AI API

Bash4LLM

A secure, portable Bash-first CLI wrapper for Groq's OpenAI-compatible API to interact with large language models from the terminal.

What is Bash4LLM?

Bash4LLM is a single, self-contained Bash script that wraps Groq's OpenAI-compatible Chat Completions API, providing a secure and portable command-line interface for interacting with large language models.

Bash4LLM vs Similar AI Tools

Pricing ModelFreeFree, FreemiumFree, Free Trial, Custom PricingFree, Freemium
Free Credits
Key Features
  • Dynamic model list from API
  • No eval, no /tmp usage, strict permissions
  • Streaming and non-streaming output
  • Deadline-aware cost optimization for LLM requests
  • Supports OpenAI, Anthropic, and Gemini models
  • No changes to your request - same model and parameters
  • 5-minute setup
  • Completely self-serve, no sales calls
  • MCP server for out-of-the-box integration
  • Usage metering
  • Flexible pricing models (usage, credits, outcomes, hybrid)
  • Margin tracking per customer
Pros
  • Secure by design: no eval, no /tmp
  • Portable across Unix-like systems and Termux
  • Significant cost reduction (claimed 47% average)
  • No changes to your existing code or client
  • Fast 5-minute setup and self-serve onboarding
  • MCP server enables immediate agent integration
  • AI-native billing infrastructure
  • Supports multiple pricing models
Cons
  • Default provider is Groq only (extensible via extras)
  • Single-user design
  • Added latency for flex requests (about 16% more time to first token)
  • Cost savings only apply to flex-capable models
  • Pricing details not publicly listed
  • Requires technical integration for custom implementations
  • Limited public pricing transparency
  • Primarily focused on AI companies
Best For
  • Developers and sysadmins who prefer command-line tools
  • Users needing secure, audit-friendly LLM access
  • Developers running high-volume LLM inference
  • Teams looking to reduce AI costs without switching models
  • AI agent developers
  • Agent-first startups
  • AI startups
  • SaaS companies with usage-based billing

How to use Bash4LLM?

  1. 1Clone the repository: git clone --depth 1 --branch main https://github.com/kamaludu/bash4llm.git
  2. 2Copy the script and make it executable: cp repo-bash4llm/bin/bash4llm . && chmod +x bash4llm
  3. 3Export your Groq API key: export GROQ_API_KEY="gsk_..."
  4. 4Run with a prompt: ./bash4llm "Your prompt here"
  5. 5Use flags for advanced options: --model, --session, --stream, etc.

Bash4LLM Key Features

  • Dynamic model list from API
  • No eval, no /tmp usage, strict permissions
  • Streaming and non-streaming output
  • Automatic save for long outputs
  • Session memory via NDJSON files
  • UI state JSON for GUI integration
  • Compatible with Termux (Android)

Bash4LLM Use Cases

  • Command-line Q&A with LLMs
  • Batch processing of prompts from files
  • Integrating LLM calls into shell scripts
  • Interactive chat sessions with context
  • Secure automation pipelines

Bash4LLM Pricing & Free Credits

Bash4LLM currently operates on a Free model.

This tool is completely free to use

Open Source

Free

Completely free and open-source under GPL v3 license.

Bash4LLM Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Secure by design: no eval, no /tmp
  • Portable across Unix-like systems and Termux
  • Modular and auditable single-script architecture
  • Automatic model updating and session persistence

Cons

  • Default provider is Groq only (extensible via extras)
  • Single-user design
  • Requires basic shell knowledge and dependencies

What is Bash4LLM best for?

  • Developers and sysadmins who prefer command-line tools
  • Users needing secure, audit-friendly LLM access
  • Termux (Android) power users

Bash4LLM FAQ

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