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Interactive Mode

ChatCLI’s default mode is interactive. To start it, simply run: 
chatcli
You will see a welcome screen and a prompt ( ❯ ), ready to receive your questions or commands. Any text that does not start with / or @ will be treated as a prompt for the AI. 
help me list all active docker containers

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Essential Commands

Internal commands are your control center. They always start with /.
CommandDescription
/helpDisplays the full help screen with all available commands and options
/menu (or /)Opens the interactive command palette — a navigable list of every command (arrows to navigate)
/exit or /quitSafely exits the application
/newsessionClears the conversation history and starts a new dialogue from scratch
/config or /statusShows the current configuration: provider, active model, and variables (with sensitive values hidden); bare opens the palette with the sections
/reloadReloads settings from .env without restarting the application
/switchSwitch the provider or model — bare opens the navigable palette of providers/flags
/providerSwitch the LLM provider by name — bare opens the palette with the active providers (same UX as /model)
/compactCompact conversation history (automatic or guided with instruction)
/rewindRewind to a previous conversation checkpoint

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Advanced Commands

Context Commands (@)

Inject dynamic information into your prompt: @file, @git, @command, @env, @history.

Agent Mode (/agent)

Delegate complete tasks. The AI plans and executes commands with your approval.

Coder Mode (/coder)

AI that reads, edits, applies patches, and runs tests in a loop — with automatic rollback.

Conversation Control

Use /compact to compact and /rewind (or Esc+Esc) to go back in time.

Skills and Plugins

Extend ChatCLI with custom plugins and skills from remote registries.

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Coder Mode (/coder)

The /coder mode is specialized for software engineering. The AI automatically calls tools in a read, edit, and test loop. 
/coder fix the failing tests

<tool_call name="@coder" args='{"cmd":"tree","args":{"dir":"."}}'/>
<tool_call name="@coder" args='{"cmd":"search","args":{"term":"FAIL","dir":"."}}'/>
<tool_call name="@coder" args='{"cmd":"read","args":{"file":"cli/agent_mode.go"}}'/>
<tool_call name="@coder" args='{"cmd":"test","args":{"dir":"."}}'/>
<tool_call name="@coder" args='{"cmd":"git-diff","args":{"dir":".","stat":true}}'/>
In /coder, it is always the AI that issues the @coder commands — you only describe the goal.
See the full guides: Coder Mode and @coder Plugin

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Prompt Navigation

ChatCLI supports keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation:
ShortcutAction
Alt/Option + arrowsMove cursor by word
Ctrl + arrowsMove cursor by word
Cmd + arrows / Home/EndMove to beginning/end of line
Alt + BackspaceDelete word to the left
Esc+EscOpen rewind menu (double Esc within 500ms, only when input is empty)
/ or /menu + EnterOpen the command palette (arrows to navigate, Enter to select)
For the full list, see the Command Reference.

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Smart Paste Detection

ChatCLI automatically detects pasted text via Bracketed Paste Mode. For large pastes (more than 150 characters), the content is replaced by a compact placeholder in the prompt: 
«1234 chars | 5 lines»
The actual content is preserved internally and sent in full when you press Enter. Small pastes (150 characters or less) are rendered normally.

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Next Steps

Context Commands

Learn how to inject context from your environment into the prompt.

Agent Mode

Delegate complete tasks for the AI to execute.