aici 0.1.2
A command line interface for ChatGPT
License: MIT
Requires Python: >=3.8

# aici 🚀

[![PyPI version](https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/aici.svg)](https://pypi.org/project/aici/) [![Python Versions](https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/aici.svg)](https://pypi.org/project/aici/) [![License](https://img.shields.io/pypi/l/aici.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)

A command line interface tool for AI models like OpenAI's ChatGPT and DeepSeek AI. 🤖💬

Use Case: would like to use AI models with editors like Emacs and/or automated tools.

![commandline](images/aicissv.webp)

![emacs](images/aiciemacsssv.webp)

# 📦 Installation:

`pip install aici`

# 📖 Overview:

AICI (AI Chat Interface) is a Python🐍 command-line tool for interacting with AI models from OpenAI or DeepSeek. It takes a user's prompt as input and outputs the response from the selected AI model. The output can be directed to either standard output or the clipboard📋. 

**Key Features:**
- Support for OpenAI and DeepSeek models
- Default model: `gpt-4o-mini` (updated from deprecated `gpt-3.5-turbo`)
- Streaming responses (or complete responses with `-c`)
- Custom system messages via direct input or file
- Clipboard output support
- Environment variable configuration
- JSON conversation format support
- Automatic warnings for deprecated models

# 💻 Command-Line Description:

| Argument       | env val               | Default                      | Type | Description                                               |
| -------------- | --------------------- | ---------------------------- | ---- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| -v, --version  |                       | -                            |      | Show version and exit                                     |
| prompt         |                       | -                            | str  | Prompt to send to AI. Specify "-" to read from stdin    |
| -m, --model    | AICI_MODEL            | gpt-4o-mini                  | str  | Model name to use (gpt-4o, gpt-4o-mini, gpt-4-turbo, deepseek-chat, etc.) ⚠️ gpt-3.5-turbo deprecated in Feb 2026 |
| -c, --complete |                       | False (default streaming)    | bool | Get complete response at once without streaming      |
| -s, --system   | AICI_SYSTEM           | You are a helpful assistant. | str  | Specify system message                                  |
| -S, --system-file | AICI_SYSTEM_FILE   | -                            | str  | Specify file containing system message              |
| -V, --verbose  |                       | False                        | bool | Show detailed debug information                           |
| -o, --output   |                       | stdout                       | str  | Specify output destination. Use "clip" to copy to clipboard                  |

[OpenAI models documentation](https://platform.openai.com/docs/models)
[DeepSeek models documentation](https://platform.deepseek.com/api)

## 📝 Logging

**Log File Location:**

Aici automatically creates a log file to record API calls, errors, and debug information:

- **If config file exists**: Log file is created in the same directory as your config file
  - Linux/macOS: `~/.config/aici/aici.log` or `~/.aici/aici.log`
  - Windows: `%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\aici\aici.log`

- **If no config file**: Default location is `~/.config/aici/aici.log`

**Log Levels:**
- **INFO**: Records all API calls and responses (always logged to file)
- **WARNING**: Shows warnings in console (e.g., deprecated models)
- **DEBUG**: Detailed information for troubleshooting (enabled with `-V` flag)

**Viewing Logs:**
```bash
# View recent log entries
tail -f ~/.config/aici/aici.log

# Enable verbose mode to see debug info in console
aici "Hello" -V
```

**Note**: If aici cannot write to the log file (e.g., permission denied), it will show a warning and continue without file logging.

