I've been using Linux for decades, and even though GUIs have improved enough that you don't need to run any commands at all, I still often turn to the terminal and CLI (command line interface) when I want to get a task done quickly.
However, not everyone is familiar with the command line and some find it overwhelming.
Plus: The first 5 Linux commands every new user should learn
But it doesn't have to be that way. Thanks to AI, new applications are emerging that allow you to learn and practice at the same time. One such application is AI Shell. Before we discuss this application, you should know that it relies on OpenAI and is not free. To use this app, you need to have an OpenAI account with enough credits.
If you don't like using paid services, you can always use an app like Warp, but if you already have an OpenAI account, AI Shell is your best option. AI Shell is super convenient because it works with any terminal app you want to use (you're not tied to a specific terminal).
So, if you like the idea of a terminal app that teaches you how to use Linux commands, AI Shell might be a good fit.
The only caveat is that AI Shell can be a little difficult to install for new users, but don't worry, we'll show you how.
How to install AI Shell
Things necessary: All you need for this is a running Linux instance, a user with sudo privileges, and an OpenAI API key. I'll demonstrate this on Linux Mint, but if you're using a different distribution, you may need to modify the installation process.
The first thing we'll do is install Node.js, which is required because the AI Shell installation requires the npm package manager. To install Node.js, open a terminal window and issue the following command:
sudo apt-get install nodejs -y
Next, install npm with the following command:
sudo apt-get install npm -y
Once the dependencies are resolved, install AI Shell with the following command:
sudo npm install -g @builder.io/ai-shell
To create a new OpenAI key, open the OpenAI API Keys page in your web browser and click “Create new private key.” In the popup window that appears, give your new key a name and click “Create private key.” Copy that key to your clipboard (or save it in the notes for the OpenAI entry in your password manager).
You can set the AI key for the AI Shell using the following command:
ai config set OPENAI_KEY=key
where key is your OpenAI AI key.
At this point, the AI Shell is ready to go.
How to use AI Shell
This is the easy part, just type:
AI Shell will respond with commands you can use to accomplish the above, as well as instructions on how it works.
You can also just type the command lovean AI Shell prompt will open.
And why doesn't anyone use desktop Linux? I have a theory you might not like:
It's very easy.
AI Shell will help you avoid getting lost when learning the Linux CLI. However, keep in mind that you must have a valid (paid) OpenAI account. If you don’t, AI Shell will show you a report like this: UnderallocationIf this happens, you'll need to check your account to make sure the payment went through.
