fix(browser): keep extra-high distinct from Pro thinking time

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 ## 0.17.1 — Unreleased
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Browser: keep `--browser-thinking-time extra-high` as Extra High (non-Pro) on GPT-5.6 Sol; reserve `heavy` for explicit Pro selection. Fixes #353.
+
 ## 0.17.0 — 2026-08-02
 
 ### Added

bin/oracle-cli.ts

@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ interface CliOptions extends OptionValues {
   browserManualLogin?: boolean;
   browserManualLoginProfileDir?: string;
   copyProfile?: string;
-  browserThinkingTime?: "light" | "standard" | "extended" | "heavy";
+  browserThinkingTime?: "light" | "standard" | "extended" | "extra-high" | "heavy";
   browserResearch?: "off" | "deep";
   browserFollowUp?: string[];
   browserAllowCookieErrors?: boolean;
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ program
   .addOption(
     new Option(
       "--browser-thinking-time <level>",
-      "Thinking time intensity for Thinking/Pro models: light, standard, extended, heavy, or ChatGPT UI aliases.",
+      "Thinking time intensity for Thinking/Pro models: light, standard, extended, extra-high (Extra High), heavy (Pro), or ChatGPT UI aliases.",
     )
       .argParser(parseThinkingTimeOption)
       .hideHelp(),

docs/browser-mode.md

@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ Notes:
 - If an assistant response still times out (common with long Pro runs), Oracle marks the session as an incomplete capture, stores reattach/runtime diagnostics, and keeps enough browser metadata for `oracle session <id>` to recover the final answer. Visible ChatGPT rate-limit, temporary-unavailable, and authentication/challenge warnings are included in the error and session metadata instead of being reduced to a generic timeout. Increase `--browser-timeout` only when the browser session is truly unrecoverable.
 - `--browser-model-strategy <select|current|ignore>`: control ChatGPT model selection. `select` (default) switches to the requested model; `current` keeps the active model and logs its label; `ignore` skips the picker entirely. (Ignored for Gemini web runs.)
 - Temporary Chat can reduce account-sidebar clutter for one-shot browser consults, but it is a different ChatGPT workflow: Oracle skips archive attempts there and the local transcript/artifacts are the durable record. Verify live behavior before relying on Project Sources, Deep Research reports, or multi-turn persistence.
-- `--browser-thinking-time <light|standard|extended|heavy>`: set the ChatGPT thinking-time intensity (Thinking/Pro models only). You can also set a default in `~/.oracle/config.json` via `browser.thinkingTime`.
+- `--browser-thinking-time <light|standard|extended|extra-high|heavy>`: set the ChatGPT thinking-time intensity (Thinking/Pro models only). On GPT-5.6 Sol, `extra-high` selects Extra High and `heavy` selects Pro. You can also set a default in `~/.oracle/config.json` via `browser.thinkingTime`.
 - GPT-5.5 Pro Extended is verified from the selected item in ChatGPT's standalone Pro/Thinking effort pill or compatible Intelligence/model-picker menu. A run **fails closed** if Extended cannot be confirmed rather than silently submitting at a weaker effort. Detection failures write a bounded, redacted model-picker diagnostic to the normal session log.
 - `--browser-research deep`: activate ChatGPT Deep Research before submitting the prompt. Use this for broad public-web research and final cited reports, not as a replacement for GPT-5.x Pro Heavy code review or pure reasoning.
 - `--browser-follow-up <prompt>`: submit another prompt in the same ChatGPT conversation after the initial answer. Repeat the flag for multi-turn reviews such as “challenge your recommendation”, “compare against this constraint”, then “give the final decision”. Deep Research has its own report lifecycle, so browser follow-ups are rejected when `--browser-research deep` is enabled.
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ Oracle activates ChatGPT Deep Research through the composer tools menu, recogniz
 
 If ChatGPT initially exposes only `Called tool` / `Used tool`, Oracle treats that as an incomplete capture for Deep Research rather than a final answer. Reattach the existing session with `oracle session <id> --render` so Oracle can recover the lazy-loaded report from the existing Chrome tab; do not rerun the research unless the browser session is unrecoverable.
 
-Deep Research is browser-only. It does not use connected apps in v1; give it public-web scope, uploaded files, and any domain/source guidance in the prompt. For deep thinking over code or architecture without web search, prefer a normal browser run with a Pro/Thinking model and `--browser-thinking-time heavy`.
+Deep Research is browser-only. It does not use connected apps in v1; give it public-web scope, uploaded files, and any domain/source guidance in the prompt. For deep thinking over code or architecture without web search, prefer a normal browser run with GPT-5.6 Sol and `--browser-thinking-time extra-high`, or a Pro model with `--browser-thinking-time extended`.
 
