Project Introduction: Oatmeal
Overview
Oatmeal is an innovative terminal user interface designed to facilitate conversation with large language models (LLMs). It offers dynamic interaction through various model backends and seamless integration with popular text editors. With distinctive features like slash commands and visually appealing chat bubbles, Oatmeal enhances your experience in chatting with AI models such as ChatGPT or other options like Ollama, while prioritizing user privacy. Although it's a robust stand-alone terminal application, its usability amplifies when paired with editors like Neovim.
Installation
Oatmeal can be easily installed on multiple operating systems, including macOS, Windows, and various Linux distributions such as Debian, Fedora, and Arch Linux. Users also have the option to install via Cargo, Docker, or manually by downloading pre-compiled binaries:
- macOS: Use Homebrew to install Oatmeal.
- Debian/Ubuntu and Fedora/CentOS: Enable the respective repositories and install via the package manager.
- Windows: Choose from installers like Chocolatey, Scoop, or Winget.
- Docker: Run the most recent image from GitHub Packages.
- Source: Clone the repository and build with Cargo.
These diverse installation methods ensure that Oatmeal is accessible and straightforward to set up across different environments.
Usage
Oatmeal provides several options when starting a chat session with an LLM. By default, it uses Ollama as the backend and clipboard integration for text editors. Users can explore various commands to interact with the LLMs, manage conversations, and easily access previously saved chat sessions. Customization options, such as choosing the backend and model, setting editor integrations, and selecting themes for syntax highlighting, provide a tailored experience based on user preferences.
Configuration
The application supports configuration through command line flags, environment variables, and configuration files. This flexibility allows users to personalize their Oatmeal setup to fit their workflow.
Model Backends
Oatmeal supports multiple model backends, such as:
- OpenAI: Engage with ChatGPT or similar models.
- Ollama: Keep conversations private with this local option.
- LangChain, Claude, Gemini: Experimental backends for varied uses.
This variety in backends lets users choose based on their specific needs, whether it’s privacy, API compatibility, or model capabilities.
Editor Integrations
Oatmeal can link with various text editors. It comes with built-in support for clipboard integration as the default or can be configured to work with Neovim, or it can run without editor functionality.
Themes and Sessions
Users can select from several embedded themes for syntax highlighting or utilize custom theme files compatible with Sublime Text. Furthermore, Oatmeal preserves all chat sessions, allowing users to revisit past conversations or continue from where they left off.
Contributing
Oatmeal is an open-source project welcoming contributions from developers. It encourages users to report issues and provide feedback. Developers can participate by enhancing backends, adding new editor integrations, or enriching code syntax highlighting capabilities. A detailed setup guide supports both local and DevContainer development environments, easing contribution processes.
FAQ
The project's quirky name originated from a moment of inspiration during an oatmeal breakfast and has amusingly become part of its charm.
License
Released under the MIT License, Oatmeal is an open resource for developers and users interested in AI-driven chat applications within the terminal. For further information or to get involved, visiting the Oatmeal GitHub repository provides more details.