ask

A simple CLI tool to ask questions to an LLM (Large Language Model) via the OpenRouter API with live response streaming.

Features

• Quick access to AI assistance from your terminal
• Live streaming of responses with status indicators
• Markdown rendering of responses
• Concise, stoic assistant persona for direct answers
• Minimal dependencies

Installation

Prerequisites

• Python 3.12 or higher
• OpenRouter API key (get one here)
• uv package manager

Quick Install

# Clone the repository or download ask.py
git clone https://github.com/ghoseb/ask.git
cd ask

# Give execute perms to ask shell script
chmod +x ask

# Dependencies are automatically managed through the script header
./ask "How many moons does Jupiter have?"

You may want to put the ask shell script in your executable path.

Usage

First, set your OpenRouter API key as an environment variable:

export OPENROUTER_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

Then simply run the script with your question:

ask "What is the capital of France?"

Examples

# Ask for information
ask "What is quantum computing?"

# Get code samples
ask Write a Python function to reverse a string

# Request explanations
ask Explain the difference between HTTP and HTTPS

Configuration

The script uses the following defaults:

• Model: deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3-0324:free
• API Endpoint: OpenRouter API
• System Prompt: Configured for concise, direct responses

To modify these settings, edit the corresponding variables at the top of the script.

Troubleshooting

• If you see an error about OPENROUTER_API_KEY, make sure you have set the environment variable correctly

License

Public Domain.