 Completed browser sessions also save durable artifacts under `~/.oracle/sessions/<id>/artifacts/`. Deep Research writes the extracted report to `deep-research-report.md`, and every browser run writes `transcript.md` with the prompt, final answer, conversation URL, and saved artifact references. Use `--write-output <path>` when you also need a copy of just the final answer at a specific path.
 
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ Use browser follow-ups when a one-shot review would be too easy for the model to
 ```bash
 oracle --engine browser \
   --model gpt-5.5-pro \
-  --browser-thinking-time heavy \
+  --browser-thinking-time extended \
   -p "Review this migration plan and identify the top risks." \
   --file docs/migration-plan.md \
   --browser-follow-up "Challenge your previous recommendation. What would fail in production?" \

docs/cli-reference.md

@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ See [OpenAI / Azure / OpenRouter](openai-endpoints.md) and [OpenRouter](openrout
 | `--browser-manual-login`                                                       | Use persistent profile + manual login (no Keychain).         |
 | `--browser-attach-running`                                                     | Attach to your already-running Chrome via DevTools.          |
 | `--browser-tab <ref>`                                                          | Reuse an existing tab (`current`, id, URL, title substring). |
-| `--browser-thinking-time <light\|standard\|extended\|heavy>`                   | Pro / Thinking model intensity.                              |
+| `--browser-thinking-time <light\|standard\|extended\|extra-high\|heavy>`     | Effort intensity (`extra-high` = Extra High; `heavy` = Pro). |
 | `--browser-research deep`                                                      | Activate Deep Research mode.                                 |
 | `--browser-follow-up <prompt>`                                                 | Multi-turn in the same ChatGPT conversation.                 |
 | `--browser-port <port>`                                                        | Pin Chrome DevTools port.                                    |

docs/configuration.md

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ JSON5 parsing, so trailing commas and comments are allowed.
     autoReattachIntervalMs: 0, // interval between auto-reattach attempts (0 = disabled)
     autoReattachTimeoutMs: 120000, // time budget per auto-reattach attempt (default: 2m)
     modelStrategy: "select", // select | current | ignore (ChatGPT only; ignored for Gemini web)
-    thinkingTime: "extended", // light | standard | extended | heavy (ChatGPT Thinking/Pro models)
+    thinkingTime: "extended", // light | standard | extended | extra-high | heavy (ChatGPT Thinking/Pro models)
     researchMode: "off", // off | deep (ChatGPT Deep Research; browser only)
     manualLogin: false, // set true to reuse a persistent automation profile and sign in once (Windows defaults to true when unset)
     manualLoginProfileDir: null, // override profile dir (or set ORACLE_BROWSER_PROFILE_DIR)

docs/mcp.md

@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@ Claude Code can call `oracle-mcp` and ask a subscription-backed ChatGPT browser
 
 - Inputs: `prompt` (required), `files?: string[]` (globs), `model?: string` (defaults to CLI), `engine?: "api" | "browser"` (optional; Oracle follows CLI defaults: `ORACLE_ENGINE` and the effective config first, then API when `OPENAI_API_KEY` is set, otherwise browser), `slug?: string`.
 - Presets: `preset?: "chatgpt-pro-heavy"` applies browser mode + current Pro model alias + extended thinking, unless the request overrides those fields.
-- Browser-only extras: `browserAttachments?: "auto"|"never"|"always"`, `browserBundleFiles?: boolean`, `browserBundleFormat?: "auto"|"text"|"zip"`, `browserThinkingTime?: "light"|"standard"|"extended"|"heavy"`, `browserResearchMode?: "deep"`, `browserFollowUps?: string[]`, `browserArchive?: "auto"|"always"|"never"`, `browserKeepBrowser?: boolean`, `browserModelLabel?: string`, `browserModelStrategy?: "select"|"current"|"ignore"`, `generateImage?: string`, `outputPath?: string`.
+- Browser-only extras: `browserAttachments?: "auto"|"never"|"always"`, `browserBundleFiles?: boolean`, `browserBundleFormat?: "auto"|"text"|"zip"`, `browserThinkingTime?: "light"|"standard"|"extended"|"extra-high"|"heavy"`, `browserResearchMode?: "deep"`, `browserFollowUps?: string[]`, `browserArchive?: "auto"|"always"|"never"`, `browserKeepBrowser?: boolean`, `browserModelLabel?: string`, `browserModelStrategy?: "select"|"current"|"ignore"`, `generateImage?: string`, `outputPath?: string`.
 - Dry runs: set `dryRun: true` to preview the resolved request without creating a session or touching the browser.
 - Behavior: starts a session, runs it with the chosen engine, returns final output + metadata. Background/foreground follows the CLI (e.g., GPT‑5 Pro detaches by default). If API mode fails because `OPENAI_API_KEY` is missing and you have ChatGPT Pro, retry with `engine: "browser"` or `preset: "chatgpt-pro-heavy"` to use your signed-in ChatGPT session instead of an API key.
 - Logging: emits MCP logs (`info` per line, `debug` for streamed chunks with byte sizes). If browser prerequisites are missing, returns an error payload instead of running.
-- Research mode: set `browserResearchMode:"deep"` for broad public-web research and cited reports. Use normal browser runs with `gpt-5.5-pro` + `browserThinkingTime:"extended"` for Pro Extended code review, or `gpt-5.5` + `browserThinkingTime:"heavy"` when you explicitly want Thinking Heavy.
+- Research mode: set `browserResearchMode:"deep"` for broad public-web research and cited reports. Use normal browser runs with `gpt-5.5-pro` + `browserThinkingTime:"extended"` for Pro Extended code review, `gpt-5.6-sol` + `browserThinkingTime:"extra-high"` for Extra High, or `browserThinkingTime:"heavy"` when you explicitly want Pro.
 - Multi-turn consults: set `browserFollowUps:["Challenge your recommendation", "Give the final decision"]` to keep one ChatGPT browser conversation open and ask sequential follow-up prompts. Use one-shot calls for narrow bugs and exact file-set reviews; use multi-turn for ambiguous architecture/product decisions where a challenge pass and final recommendation are useful; use Deep Research for broad public-web work with citations. Oracle never invents follow-ups automatically.
 - Archiving: set `browserArchive:"auto"|"always"|"never"` to control ChatGPT conversation cleanup. `auto` archives only successful browser one-shots after local artifacts are saved, and skips project, Deep Research, multi-turn, failed, and incomplete sessions.
 - ChatGPT image generation: set `engine:"browser"` and `generateImage` to a path under `ORACLE_HOME_DIR/generated` to use the same image-aware wait/download path as CLI `--generate-image`. Saved files are returned in `structuredContent.images` and recorded as session artifacts; multiple images save as numbered siblings. Agent-supplied `generateImage` / `outputPath` are constrained to that generated-output directory by default (set `ORACLE_MCP_ALLOW_EXTERNAL_OUTPUT=1` to allow external paths).

docs/mythical-pro-agents.md

@@ -86,12 +86,13 @@ The captured report lands at `~/.oracle/sessions/<id>/artifacts/deep-research-re
 
 Pro / Thinking models in browser mode accept a `--browser-thinking-time` knob:
 
-| Level      | What it maps to in ChatGPT       |
-| ---------- | -------------------------------- |
-| `light`    | Quick                            |
-| `standard` | Default                          |
-| `extended` | Pro Extended / Thinking Extended |
-| `heavy`    | Heavy thinking                   |
+| Level         | What it maps to in ChatGPT                          |
+| ------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
+| `light`       | Instant / Quick                                     |
+| `standard`    | Medium / Standard                                   |
+| `extended`    | High / Pro Extended / Thinking Extended             |
+| `extra-high`  | Extra High (GPT-5.6 Sol non-Pro max)                |
+| `heavy`       | Pro (GPT-5.6 Sol) / Heavy thinking on older layouts |
 
