chatGPT-shell-cli
A lightweight shell script to interact with OpenAI's ChatGPT and DALL-E models directly from the terminal without Python or Node.js.
What is chatGPT-shell-cli?
chatGPT-shell-cli is a command-line interface tool that enables users to interact with OpenAI's ChatGPT and DALL-E models directly from their terminal. It provides a lightweight, dependency-free way to have AI-powered conversations, generate images, and execute commands without installing Python or Node.js. The script leverages the official OpenAI API to deliver seamless AI functionality in a shell environment.
Developers, system administrators, and terminal users who want quick access to AI models for tasks like code assistance, text generation, or image creation without leaving their command-line workflow.
It stands out by requiring only basic shell tools (curl and jq), avoiding heavy runtime dependencies, and offering features like chat context, command generation, and multiple input modes—all packaged in a single script for easy installation and use.
Overview
Simple shell script to use OpenAI's ChatGPT and DALL-E from the terminal. No Python or JS required.
Use Cases
Best For
- Getting quick AI answers or explanations directly in the terminal
- Generating images from text prompts without opening a browser
- Creating and testing shell commands via natural language descriptions
- Automating AI interactions in shell scripts or pipelines
- Exploring OpenAI models and API parameters from the command line
- Maintaining chat history and context for follow-up questions
Not Ideal For
- Projects requiring a graphical user interface for AI interactions
- Environments where shell scripts or dependencies like curl and jq are not available
- Applications needing real-time streaming of AI responses
- Teams that require integration with multiple AI providers beyond OpenAI
Pros & Cons
Pros
Requires only curl and jq, avoiding the need for Python or Node.js runtimes, making installation and execution straightforward without heavy environment setup.
Supports pipe mode, script parameters, and interactive chat, allowing seamless integration into shell scripts or direct terminal use for varied workflows.
Enables context-aware conversations for models without native support, sending previous questions and answers to maintain conversation flow for follow-up queries.
Generates terminal commands from natural language and prompts for confirmation before execution, adding a layer of protection against potentially harmful actions.
Cons
As a shell script, it may not provide detailed error messages or recovery options for API failures, network issues, or malformed responses, leading to user frustration.
Stores the OpenAI API key in environment variables, which can be insecure in shared or multi-user environments and lacks advanced security features like key rotation.
Relies on Unix-like environments with curl and jq, and image viewing requires iTerm on macOS, making it less compatible with Windows or other systems without workarounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
ShellGPTA command-line productivity tool powered by AI large language models like GPT-5, will help you accomplish your tasks faster and more efficiently.
aicommitsA CLI that writes your git commit messages for you with AI
aiacArtificial Intelligence Infrastructure-as-Code Generator.
README-AIREADME file generator, powered by AI.
Found a gem we're missing?
Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.