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dev-mondoshawan edited this page Apr 15, 2026 · 1 revision

Getting Started with Dissensus

This guide will walk you through setting up the Dissensus AI Debate Engine locally or on a VPS.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

Requirement Version Notes
Node.js 20+ (18+ minimum) Download from nodejs.org
npm 9+ Included with Node.js
API Key — From DeepSeek, Google, or OpenAI

Quick Start

1. Clone the Repository

cd dissensus-engine

2. Install Dependencies

npm install

3. Configure Environment Variables

Copy the example environment file and add your API keys:

cp .env.example .env

Edit .env with your preferred editor:

# Server
PORT=3000
NODE_ENV=development

# API Keys — Add at least one provider
DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=sk-your-deepseek-key
GOOGLE_API_KEY=AIza-your-gemini-key
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-openai-key

4. Start the Server

npm start

The server will start on http://localhost:3000

API Key Guide

Where to Get Keys

Provider URL Free Tier Cost per Debate
DeepSeek platform.deepseek.com Limited ~$0.008 ⭐ Recommended
Google Gemini aistudio.google.com Yes — generous free tier ~$0.006
OpenAI platform.openai.com Limited ($5 credit) ~$0.15 (GPT-4o) / ~$0.01 (GPT-4o Mini)

Cost Comparison

Provider Model Cost/Debate Quality Speed
🔥 DeepSeek V3.2 ~$0.008 Very Good Fast
⚡ Google Gemini 2.0 Flash ~$0.006 Good Very Fast
⚡ Google Gemini 2.5 Flash ~$0.03 Very Good Fast
⚡ Google Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite ~$0.006 Good Very Fast
🧠 OpenAI GPT-4o ~$0.15 Excellent Medium
🧠 OpenAI GPT-4o Mini ~$0.01 Good Fast

Recommendation: Start with DeepSeek V3.2 for the best value, or Gemini 2.0 Flash for the free tier.

First Debate Walkthrough

Once the server is running:

  1. Open the app — Navigate to http://localhost:3000 in your browser

  2. Select your AI Provider — Choose from the dropdown (DeepSeek, Gemini, or OpenAI)

  3. Enter your API Key — Paste your key (or skip if using server-side keys)

  4. Select a model — Pick based on your quality/speed/cost preferences

  5. Type a debate topic — Examples:

    • "Is Bitcoin a good store of value for the next 10 years?"
    • "Should companies adopt a 4-day work week?"
    • "What are the top 5 AI cryptocurrencies for 2025?"

  6. Click "⚡ Start Debate" — Watch CIPHER, NOVA, and PRISM battle it out in real-time!

Development vs Production Mode

Development Mode

NODE_ENV=development npm start
  • Rate limiting: 100 debates/minute (relaxed)
  • Verbose error messages
  • No server-side API keys required

Production Mode

NODE_ENV=production npm start
  • Rate limiting: 10 debates/minute (strict)
  • Minimal error details
  • Server-side API keys recommended for visitor access

VPS Deployment (Production)

For production deployments, set API keys in .env so visitors can debate without entering their own keys:

# .env
NODE_ENV=production
PORT=3000

# Server-side keys (visitors can use these without entering their own)
DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=sk-your-key
GOOGLE_API_KEY=AIza...
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-key

Users can still override with their own key if they prefer to use their quota.

Environment Variables Reference

Variable Default Description
PORT 3000 Server port
NODE_ENV development Environment mode
TRUST_PROXY (enabled) Set 0 only if no reverse proxy
TRUST_PROXY_HOPS 1 Number of trusted proxy hops
DEEPSEEK_API_KEY — DeepSeek API key
GOOGLE_API_KEY — Google/Gemini API key
GEMINI_API_KEY — Alternative Gemini key name
OPENAI_API_KEY — OpenAI API key
DEBATE_OF_THE_DAY_TZ UTC Timezone for daily topic rotation

Troubleshooting

"API key required" error

  • Ensure you've set at least one API key in .env
  • Or enter a key directly in the web interface

"ERR_ERL_UNEXPECTED_X_FORWARDED_FOR" error

  • This happens when behind a proxy without proper trust settings
  • Leave TRUST_PROXY unset (default) when using nginx/Hostinger
  • Update to the latest code — trust proxy is now enabled by default

Port already in use

# Kill process on port 3000 (Linux/Mac)
lsof -ti:3000 | xargs kill -9

# Or use a different port
PORT=3001 npm start

Next Steps

Ready to forge truth from disagreement? Start your first debate!

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