TerminalGPT is a terminal-based application that integrates OpenAI's GPT models (including GPT-4o and GPT-5 series) to provide users with AI-powered assistance directly within their command-line interface. It targets developers and power users who want to leverage AI for tasks like code explanation, debugging, or general queries without switching contexts from their IDE or terminal. The primary benefit is efficient, tailored AI interaction optimized for the user's specific machine environment and privacy-conscious local storage.

How It Works

TerminalGPT interacts with various OpenAI language models via API calls. Its core differentiator lies in tailoring responses based on the user's operating system, distribution, and chip-set architecture, offering more relevant and optimized suggestions. Conversations are stored locally, ensuring user privacy and preventing data from being used for model training. The application also emphasizes efficient context management to minimize API usage costs.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Installation: Install via pip: pip install terminalgpt -U --user or pip3 install terminalgpt -U --user. An alternative installation method using pipx is also available: pipx install terminalgpt==2.2.7 --force.
• Prerequisites: Python 3.6 or higher, and an OpenAI Account with an API key.
• Setup: Run terminalgpt install in the terminal, then enter your OpenAI API key and select a default model and printing style.
• Usage: Start new conversations with terminalgpt new, load previous ones with terminalgpt load, or use terminalgpt one-shot "Your question" for quick answers.
• Documentation: OpenAI signup and API keys: https://platform.openai.com/signup, https://platform.openai.com/account/api-keys.

Highlighted Details

• Supports a wide range of OpenAI models including gpt-3.5-turbo, gpt-4-turbo, gpt-4o, gpt-4o-mini, o1, o1-mini, and gpt-5-mini.
• Provides machine-specific tailored answers.
• Local storage of conversations enhances privacy.
• Features a convenient "one-shot" mode for rapid, single-query interactions.
• Recommended aliases (tgpt, tgpto, tgptn) are provided for Zsh and Bash shells to streamline usage.

Maintenance & Community

The provided README does not contain specific details regarding maintainers, community channels (like Discord or Slack), roadmaps, or notable sponsorships.

Licensing & Compatibility

The license under which TerminalGPT is distributed is not specified in the provided README. This omission requires further investigation for commercial use or integration into closed-source projects.

Limitations & Caveats

Users must possess an OpenAI API key, which may incur costs depending on usage. The absence of a stated license is a significant caveat for adoption, and the project's maintenance status and community support are not detailed in the README.