Interactive Chat

Learn how to engage in ongoing conversations with AI models using Umwelten's interactive chat feature.

Overview

Interactive chat allows you to have extended conversations with AI models, maintaining context across multiple exchanges. This is ideal for:

Extended discussions: Complex topics that require multiple back-and-forth exchanges
Iterative problem solving: Refining solutions through conversation
Learning sessions: Educational interactions with persistent context
Creative collaboration: Building ideas through ongoing dialogue

Getting Started

Basic Chat Sessions

Start an interactive conversation:

bash

# Basic chat
umwelten chat --provider ollama --model gemma3:latest

# Chat with premium model
umwelten chat --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash

# Chat with tools enabled
umwelten chat --provider openrouter --model openai/gpt-4o --tools calculator,statistics

Provider-Specific Examples

Google Models

bash

# Fast and cost-effective chat
umwelten chat --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash

# High-quality analytical chat
umwelten chat --provider google --model gemini-2.5-pro-exp-03-25

# Vision-enabled chat
umwelten chat --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash --file ./image.jpg

Ollama Models (Local)

bash

# General conversation
umwelten chat --provider ollama --model gemma3:12b

# Code-focused chat
umwelten chat --provider ollama --model codestral:latest

# Vision chat
umwelten chat --provider ollama --model qwen2.5vl:latest --file ./screenshot.png

OpenRouter Models

bash

# Premium quality chat
umwelten chat --provider openrouter --model openai/gpt-4o

# Analytical chat
umwelten chat --provider openrouter --model anthropic/claude-3.7-sonnet:thinking

# Cost-effective chat
umwelten chat --provider openrouter --model openai/gpt-4o-mini

LM Studio (Local)

bash

# Local model chat (ensure LM Studio server is running)
umwelten chat --provider lmstudio --model mistralai/devstral-small-2505

Chat Commands

Within a chat session, you can use special commands to control the conversation:

Basic Commands

/?: Show help and available commands
/reset: Clear conversation history and start fresh
/history: Display the conversation history
exit or quit: End the chat session

Memory Commands

/mem: Show memory facts (requires --memory flag)
/mem clear: Clear all stored memory facts
/mem export: Export memory facts to a file

Advanced Commands

/system <message>: Update the system message
/temperature <value>: Change the temperature setting
/provider <name>: Switch to a different provider
/model <name>: Switch to a different model

Enhanced Chat Features

Memory-Enabled Chat

Enable persistent memory to maintain context across sessions:

bash

# Chat with memory for persistent facts
umwelten chat --provider ollama --model gemma3:latest --memory

The memory system automatically:

Extracts important facts from conversations
Maintains context across sessions
Provides personalized responses based on learned information
Builds knowledge over time about your preferences and needs

Memory Examples

bash

# Start a memory-enabled chat
umwelten chat --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash --memory

# During chat, the AI will remember:
> "I'm a software developer working on a React project"
> "My name is Alex and I prefer TypeScript over JavaScript"
> "I'm learning about microservices architecture"

# In future sessions, the AI will reference this information
> "Based on our previous conversations, I know you're working on a React project..."

Tool-Enabled Chat

Enhance your chat with powerful tools:

bash

# Chat with specific tools
umwelten chat --provider openrouter --model gpt-4o --tools calculator,statistics

# Available tools (use 'umwelten tools list' to see all)
umwelten chat --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash --tools web_search,file_analysis

Available Tools

calculator: Mathematical calculations and formulas
statistics: Statistical analysis and data processing
randomNumber: Generate random numbers within ranges

Tool Usage Examples

bash

# Math-focused chat
umwelten chat --provider openrouter --model gpt-4o --tools calculator

# Data analysis chat
umwelten chat --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash --tools statistics

# Multi-tool chat
umwelten chat --provider ollama --model qwen3:latest --tools calculator,statistics,randomNumber

Tool Demo

Test tool functionality:

bash

# Interactive tool demo
umwelten tools demo

# Custom demo
umwelten tools demo --prompt "Calculate 15 + 27, then generate a random number"

File Attachments in Chat

Start a chat with file context:

bash

# Start chat with a document
umwelten chat --provider google --model gemini-1.5-flash-latest --file ./document.pdf

# Start chat with an image
umwelten chat --provider ollama --model qwen2.5vl:latest --file ./photo.jpg

# Start chat with multiple files
umwelten chat --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash --file ./report.pdf --file ./data.csv

File Reference Examples

During chat, you can reference attached files:

> "Summarize the main points from the attached document"
> "What are the key findings in section 3 of the PDF?"
> "Analyze the trends shown in the attached spreadsheet"
> "Describe what you see in the image I shared"

Advanced Chat Configuration

System Messages

Set the AI's role and behavior for the entire conversation:

bash

# Technical expert role
umwelten chat \
  --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash \
  --system "You are a senior software architect with expertise in distributed systems"

# Creative writing role
umwelten chat \
  --provider ollama --model gemma3:27b \
  --system "You are a creative writer specializing in science fiction short stories"

# Educational role
umwelten chat \
  --provider openrouter --model anthropic/claude-3.7-sonnet:thinking \
  --system "You are a patient teacher who explains complex concepts simply"

Temperature Control

Adjust creativity and randomness for the conversation:

bash

# Very focused and deterministic (0.0-0.3)
umwelten chat \
  --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash \
  --temperature 0.1

# Balanced creativity (0.4-0.7)
umwelten chat \
  --provider ollama --model gemma3:12b \
  --temperature 0.6

# Highly creative (0.8-2.0)
umwelten chat \
  --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash \
  --temperature 1.5

Timeout Settings

Set appropriate timeouts for different types of conversations:

bash

# Quick responses (default: 30 seconds)
umwelten chat --provider ollama --model gemma3:12b --timeout 30000

# Complex analysis (longer timeout)
umwelten chat \
  --provider google --model gemini-2.5-pro-exp-03-25 \
  --timeout 60000

