cagent

CAgent (formerly Terminal AI Assistant)

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**CAgent** (formerly Terminal AI Assistant) is a lightweight, secure command-line interface agent engineered in pure C that bridges local terminal operations with Alibaba Cloud's Qwen Large Language Model via the DashScope API. Designed for developers and system administrators, it delivers a unified interface for AI-powered queries while executing only a strictly whitelisted set of system commands—ensuring security without sacrificing utility. Core features include direct Qwen API integration for high-quality natural language processing; a robust whitelist engine (`safe_execute_command`) that validates commands against predefined safe prefixes (`ls`, `pwd`, `date`, `echo`), blocking arbitrary execution with `[SECURITY BLOCKED]` feedback; and secure API key management via a local `.ai_agent_config` file with restricted permissions. The application emphasizes pure ASCII output for maximum terminal compatibility across diverse environments, avoiding UTF-8 rendering issues. Built with modular architecture separating API logic, security validation, and UI handling, CAgent maintains clean, maintainable code requiring only `libcurl` and `json-c` dependencies. Cross-platform support spans Linux, macOS, and Windows with standard compilers (GCC, Clang, MSVC). Ideal for developers seeking an offline-capable, privacy-conscious AI assistant that respects system boundaries, CAgent exemplifies disciplined C programming—merging intelligent automation with explicit security controls. With deterministic resource management, minimal memory footprint, and MIT licensing, the project offers complete transparency for customization, extension, or educational exploration of secure CLI agent design. Whether querying code explanations, verifying system state, or automating safe diagnostics, users benefit from reliable, keyboard-driven AI assistance without compromising terminal integrity. 🤖💻🔐