## 📥 input

💻 std input
💬 command parameter

## 📤output

💻 std output (streaming, buffering)
📋 clipboard

# 🔧 Config Environment Variables or File:

🔑 API keys can be set using environment variables or config files

## API Key Setup

### Getting API Keys

**OpenAI API Key:**
1. Visit [OpenAI Platform](https://platform.openai.com/)
2. Sign up or log in to your account
3. Navigate to [API Keys](https://platform.openai.com/api-keys)
4. Click "Create new secret key"
5. Copy the key (starts with `sk-`)
6. Store it securely - you won't be able to see it again

**DeepSeek API Key:**
1. Visit [DeepSeek Platform](https://platform.deepseek.com/)
2. Sign up or log in to your account
3. Navigate to API Keys section
4. Generate a new API key
5. Copy the key (starts with `sk-`)
6. Store it securely

### Setting Up API Keys

You can configure API keys in two ways:

**Method 1: Environment Variables** (Temporary - current session only)
```bash
# Linux/macOS
export AICI_OPENAI_KEY=sk-your-openai-key-here

# Windows
set AICI_OPENAI_KEY=sk-your-openai-key-here
```

**Method 2: Config File** (Permanent - persists across sessions)

Create a config file at one of these locations:
- Linux/macOS: `~/.config/aici/config` or `~/.aici`
- Windows: `%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\aici\config`

Add your API key to the file:
```
AICI_OPENAI_KEY=sk-your-openai-key-here
```

**Verification:**
```bash
# Check if aici can find your API key
aici --version  # Should not show API key errors
aici "Hello" -V  # Verbose mode shows configuration loaded
```

## Environment Variables

### Priority Order

**API Keys** (in order of priority):
1. `AICI_OPENAI_KEY` (highest priority for OpenAI models)
2. `OPENAI_API_KEY` (fallback for OpenAI models)
3. `AICI_DEEPSEEK_KEY` (highest priority for DeepSeek models)
4. `DEEPSEEK_API_KEY` (fallback for DeepSeek models)

**Model Selection** (in order of priority):
1. `-m` command line option (highest priority)
2. `AICI_MODEL` environment variable
3. `AICI_OPENAI_MODEL` or `AICI_DEEPSEEK_MODEL` (provider-specific)
4. Default: `gpt-4o-mini`

**System Message** (in order of priority):
1. `-s` command line option (highest priority)
2. `-S` file specified via command line
3. `AICI_SYSTEM_FILE` environment variable
4. `AICI_SYSTEM` environment variable
5. Default: "You are a helpful assistant."

**Note on File Paths (Windows):**
- File paths are automatically normalized for cross-platform compatibility
- You can use forward slashes (`/`) even on Windows - they will be converted to backslashes (`\`)
- Examples that work on Windows:
  ```cmd
  set AICI_SYSTEM_FILE=C:/Users/YourName/system.txt
  set AICI_SYSTEM_FILE=~/Documents/system.txt
  ```
  Both will be correctly processed as Windows paths

### Configuration Examples

**Linux/macOS:**
```bash
# OpenAI API Key (AICI_OPENAI_KEY takes priority over OPENAI_API_KEY)
export AICI_OPENAI_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

# DeepSeek API Key (AICI_DEEPSEEK_KEY takes priority over DEEPSEEK_API_KEY)
export AICI_DEEPSEEK_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
export DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

# Model Selection
export AICI_MODEL=gpt-4o-mini           # General model selection
export AICI_OPENAI_MODEL=gpt-4o-mini    # OpenAI specific model
export AICI_DEEPSEEK_MODEL=deepseek-chat # DeepSeek specific model

# System Message
export AICI_SYSTEM="You are a helpful assistant."
export AICI_SYSTEM_FILE=~/path/to/system_message.txt
```

**Windows (Command Prompt):**
```cmd
# OpenAI API Key (AICI_OPENAI_KEY takes priority over OPENAI_API_KEY)
set AICI_OPENAI_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
set OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

# DeepSeek API Key (AICI_DEEPSEEK_KEY takes priority over DEEPSEEK_API_KEY)
set AICI_DEEPSEEK_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
set DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

# Model Selection
set AICI_MODEL=gpt-4o-mini
set AICI_OPENAI_MODEL=gpt-4o-mini
set AICI_DEEPSEEK_MODEL=deepseek-chat

# System Message
set AICI_SYSTEM="You are a helpful assistant."
set AICI_SYSTEM_FILE=C:\path\to\system_message.txt
```