# Extended processing (very long timeout)
umwelten chat \
  --provider openrouter --model openai/gpt-4o \
  --timeout 120000

Use Cases and Examples

Educational Support

bash

# Math tutoring session
umwelten chat \
  --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash \
  --system "You are a math tutor who shows step-by-step solutions" \
  --tools calculator

# Language learning
umwelten chat \
  --provider ollama --model gemma3:27b \
  --system "You are a Spanish language tutor. Respond in Spanish and help me practice"

# Concept explanation
umwelten chat \
  --provider openrouter --model anthropic/claude-3.7-sonnet:thinking \
  --system "You are a patient teacher explaining complex concepts simply"

Creative Collaboration

bash

# Story writing collaboration
umwelten chat \
  --provider ollama --model gemma3:27b \
  --system "You are a creative writing partner. Help me develop characters and plot" \
  --temperature 0.8

# Brainstorming session
umwelten chat \
  --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash \
  --system "You are an innovation consultant. Help me brainstorm solutions" \
  --temperature 0.9

# Design feedback
umwelten chat \
  --provider openrouter --model openai/gpt-4o \
  --system "You are a UX designer. Provide feedback on my design ideas"

Problem Solving

bash

# Debugging session
umwelten chat \
  --provider ollama --model codestral:latest \
  --system "You are a senior software engineer helping with debugging" \
  --tools code_execution

# Business analysis
umwelten chat \
  --provider google --model gemini-2.5-pro-exp-03-25 \
  --system "You are a business analyst. Help me analyze market opportunities" \
  --tools web_search

# Research assistance
umwelten chat \
  --provider openrouter --model anthropic/claude-3.7-sonnet:thinking \
  --system "You are a research assistant. Help me find and analyze information" \
  --tools web_search

Code Development

bash

# Code review session
umwelten chat \
  --provider ollama --model codestral:latest \
  --system "You are a senior developer conducting a code review" \
  --file ./my-code.js

# Architecture discussion
umwelten chat \
  --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash \
  --system "You are a software architect. Help me design system architecture"

# Testing strategy
umwelten chat \
  --provider openrouter --model openai/gpt-4o \
  --system "You are a QA engineer. Help me develop testing strategies"

Best Practices

Conversation Management

Start with context: Provide relevant background information early
Be specific: Ask clear, focused questions
Build on responses: Reference previous exchanges to maintain continuity
Use commands effectively: Leverage chat commands for better control

Memory Usage

Enable memory for long-term projects: Keeps context across sessions
Review memory regularly: Use /mem to see what's been learned
Clear memory when needed: Use /mem clear for fresh starts
Export important facts: Use /mem export to save valuable information

Tool Integration

Choose relevant tools: Select tools that match your use case
Combine tools effectively: Use multiple tools for complex tasks
Understand tool limitations: Know what each tool can and cannot do
Provide context: Give tools the information they need to work effectively

Error Handling

Use appropriate timeouts: Set longer timeouts for complex conversations
Handle interruptions gracefully: Use /reset if conversation gets stuck
Switch providers if needed: Use /provider to try different options
Save important conversations: Export chat history for important discussions

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Conversation Context Loss: Use memory-enabled chat or /history to review
Slow Responses: Increase timeout values or switch to faster models
Tool Failures: Check tool availability and provide necessary context
Memory Issues: Use /mem clear to reset memory if it becomes corrupted
Provider Errors: Switch providers or check API key configuration

Debug Commands

bash

# Test chat functionality
umwelten chat --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash --timeout 10000

# Check available tools
umwelten tools list

# Test memory system
umwelten chat --provider ollama --model gemma3:latest --memory

# Verify file attachments
umwelten chat --provider google --model gemini-2.0-flash --file ./test.txt

Next Steps

Learn about running single prompts for quick tasks
Explore model evaluation for systematic testing
Try batch processing for multiple files
See structured output for data extraction

Interactive Chat ​

Overview ​

Getting Started ​

Basic Chat Sessions ​

Provider-Specific Examples ​

Google Models ​

Ollama Models (Local) ​

OpenRouter Models ​

LM Studio (Local) ​

Chat Commands ​

Basic Commands ​

Memory Commands ​

Advanced Commands ​

Enhanced Chat Features ​

Memory-Enabled Chat ​

Memory Examples ​

Tool-Enabled Chat ​

Available Tools ​

Tool Usage Examples ​

Tool Demo ​

File Attachments in Chat ​

File Reference Examples ​

Advanced Chat Configuration ​

System Messages ​

Temperature Control ​

Timeout Settings ​

Use Cases and Examples ​

Educational Support ​

Creative Collaboration ​

Problem Solving ​

Code Development ​

Best Practices ​

Conversation Management ​

Memory Usage ​

Tool Integration ​

Error Handling ​

Troubleshooting ​

Common Issues ​

Debug Commands ​

Next Steps ​

Interactive Chat

Overview

Getting Started

Basic Chat Sessions

Provider-Specific Examples

Google Models

Ollama Models (Local)

OpenRouter Models

LM Studio (Local)

Chat Commands

Basic Commands

Memory Commands

Advanced Commands

Enhanced Chat Features

Memory-Enabled Chat

Memory Examples

Tool-Enabled Chat

Available Tools

Tool Usage Examples

Tool Demo

File Attachments in Chat

File Reference Examples

Advanced Chat Configuration

System Messages

Temperature Control

Timeout Settings

Use Cases and Examples

Educational Support

Creative Collaboration

Problem Solving

Code Development

Best Practices

Conversation Management

Memory Usage

Tool Integration

Error Handling

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Debug Commands

Next Steps