What ButtonsCLI is¶

ButtonsCLI is a terminal app for local work: coding, running tools, watching logs, checking Git state, connecting to shells, and keeping the messy parts visible.

The idea¶

Most terminals assume you want a blank rectangle plus memorized shortcuts. ButtonsCLI keeps the real terminal underneath, then adds controls that help when you have several jobs running at once.

The app gives you:

real local shells backed by native PTY processes
tabs with names you can change
split and grid layouts for multiple visible panes
command presets that type into the active terminal
web and display tabs for built-in guides or trusted pages
live theme, font, gradient, and effect controls
a separate AI Help window for explanations and reviewed actions
local automation through buttonsclictl

Who it is for¶

ButtonsCLI fits people who use terminals but want less hidden state.

It works well for:

developers running app servers, test watchers, logs, and Git commands
people learning command-line tools who benefit from visible buttons
AI coding tool users who need terminal output to stay inspectable
users who care about terminal readability and visual comfort
power users who want local agent control without remote desktop tricks

It may not fit you if you want the smallest possible keyboard-only terminal, no visual controls, and no AI-related surfaces.

What is local¶

The terminal sessions run locally on your machine. The app stores settings by profile, including theme choices, shell profiles, saved presets, and AI provider configuration.

AI Help only contacts the provider you configure. Normal terminal work does not require an AI provider.

What is still maturing¶

Some feature access is still controlled by preview or entitlement flags. Agent Mode, Vibe Code Themes, Vibe Code Shaders, automation surfaces, and Quick Secrets may show as available or locked depending on the build and runtime configuration.

The app already has an internal plugin structure for effects, but there is no user-facing plugin marketplace yet.