CLI reference
Run llmshim with no subcommand, or use llmshim help, --help, or -h, to
print top-level help. Interactive chat starts only with llmshim chat.
Availability: Core commands: default build ·
proxy: requires--features proxy· Docker commands: require Docker
Commands
| Command | Arguments and flags | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
llmshim chat | --log <path> | Start interactive, streaming chat |
llmshim proxy | none | Start the HTTP proxy |
llmshim configure | none | Prompt for four provider keys and proxy host/port |
llmshim set | <key> <value> | Write one config value |
llmshim get | <key> | Read one config value; keys are masked |
llmshim list | none | Show masked keys and proxy settings; alias: ls |
llmshim models | none | List registry models for configured providers |
llmshim path | none | Print the config file path |
llmshim docker | <start|stop|status|logs|build> | Manage the stock local proxy container |
Valid config keys for set and get are openai, anthropic, gemini,
xai, proxy.host, and proxy.port.
Interactive chat
llmshim chat opens a model picker. Pressing Enter without a selection chooses
anthropic/claude-sonnet-5. Every answer streams, requests use
reasoning_effort: "high", and reasoning text is rendered dimly before answer
text.
The chat process owns and resends its current history. Switching models changes the next route without clearing that history.
| Interactive command | Action |
|---|---|
/model | Open the model picker |
/model <number-or-query> | Select by list number or first partial ID/label match |
/models or /model list | Show the model list |
/clear | Clear conversation history |
/history | Show the number of messages in history |
/image <path> | Attach an image to the next user turn |
/paste | Attach an image from the clipboard |
/help or /h | Show interactive help |
/quit, /exit, or /q | Exit |
Existing image paths can also appear inline in a prompt. In an interactive terminal, Ctrl-V pastes an image when the platform clipboard integration can read one; otherwise it pastes text.
--log <path> appends JSONL request records. If it is absent, chat checks
LLMSHIM_LOG.
Proxy
llmshim proxy loads file-backed keys, requires at least one configured
provider, and listens using LLMSHIM_HOST/LLMSHIM_PORT or the config file.
It accepts no command-line flags. A default-feature Cargo build prints an error;
install or build with --features proxy.
See HTTP API and Deploy the proxy safely.
Docker helper
| Command | Flags | Action |
|---|---|---|
llmshim docker build | none | Build image llmshim from the current directory |
llmshim docker start | --port <port> or -p <port> | Start container llmshim-proxy; host port defaults to configured proxy port |
llmshim docker stop | none | Stop and remove the managed container |
llmshim docker status | none | Inspect container state and port mapping |
llmshim docker logs | --follow or -f | Follow logs; without the flag, show the last 50 lines |
docker start passes configured provider keys into the container and maps the
chosen host port to container port 3000. The helper manages only the fixed
image and container names above; it is not a deployment orchestrator.