Char
General

CLI Reference

char

Live transcription and audio tools

char [--base-url] [--api-key] [-m] [-l] [--record] [--no-color] [-v] [-q] [-h] [-V] <command>

Global options:

  • --base-url <BASE_URL>
  • --api-key <API_KEY>
  • -m, --model <MODEL>
  • -l, --language <LANGUAGE> (default: en)
  • --record
  • --no-color
  • -v, --verbose — Increase logging verbosity
  • -q, --quiet — Decrease logging verbosity

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

Subcommands:

  • chat — Interactive chat with an LLM
  • listen — Start live transcription (TUI)
  • connect — Configure an STT or LLM provider
  • status — Show configured providers and settings
  • auth — Authenticate with char.com
  • desktop — Open the desktop app or download page
  • batch — Transcribe an audio file
  • model — Manage local models
  • completions — Generate shell completions

char chat

Interactive chat with an LLM

char chat [--session] [--prompt] [--provider] [-h] [-V]

Options:

  • --session <SESSION>
  • --prompt <PROMPT> — Send a single prompt without entering the TUI (use - to read from stdin)
  • --provider <PROVIDER>
  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

char listen

Start live transcription (TUI)

char listen <-p> [--audio] [-h] [-V]

Options:

  • -p, --provider <PROVIDER>
  • --audio <AUDIO> (default: dual)
  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

char connect

Configure an STT or LLM provider

char connect [--type] [--provider] [-h] [-V]

Options:

  • --type <TYPE>
  • --provider <PROVIDER>
  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

char status

Show configured providers and settings

char status [-h] [-V]

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

char auth

Authenticate with char.com

char auth [-h] [-V]

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

char desktop

Open the desktop app or download page

char desktop [-h] [-V]

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

char batch

Transcribe an audio file

char batch <--input> <-p> [-k] [-o] [-f] [-h] [-V]

Options:

  • --input <FILE>
  • -p, --provider <PROVIDER>
  • -k, --keyword <KEYWORD>
  • -o, --output <FILE>
  • -f, --format <FORMAT> (default: pretty)
  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

char model

Manage local models

char model [-h] [-V] <command>

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

Subcommands:

  • paths — Show resolved paths for settings and model storage
  • current — Show current STT and LLM provider/model configuration
  • list — List available models and their download status
  • cactus — Manage downloadable Cactus models
  • download — Download a model by name
  • delete — Delete a downloaded model

char model paths

Show resolved paths for settings and model storage

char model paths [-h] [-V]

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

char model current

Show current STT and LLM provider/model configuration

char model current [-h] [-V]

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

char model list

List available models and their download status

char model list [--kind] [--supported] [-f] [-h] [-V]

Options:

  • --kind <KIND>
  • --supported
  • -f, --format <FORMAT> (default: text)
  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

char model cactus

Manage downloadable Cactus models

char model cactus [-h] [-V] <command>

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

Subcommands:

  • list — List available Cactus models
  • download — Download a Cactus model by name
  • delete — Delete a downloaded Cactus model

char model cactus list

List available Cactus models

char model cactus list [-f] [-h] [-V]

Options:

  • -f, --format <FORMAT> (default: text)
  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

char model cactus download

Download a Cactus model by name

char model cactus download [-h] [-V] <name>

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

Arguments:

  • <NAME>

char model cactus delete

Delete a downloaded Cactus model

char model cactus delete [-h] [-V] <name>

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

Arguments:

  • <NAME>

char model download

Download a model by name

char model download [-h] [-V] <name>

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

Arguments:

  • <NAME>

char model delete

Delete a downloaded model

char model delete [-h] [-V] <name>

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

Arguments:

  • <NAME>

char completions

Generate shell completions

char completions [-h] [-V] <shell>

Options:

  • -h, --help — Print help
  • -V, --version — Print version

Arguments:

  • <SHELL>