poorcoder
FreeLightweight Bash scripts that enhance your terminal coding workflow with web-based AI assistants like Claude or Grok without disrupting your development process.
FreeFree tier
About poorcoder
poorcoder is a collection of lightweight Bash scripts that enhance terminal-based coding workflows by integrating web-based AI assistants like Claude.ai and Grok. It bridges the gap between web LLM interfaces and the terminal, allowing developers to use subscription-based LLMs (~$20-30/month) instead of costly API usage ($100-500/month). The toolset includes four scripts: context (extracts code context), apply-md (applies code changes from markdown responses), git-context (generates git context for commit messages), and autocommit (auto-creates commit messages). It follows Unix philosophy of small, focused tools and preserves a terminal-first development workflow.
Key Features
context - Extracts relevant code context from your project to send to a web-based LLM
apply-md - Applies code changes from markdown responses (typically LLM output) to your filesystem
git-context - Generates git context (diff, log, etc.) to help AI craft commit messages
autocommit - Automatically creates AI-generated commit messages using git-context
Cost-effective: uses subscription-based LLMs (~$20-30/month) instead of API billing ($100-500/month)
Preserves terminal-based development workflow
Follows Unix philosophy: small, composable tools doing one thing well
Easy installation via git clone and chmod, supports project-specific installation with custom prompts
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Cost-effective: uses existing web LLM subscriptions (~$20-30/month) instead of expensive API plans
- Leverages polished UX of web/mobile LLM interfaces while maintaining terminal workflow
- Preserves existing development environment and tools (no IDE lock-in)
- Lightweight and simple – small Bash scripts, easy to understand and modify
- Unix-philosophy design: each script does one thing well and can be composed
- Open source and free to use, with project-specific installation and customization supported
Cons
- Requires manual copy-paste of context to web LLM and pasting back responses (not fully automated)
- No direct API integration – relies on user having a subscription to a third-party LLM web service
- Limited to Unix-like systems (requires Bash shell)
- Does not provide real-time inline suggestions like IDE plugins
- Basic toolset – advanced features like multi-file refactoring or chat require external tools
Best For
Leveraging web-based LLM subscriptions (Claude.ai, Grok) for code assistance without leaving the terminalExtracting code context from projects to send to an AI assistant for suggestions or refactoringApplying AI-generated code changes from markdown responses directly to filesGenerating AI-assisted commit messages based on git contextAutomating the commit process with autocommitCost-effective alternative to IDE-integrated AI tools like Cursor, aider, or Claude Code
FAQ
What is poorcoder?
poorcoder is a collection of lightweight Bash scripts that enhance your terminal coding workflow with web-based AI assistants like Claude or Grok, allowing you to leverage subscription-based LLMs without disrupting your development process.
What tools are included in poorcoder?
Four main tools: context (extracts code context), apply-md (applies code changes from markdown), git-context (generates git context for commit messages), and autocommit (auto-creates commit messages using git-context).
How is poorcoder different from IDE-integrated AI solutions like Cursor or Claude Code?
poorcoder is designed to work with your existing web-based LLM subscriptions (~$20-30/month) instead of expensive API usage ($100-500/month). It preserves your terminal workflow and follows Unix philosophy rather than being a full IDE.
Is poorcoder free?
Yes, poorcoder is open source and free to use. You just need a subscription to a web-based LLM service like Claude.ai or Grok.
How do I install poorcoder?
Clone the repository (git clone https://github.com/vgrichina/poorcoder.git), make the scripts executable (chmod +x context apply-md git-context autocommit), and optionally add them to your PATH or copy them into your project.