A Python CLI for interacting with Claude AI, with persistent conversation history, file uploads, variable interpolation, and MIDI music generation. Also includes a C++ variable API and a multi-provider HTTP client framework.
Version: 0.3.0 | Python: 3.8+ | License: MIT
git clone https://github.com/cschladetsch/PyClaudeCli
cd PyClaudeCli
pip install -e .Set your API key:
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..."
# or
export CLAUDE_API_KEY="sk-ant-..."
# or write it to ~/.claude_tokenask # Enter interactive mode
ask "What is 2+2?" # One-shot query
ask - # Read query from stdin
echo "explain this" | ask - # Pipe input
ask --model claude-3-opus "..." # Use a specific model
ask --json "Return prime numbers" # JSON output
ask --no-spinner "Quick question" # Disable spinner| Command | Description |
|---|---|
help, ? |
Show help |
clear |
Clear conversation history |
c, conversation |
Show conversation history |
h [N] |
Show last N history entries |
upload <file> ... |
Upload files for analysis |
name=value |
Set a variable |
vars |
List all variables |
exit, quit |
Exit |
ask '''
Explain the difference between
TCP and UDP in simple terms
'''ask upload image.png diagram.jpg # Upload images
ask upload -r ./src # Upload directory recursivelyVariables persist across sessions in ~/.config/claude/variables.json.
λ name=Alice
λ Ask a question as if you were $name
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--help, -h |
Show help |
--version, -v |
Show version |
--model MODEL |
Specify Claude model |
--no-spinner |
Disable loading spinner |
--json |
Output response as JSON |
--config PATH |
Specify config file |
--init-config |
Create default config files |
--reset |
Reset configuration to defaults |
--music |
Toggle startup music |
--music-history |
Show music play history |
--volume [LEVEL] |
Set/show music volume (0.0-1.0) |
--playsong [--loop] |
Play accumulated MIDI song |
--gen-midi [TEXT] |
Generate MIDI file from text |
--clear-music |
Delete accumulated MIDI file |
Run ask --init-config to create default config files in ~/.config/claude/:
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
system |
Custom system prompt |
aliases.json |
Command aliases |
models.json |
Model preferences and music settings |
templates.json |
Response templates |
ask/ # Python CLI package
├── api/ # Anthropic API client
├── modes/ # Interactive and async modes
├── plugins/ # Plugin system
└── utils/ # Colors, config, IO, variables, MIDI
ask/bindings/ # C++ variable API (bridges to Python via popen)
src/ # C++ multi-provider HTTP framework (Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, Cohere)
Tests/ # Python unit/integration tests and C++ tests
./b # Build and run all testsRequires: CMake 3.10+, GCC 13+ or Clang 15+, libcurl, nlohmann-json.
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install build-essential cmake libcurl4-openssl-dev nlohmann-json3-devArticle.md — a deeper look at the design, including variable interpolation, file upload handling, MIDI generation, and the C++ layer.
MIT