## Config Files

It will check the files in the following locations (in the order listed below).
~/.config/aici/config ~/.aici

```
# API Keys
AICI_OPENAI_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
AICI_DEEPSEEK_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

# Model Selection
AICI_MODEL=gpt-4o-mini
AICI_OPENAI_MODEL=gpt-4o-mini
AICI_DEEPSEEK_MODEL=deepseek-chat

# System Message
AICI_SYSTEM=You are a helpful assistant.
AICI_SYSTEM_FILE=~/path/to/system_message.txt  # Load system message from file
```

🖥️ On Windows file path, it is expanded like
| File path| Windows Specific|
|--------------------------------------------------|:--:|
| `C:\Users\{USERNAME}\AppData\Local\aici\config` |✔ |
| `C:\Users\{USERNAME}\AppData\Roaming\aici\config`|✔ |
| `C:\Users\{USERNAME}\.config\aici\config` | |
|`C:\Users\{USERNAME}\.aici` | |
(The priority of the applied config files is in the order listed from top to bottom.)

# 👋 Examples:

💨 Basic input from CLI

```
$ aici Hello
```

💨 Read from stdin

```
$ echo Hello | aici -
```

💨 Specify a model

```
$ aici -m gpt-4o "What's the weather like today?"
$ aici -m gpt-4o-mini "What's the weather like today?"
$ aici -m deepseek-chat "Tell me about quantum computing"
```

💨 Use a system message from a file

```
$ echo "You are a helpful coding assistant." > system.txt
$ aici -S system.txt "How do I write a Python function?"
```

💨 Enable debug mode

```
$ aici -V "Hello there"
```

💨 output to clipboard 📋

```
$ echo Hello | aici - --output clip
```

# 👋 emacs

## Emacs Lisp Code Example

Below is the content of `emacs/aici.el`

```elisp

(defun aici-call ()
  "Send selected region or prompt for input if no region is selected to the 'aici' command and insert the output in real-time."
  (interactive)
  (let* ((text (if (use-region-p)
                   (buffer-substring-no-properties (region-beginning) (region-end))
                 (read-string "Enter text: ")))
         ;; Attempt to create or get the output buffer
         (output-buffer (get-buffer-create "*AICI Output*")))

    ;; Check if the buffer creation was successful
    (if (not output-buffer)
        (error "Failed to create or access the output buffer")
      ;; Clear the output buffer
      (with-current-buffer output-buffer
        (erase-buffer)
        ;; Set the buffer to markdown-mode
        (markdown-mode))

      ;; Display a message indicating that processing is ongoing
      (message "Processing...")

      ;; Start the process and stream the output to the buffer
      (let ((process (start-process "aici-process" output-buffer "sh" "-c"
                                    (format "echo %s | aici -" (shell-quote-argument text)))))
        ;; Set a process filter to handle output streaming
        (set-process-filter process
                            (lambda (proc output)
                              ;; Explicitly reference the output-buffer by capturing it in the lambda
                              (let ((buffer (process-buffer proc)))
                                (when (buffer-live-p buffer)
                                  (with-current-buffer buffer
                                    (goto-char (point-max))
                                    (insert output)
                                    ;; Optionally display the buffer in real-time
                                    (display-buffer buffer))))))

        ;; Set a sentinel to handle process completion
        (set-process-sentinel process
                              (lambda (proc event)
                                ;; Again, ensure that output-buffer is properly referenced
                                (let ((buffer (process-buffer proc)))
                                  (when (buffer-live-p buffer)
                                    (if (string= event "finished\n")
                                        (message "Processing complete.")
                                      (message "Processing interrupted: %s" event))))))))

      ;; Ensure the output buffer is displayed after starting the process
      (display-buffer output-buffer)))

```

## License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.