 ```bash
 oracle --engine browser --model gpt-5.5-pro \

skills/oracle/SKILL.md

@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ Recommended defaults:
 
 - Engine: browser (`--engine browser`)
 - Base Sol: `--model gpt-5.6-sol`
-- Base Sol maximum reasoning: `--browser-thinking-time heavy` (Extra High)
+- Base Sol maximum reasoning: `--browser-thinking-time extra-high` (Extra High)
+- Explicit Pro effort on GPT-5.6 Sol: `--browser-thinking-time heavy` (Pro UI)
 - Browser Pro: `--model gpt-5-pro`, without a thinking-time flag
 - API Pro maximum reasoning: `--model gpt-5.6-sol --reasoning-mode pro --reasoning-effort max`
 - Fallback: explicitly use `--model gpt-5.5-pro` when GPT-5.6 is unavailable
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ For base Sol, use:
 
 ```bash
 oracle --engine browser --model gpt-5.6-sol \
-  --browser-thinking-time heavy \
+  --browser-thinking-time extra-high \
   -p "<task>" --file "src/**"
 ```
 
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ and a live browser run records strict GPT-5.6 selection evidence.
   - `npx -y @steipete/oracle --dry-run summary --files-report -p "<task>" --file "src/**"`
 
 - Browser run:
-  - `oracle --engine browser --model gpt-5.6-sol --browser-thinking-time heavy -p "<task>" --file "src/**"`
+  - `oracle --engine browser --model gpt-5.6-sol --browser-thinking-time extra-high -p "<task>" --file "src/**"`
 
