Categories: AI Answer, AI Assistant, AI Developer Tools, AI Text Generator

ai-cli Review: Your GPT-3 Assistant in the Terminal?

SirKris

Writer

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Let’s be honest. How many times a day do you find yourself popping open a new browser tab to Google a command-line flag you’ve forgotten? You know the one. It’s for tar, or ffmpeg, or that one weird awk incantation you used six months ago. The context switch, the ads, the blogspam... it completely kills your flow.

I’ve been in the trenches of development and SEO for years, and my terminal is my home. Anything that keeps me in my home, focused, is a win. So when I stumbled across ai-cli, a little open-source tool that promises GPT-3 powered answers right in your terminal, my curiosity was definitely piqued. A personal command-line guru on demand? Sign me up. But like any tool that sounds too good to be true, I had to kick the tires and see if it was legit.

So, What on Earth is ai-cli, Really?

In a nutshell, ai-cli is a simple utility that connects your terminal to OpenAI's GPT-3 model. Instead of searching the web, you just ask your question directly using a command. It's like having a conversation with a senior dev who has memorized every man page ever written. You type `ai-ask "your question here"`, and it shoots back an answer, often with the exact command you need and a neat explanation of what each part does.

It’s built in Python, it's open-source (we love to see it), and its whole reason for being is to stop that jarring context switch. It aims to make you faster, smoother, and maybe a little bit smarter by explaining commands as you use them.

Getting It Up and Running: The 5-Minute Setup

One of the first things I look at with any new dev tool is the setup process. If it's a 27-step nightmare, I'm out. Thankfully, ai-cli is refreshingly simple.

Installation Is a Breeze

If you have Python and Pip installed, it's literally one line. Just pop open your terminal and run:

Or, if you're a fan of `pipx` for keeping your global namespace clean (good on you), you can use:

That's it. The tool is installed. But don't get too excited, it won't do anything just yet.

The OpenAI API Key: The 'Secret Sauce'

Here’s the catch, if you can call it that. The tool itself is free, but the brains of the operation—the GPT-3 model—is not. You need an API key from OpenAI. If you don't have one, you'll need to head over to the OpenAI Platform, create an account, and generate a key.

Once you have your key (it'll look something like sk-...), you just need to introduce it to ai-cli. Run this command, pasting your key when prompted:

It'll save the key for you, and now you’re ready to rock. The whole process took me less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee.

Putting ai-cli to the Test: A Real-World Example

Okay, setup's done. Let's ask it something practical. I'm always forgetting the command to see what process is hogging a specific port. It's a classic "I know this exists but what was it again?" problem.

So, I asked:

And a moment later, this appeared in my terminal:

Visit ai-cli

This is... actually fantastic. Not only did it give me the command (`lsof -i :3000`), but it also broke down the flags. -i to select internet files, :3000 for the port. This is more than just a command; it's a mini-lesson. I didn't have to leave my terminal, I got my answer instantly, and I learned something. That’s a triple win in my book.

A Deeper Look at the Features

Beyond the basic Q&A, `ai-cli` has a few other tricks up its sleeve.

• Model Selection: With `ai-model`, you can switch which OpenAI model you're using. The default is `gpt-3.5-turbo`, which is a great balance of speed and cost. But you could, in theory, point it to a more powerful (and expensive) model if you needed more complex answers.
• Shell Autocompletion: Run `ai-autocomplete [SHELL]` to add autocompletion for your shell (like zsh or bash). A nice little quality-of-life improvement.
• Easy Updates: The `ai-update` command checks for and installs new versions of the tool. Simple.

The Not-So-Shiny Bits (A Reality Check)

Alright, I'm impressed, but let's not get carried away. No tool is perfect, especially not in the fast-moving world of AI. Here are some things to keep in mind.

First, the cost. While a few queries here and there will cost you pennies, if you become reliant on this for dozens of queries a day, the OpenAI bill could creep up. You're paying per token, so keep an eye on your usage.

Second, trust but verify. GPT-3 is incredibly smart, but it's not infallible. It can hallucinate or give you a plausible-but-wrong command. For a simple `lsof` command, the risk is low. But if you're asking it to construct a complex `find` command with a `-delete` flag... maybe double-check that before you hit enter. Don't blindly trust an AI with root access.

Finally, and this is a big one for me, is the project's maintenance. Looking at the GitHub repository, the last commit was about two years ago. This suggests the project isn't actively maintained. While it works perfectly fine right now, it might not get updates to support future OpenAI models or fix bugs that pop up. It's a bit of a relic from the early GPT-3 API gold rush, a perfectly functional tool that's been left frozen in time. For some, that’s a dealbreaker. For others, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Let's Talk Turkey: What Does ai-cli Actually Cost?

This is important, so let's spell it out clearly.

Your actual expense will come from OpenAI. Their pricing is pretty transparent, and for a model like `gpt-3.5-turbo`, the cost is very low. You can check out their current rates on the OpenAI pricing page. For the average developer's use case, we're probably talking less than a dollar a month, maybe even less than a coffee a year. But it's not zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ai-cli free to use?

The tool itself is 100% free and open-source. However, it requires an OpenAI API key to function, and using that API comes with costs based on your usage. So, practically speaking, there's a small running cost.

Is it secure to use commands generated by an AI?

You should always exercise caution. For simple, non-destructive commands, it's generally safe. For anything complex or involving deleting files (`rm`), changing permissions (`chmod`), or system configurations, you should absolutely review the command and understand what it does before executing it.

Is this better than just searching on Google or DuckDuckGo?

It's different. It's faster and keeps you in your workflow. You don't have to parse through 10 blue links and a Stack Overflow debate to find your answer. For quick command lookups, it's arguably better. For deep, conceptual problems, a full browser-based search is still superior.

Can I use newer models like GPT-4 with ai-cli?

Theoretically, yes. The `ai-model` command allows you to change the model. As long as you have API access to a model like GPT-4, you should be able to point the tool to it. However, since the tool hasn't been updated in a while, compatibility isn't guaranteed.

Is the project still being developed?

It doesn't appear to be. The GitHub repo shows no new commits for over two years. This is a critical factor to consider. It works now, but it might break in the future with no support.

Final Thoughts: A Nifty, If Dated, Terminal Companion

So, what's the verdict on ai-cli? I'm keeping it installed. For me, the convenience of getting a quick, well-explained answer without leaving my terminal is a huge productivity boost. It's a simple, elegant solution to a common problem.

However, the fact that it's unmaintained gives me pause. It feels like finding a cool old sports car in a barn – it runs great and is fun to drive, but you're always a little worried about finding spare parts if something breaks. If you're a heavy terminal user who understands the small risks involved (API cost, verifying commands, and lack of updates), I'd say give it a shot. It might just save you a few hundred browser tabs a year.

References and Sources

• ai-cli Official GitHub Repository
• OpenAI Platform (for API Keys)
• OpenAI API Pricing