CLI Usage

This section summarizes air's global commands, interactive session commands, fallback terminal hook, and environment variables.

Global commands

Command	Description
air key <apiKey>	Set the DeepSeek API Key
air config	View the current configuration (API Key masked)
air hook <install|uninstall>	Install / uninstall the fallback terminal hook
air [message...]	Send a message; with no arguments, enter interactive mode
air --version	Show the current version

Set the API Key

air key sk-xxxxxxxx

View configuration

air config
# API Key: ****xxxx

One-shot message / interactive mode

# One-shot message
air use shell to list the files in the current directory

# Interactive mode (auto-resumes your last conversation)
air

In interactive mode, if existing history is detected, you'll see: Continue last conversation (N messages, /X chars, type /new to start fresh).

Interactive session commands

Once in interactive mode, input beginning with / is treated as a command:

Command	Description
/exit /quit	Exit
/save	Save a snapshot
/load	Load a snapshot
/new	Clear the context and start fresh
/back	Recall a message (optionally edit and resend)
/editor	Open the system editor for multi-line input
/help	Help

Note: /editor and /quit are both available in command dispatch, but the help text for /help does not list /editor (source: agent-commands/help.ts).

Fallback terminal hook

When a command doesn't exist in your shell, the hook forwards it to air so the AI can interpret your intent:

$ gred "hello" file.txt
# → command not found → auto-forwarded to air
# → AI: "Did you mean grep?"

# Install
air hook install

# Uninstall
air hook uninstall

After installing, you need to restart the terminal or source the corresponding rc file for it to take effect. The hook writes to ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc (bash / zsh only). On uninstall it removes the block cleanly via markers, without affecting the rest of the file.

Environment variables

Variable	Description	Default
AIR_DIR	Override the data directory	~/.ai-zen/air
AIR_API_ENDPOINT	Override the model API endpoint	https://api.deepseek.com/v1

Data directory

~/.ai-zen/air/
├── config.json       # { "apiKey": "sk-xxx" }
├── context.json      # [ { role, content }, ... ]    Current conversation
├── snapshots/        # Auto snapshots before migration or on /save
└── memory/           # Long-term memory written by the AI (*.md)

The directory can be redirected by AIR_DIR. For memory and migration, see Core Concepts.