Bast is an innovative open-source Command Line Interface (CLI) designed to enhance security during AI-powered terminal operations. It seamlessly integrates with the Bastio AI Security Gateway, ensuring that sensitive data is safeguarded before being processed by language models (LLMs).

Key Features of Bast

• Natural Language Command Generation: Describe intended tasks in plain English and receive immediate shell command suggestions.
• Smart Intent Detection: Distinguishes between command generation and answering questions for more relevant interactions.
• Context-Aware Operations: Utilizes the current shell environment, operating system, directory, and command history for accurate suggestions.
• File Context Recognition: Incorporate file references with @syntax, like @README.md, for analysis by the AI.
• Safety Protocols: Protects against execution of dangerous commands by providing warnings for potentially harmful operations.
• Interactive Multi-turn Conversations: Engage in dialogues with the CLI and keep track of conversation history.
• Terminal User Interface (TUI): Enjoy a visually appealing and fully interactive terminal experience built with Bubble Tea.
• Shell Command Integration: Easily activate the assistant with keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+A for launching and Ctrl+E for explanations of commands.
• Agentic Mode: Execute multi-step tasks using the /agent command for a more dynamic interaction.
• Custom Plugins: Extend the CLI capabilities by adding personalized tools through simple configurations.
• Error Recovery: Utilize the bast fix feature to analyze failed commands and receive suggestions for resolution.
• Output Analysis: Use bast explain to pipe command output for further AI explanations and analyses.
• Enhanced Git Integration: Leverage Bast’s understanding of git repositories to generate commands and provide context-sensitive assistance for common git operations while ensuring safe practices.

Getting Started with Bast

Setting up Bast is straightforward:

# Install bast
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bastio-ai/bast/main/scripts/install.sh | sh

# Initialize setup wizard
bast init

Through the configuration wizard, users can easily connect to the Bastio platform or the Anthropic API (if preferred), securely store API keys, and set their preferences.

Example Commands

Efficiently generate and run commands from natural language:

$ bast run
> find all go files modified in the last week
find . -name "*.go" -mtime -7

Users can explore commands before execution, inquire about system status, or access explanations of commands directly from the CLI.

Advanced Features

• Git Context Awareness: Automatically understand your repository’s state, enhancing suggestions based on branch status, working tree changes, and recent commits.
• Agentic Mode Commands: Delegates routine tasks to the CLI, enabling automation for multi-step workflows like summarizing code comments or completing merge conflicts.

With Bast, developers gain an indispensable tool that not only simplifies terminal operations but also fortifies them against potential security risks, making it an essential addition for anyone engaged in AI-driven software development.