A Comma and a Question Mark
13 hours ago
- #Terminal Productivity
- #Shell Customization
- #Local AI
- The author created two custom shell tools: a comma to generate shell commands from plain English descriptions and a question mark for local question answering with limited tools.
- The comma uses a local 27B parameter model via llama.cpp to suggest commands in a structured format (JSON), ensuring safety by requiring user approval before execution.
- The question mark employs a local agent (Pi) with restricted capabilities—only reading files and web searches—to answer queries, preventing unauthorized actions like writing or running commands.
- Both tools operate offline, without external services or payments, emphasizing privacy and control while enhancing terminal usability through natural language interactions.
- While functional for command suggestions and lookups, the author avoids granting agents execution privileges in the shell, prioritizing safety and leaving advanced automation for future development.