This tool allows users to interact with various Large Language Models (LLMs) directly from their terminal, streamlining workflows by enabling natural language queries for command generation, code explanation, and data extraction. It targets developers and power users seeking to leverage AI for shell tasks and code-related assistance.

How It Works

The tool acts as an interface to multiple LLM providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, Gemini, and Groq. Users can pipe command-line output or file contents into the ask command, providing context for the LLM. It supports specifying models, enabling web search, and formatting output as commands, breakdowns, or structured data types.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Install via npm: npm i -g shell-ask
• Requires Node.js.
• Configuration involves creating ~/.config/shell-ask/config.json with API keys.
• Official documentation: https://github.com/egoist/shell-ask#readme

Highlighted Details

• Supports piping input from other commands and multiple files.
• Enables follow-up questions using -r or --reply.
• Can enforce command-only output with -c or --command.
• Offers web search capabilities via the -s or --search flag.
• Allows defining reusable AI commands in the configuration.

Maintenance & Community

• The project is maintained by egoist.
• No specific community links (Discord/Slack) are provided in the README.

Licensing & Compatibility

• License: MIT.
• Compatible with commercial use and closed-source projects.

Limitations & Caveats

The README mentions that disabling streaming output (--no-stream) provides better markdown syntax highlighting, implying that streaming output may have rendering issues in some terminals.