cekrause/shell
Shell is a terminal-style AI chat built around one focused conversation. It combines keyboard-first controls with readable Markdown responses and a minimal full-screen interface.
Repository (opens in a new tab)
AI chat · Terminal UI · Next.js · OpenAI API · Markdown · Accessibility
Product
Visitors write multiline prompts, move through earlier prompts with the arrow keys, and clear the conversation with a familiar keyboard shortcut. The assistant replies in the language of the latest message.
The interface uses the directness of a terminal without pretending to be a command line. The conversation remains the only primary surface.
What I built
I built the full-screen chat interface with a custom block cursor, prompt history, pending and error states, and accessible status announcements.
Responses render safe GitHub Flavored Markdown and reveal word by word. The animation is disabled when the visitor prefers reduced motion.
Engineering choices
A Next.js Server Action validates the conversation before calling the OpenAI Responses API. The API key stays on the server, and requests disable OpenAI response storage.
Messages remain in browser memory and disappear after a reload or clear action. The project does not yet include accounts, persistent history, rate limits, or the controls required for a public production service.