clevercli
FreeChatGPT-powered command-line utilities.
FreeFree tier
About clevercli
Clevercli is a CLI tool that queries OpenAI models (e.g., ChatGPT) directly from the terminal. It comes with a variety of built-in prompt types such as asking general questions, explaining concepts like you're five, telling jokes, refactoring code, converting files to Rust/TypeScript, summarizing text, and generating Unix commands. Users can also easily add custom prompts by placing JavaScript module files in the ~/.clevercli/ directory. The tool requires Node.js v16+ and an OpenAI API key. Note: The repository has been archived and is no longer maintained; the maintainer recommends aichat as an alternative.
Key Features
Built-in prompt types: ask, eli5, joke, refactor, poem, recipe, summarize, synonyms, convert-to-rust, convert-to-typescript, unix-command, regex, jsdoc
Custom prompts: add new prompt types by creating .mjs files in ~/.clevercli/
Accepts input via command-line arguments or stdin
Open source and free to use (requires own OpenAI API key)
Simple installation with npm: npm install -g @clevercli/cli
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Wide variety of built-in prompts covering many common tasks
- Extensible architecture allows users to define custom prompts easily
- Simple and intuitive CLI interface with support for piping from stdin
- Open source with a growing community-maintained prompt list
- Free to use (no subscription fee, just your own API key)
Cons
- Requires a paid OpenAI API key, so not fully free to operate
- Repository is archived and no longer maintained (recommends switching to aichat)
- Requires Node.js v16 or higher
- Some prompts may not work as expected without proper API configuration
Best For
Quickly get explanations or summaries of complex topics from the terminalConvert code from one language to another (e.g., JavaScript to TypeScript or Rust)Generate Unix commands based on natural language descriptionsRefactor code files with the help of ChatGPTGet joke, poem, or recipe suggestions from the command line
FAQ
What does clevercli do?
Clevercli is a CLI tool that queries OpenAI models (like ChatGPT) from the terminal. It includes built-in prompts for tasks such as summarizing, explaining, coding, and more, and allows you to add custom prompts.
How do I install clevercli?
Install clevercli globally via npm: npm install -g @clevercli/cli. Requires Node.js version 16 or higher.
How do I add a custom prompt?
Create a file ~/.clevercli/[prompt-name].mjs that exports a PromptConfiguration object. The tool will then recognize the new prompt type.
Is clevercli still maintained?
No, the repository has been archived and is read-only as of March 5, 2026. The maintainer recommends using aichat as an alternative.