Puter Shell: Execute Shell Commands With AI

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Puter Shell: Execute Shell Commands with AI

Hey guys! Ever wish you could just tell your computer what to do? You know, like, "Hey AI, make a folder called 'stuff'" and boom, it's done? Well, with this update to the Puter shell's ai command, that's exactly what we're aiming for. Currently, the ai command is a bit like a helpful friend who can tell you how to bake a cake, but can't actually bake it for you. This means you have to manually copy and paste commands the AI suggests. This isn't super efficient, and it definitely breaks the flow of a seamless user experience. The goal is to make the Puter shell way more user-friendly, especially for folks who might not be shell command wizards. Let's dive into how we're making this happen!

The Problem: AI Assistance with a Manual Step

The current ai command, in its current form, is a conversational assistant. It's great at understanding your questions and providing answers. But when you ask it to do something, like create a directory or list files, it just gives you the instructions. It's like asking for directions, getting the directions, and then having to walk the directions yourself. This creates a hurdle for users, forcing them to manually translate the AI's suggestions into actions.

Here’s how it works right now, and how it can be improved with our initiative. Currently, when you input a command like ai "create a directory named test", the AI will give you back a text description, something like: "To create a directory named 'test', you can use the command 'mkdir test'." The issue? It doesn’t execute that command for you. You, the user, must manually type mkdir test to make it happen. Not very efficient, right? This is the core issue we’re tackling. We want the AI to be able to understand the user's intent and then execute the intended command.

Reproduction of the Current Behavior

To see this firsthand, here’s what you would do:

  1. Fire up your Puter shell terminal (if you can’t find it, look in the App Center).
  2. Type and run: ai "create a directory named test"
  3. You'll see the AI's response, which will describe how to create a directory or suggest the mkdir test command.
  4. Now, type ls to list the files and directories in your current location.
  5. You won't see the "test" directory because the command wasn't executed.
  6. The expected outcome: the "test" directory should have been made automatically.
  7. The actual outcome: you just get a text response; no directory is created.

We want to bridge this gap, allowing the AI to not just advise but to act on the user's behalf. This will dramatically improve the Puter shell's utility and user-friendliness.

The Solution: AI-Powered Command Execution

The goal is to make the ai command more intuitive and powerful. The updated ai command will be able to detect when the AI response includes a shell command, extract that command, and, with the user's permission, execute it. This is a game-changer! Imagine asking the AI to "list all files", and bam, the files are listed right there in your terminal. This is what we are aiming for.

Here's how we plan to achieve this:

  1. Special Markers: The AI will be trained to wrap executable commands in special markers, like %%%command%%%. This helps the shell easily identify and extract commands from the AI's response.
  2. Command Extraction: The ai command will use pattern matching to spot these markers and pull out the command.
  3. User Confirmation: Before executing the command, the shell will prompt you: "Execute command: '[command]' (y/n):" This ensures you have control and prevent accidental execution.
  4. Command Execution: If you say "y", the command will be run using the shell's execution mechanism. Otherwise, the command will be canceled.
  5. Text-Only Responses: Regular text responses will continue to work as usual, displaying the AI's message without any command execution prompt. This ensures the command behaves as expected.

This system will turn the ai command into a proactive tool, making the Puter shell far more responsive and efficient.

The Enhanced Workflow

Let’s walk through the new workflow:

  1. You type ai create a directory named mytest.
  2. The AI responds with a message that includes the command wrapped in those special markers.
  3. You will be prompted: Execute command: 'mkdir mytest' (y/n):
  4. You type "y" and hit Enter.
  5. The command runs, and the directory is created.
  6. Type ls to confirm the "mytest" directory exists.
  7. If you ask ai what is the weather like, a non-command query, the AI gives you an answer without any command prompts.
  8. If you type ai list all files and then type "n" when asked to execute the command, the command doesn't run, and nothing changes.

This process is designed to be safe, flexible, and powerful, giving users the best of both worlds: the helpful advice of an AI and the direct command execution they need.

Verifying the Enhancement: Testing and Edge Cases

To make sure everything is working smoothly, we're going to put this new feature through its paces. We need to be confident that this enhancement will be useful and error-free. To do this, we'll perform a series of tests.

Manual Testing: Step-by-Step

  1. Run ai create a directory named mytest in the Puter shell.
  2. Confirm that the AI responds with a message and the command is wrapped in markers.
  3. Verify that you're prompted: Execute command: 'mkdir mytest' (y/n):
  4. Type y and hit Enter.
  5. Ensure the command executes and the directory is created.
  6. Run ls to confirm the mytest directory exists.
  7. Run ai what is the weather like (a non-command query).
  8. Check that the AI responds with text only, without a command execution prompt.
  9. Run ai list all files and type n when prompted.
  10. Ensure the command is cancelled and isn't executed.

Testing Edge Cases

We need to ensure that the feature works in all sorts of situations. This includes:

  1. Different Command Types: Testing a wide range of commands (mkdir, ls, cat, etc.) to ensure they all work as expected.
  2. Declining Command Execution: We'll test declining command execution to confirm the cancellation works correctly.
  3. Queries Without Commands: Testing queries that don't require commands to ensure normal behavior is preserved.
  4. Error Handling: Verify that error handling is working when a command fails to execute.

By thoroughly testing these scenarios, we can ensure the ai command is reliable and user-friendly, providing a powerful and intuitive way to interact with your system.

Submission Guidelines

To demonstrate this enhancement, we need a video. Here's how to create and submit it:

  1. Use a Screen Recorder: Download and install https://cap.so/ to record your screen.
  2. Record in Studio Mode: Open the screen recorder in Studio mode.
  3. Demonstrate the Functionality: Show the functionality of the new ai command by following the manual testing steps above.
  4. Export as MP4: Save your recording as an MP4 file.
  5. Submit via Pull Request: Drag and drop the MP4 file into a comment on the issue below. You can find a guide to submitting pull requests here: https://hackmd.io/@timothy1ee/Hky8kV3hlx

This video will allow us to quickly review the implemented changes. Good luck, and happy coding!