpretations of a paper - the mechanics stay exactly the same.