 - Manual paste fallback:
   - `npx -y @steipete/oracle --render-markdown --copy-markdown -p "<task>" --file "src/**"`

src/browser/actions/thinkingTime.ts

@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ export async function ensureThinkingTime(
 /**
  * Best-effort selection of a thinking time level in ChatGPT's composer pill menu.
  * Safe by default: if the pill/menu/option isn't present, we continue without throwing.
- * @param level - The thinking time intensity: 'light', 'standard', 'extended', or 'heavy'
+ * @param level - The thinking time intensity: 'light', 'standard', 'extended', 'extra-high', or 'heavy'
  */
 export async function ensureThinkingTimeIfAvailable(
   Runtime: ChromeClient["Runtime"],
@@ -206,7 +206,8 @@ function buildThinkingTimeExpression(
       light: ['light', 'instant', '轻', '极速'],
       standard: ['standard', 'medium', '标准', '中'],
       extended: ['extended', 'high', '扩展', '深度', '加强', '高'],
-      heavy: ['heavy', 'extra high', '重度', '加重', '极高'],
+      'extra-high': ['extra high', '极高'],
+      heavy: ['heavy', '重度', '加重'],
     };
     const targetTokens = LEVEL_TOKENS[TARGET_LEVEL] || [TARGET_LEVEL];
 
@@ -488,10 +489,10 @@ function buildThinkingTimeExpression(
           return item;
         }
       }
-      if (TARGET_LEVEL === 'heavy') {
-        // Older Chinese layouts used bare 高 for the highest effort. Keep it
-        // only as a second-pass exact fallback so a current 高 row can never
-        // win before the primary 极高 row.
+      if (TARGET_LEVEL === 'extra-high') {
+        // Older Chinese layouts used bare 高 for the highest non-Pro effort.
+        // Keep it only as a second-pass exact fallback so a current 高 row can
+        // never win before the primary 极高 row.
         for (const item of items) {
           const itemText = normalize(item.textContent ?? '');
           const ariaLabel = normalize(item.getAttribute?.('aria-label') ?? '');

src/cli/browserConfig.ts

@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ export interface BrowserFlagOptions {
   browserManualLoginProfileDir?: string | null;
   copyProfile?: string;
   remoteHost?: string;
-  /** Thinking time intensity: 'light', 'standard', 'extended', 'heavy' */
+  /** Thinking time intensity: 'light', 'standard', 'extended', 'extra-high', 'heavy' */
   browserThinkingTime?: ThinkingTimeLevel;
   browserResearch?: BrowserResearchMode;
   browserArchive?: BrowserArchiveMode;

src/cli/options.ts

@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ export function parseThinkingTimeOption(value: string): ThinkingTimeLevel {
     return normalized;
   }
   throw new InvalidArgumentError(
-    'Thinking time must be one of "light", "standard", "extended", "heavy", or a ChatGPT UI alias like "instant", "medium", "high", or "extra-high".',
+    'Thinking time must be one of "light", "standard", "extended", "extra-high", "heavy", or a ChatGPT UI alias like "instant", "medium", "high", or "xhigh".',
   );
 }
 

src/mcp/tools/consult.ts

@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ export function buildConsultBrowserConfig({
   runModel: string;
   inputModel?: string;
   browserModelLabel?: string;
-  browserThinkingTime?: "light" | "standard" | "extended" | "heavy";
+  browserThinkingTime?: "light" | "standard" | "extended" | "extra-high" | "heavy";
   browserModelStrategy?: BrowserModelStrategy;
   browserResearchMode?: "deep";
   browserArchive?: "auto" | "always" | "never";

src/oracle/thinkingTime.ts

@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
 import type { ThinkingTimeLevel } from "./types.js";
 
-export const THINKING_TIME_LEVELS = ["light", "standard", "extended", "heavy"] as const;
+export const THINKING_TIME_LEVELS = [
+  "light",
+  "standard",
+  "extended",
+  "extra-high",
+  "heavy",
+] as const;
 export const THINKING_TIME_ALIASES = [
   "instant",
   "low",
   "medium",
   "high",
-  "extra-high",
   "extra high",
   "extrahigh",
   "xhigh",
@@ -37,10 +42,11 @@ export function normalizeThinkingTimeLevel(
     case "extended":
     case "high":
       return "extended";
-    case "heavy":
     case "extra-high":
     case "extrahigh":
     case "xhigh":
+      return "extra-high";
+    case "heavy":
       return "heavy";
     default:
       return null;

src/oracle/types.ts

@@ -37,7 +37,12 @@ export type ProModelName =
 export type ReasoningEffort = "none" | "low" | "medium" | "high" | "xhigh" | "max";
 export type ReasoningMode = "standard" | "pro";
 
-export type ThinkingTimeLevel = "light" | "standard" | "extended" | "heavy";
+export type ThinkingTimeLevel =
+  | "light"
+  | "standard"
+  | "extended"
+  | "extra-high"
+  | "heavy";
 
 export type BrowserBundleFormat = "auto" | "text" | "zip";