Configuration

Configure NikCLI for optimal performance with API keys, preferences, and advanced settings

Configuration Guide

Configure NikCLI to match your development workflow with comprehensive settings for API keys, agent behavior, security, and performance.

🔑 API Keys Setup

Supported AI Providers

NikCLI supports multiple AI providers for maximum flexibility:

Anthropic Claude

Recommended - Best for complex reasoning and code generation

OpenAI GPT

Popular - Excellent for general tasks and creativity

Google Gemini

Efficient - Great for analysis and optimization

Ollama Local

Private - Run models locally for complete privacy

Setting API Keys

# Set Anthropic API key (recommended)
/set-key anthropic sk-ant-api03-...

# Set OpenAI API key
/set-key openai sk-...

# Set Google API key
/set-key google AIza...

# Set Ollama endpoint
/set-key ollama http://localhost:11434

Environment Variables

You can also set API keys via environment variables:

# Set environment variables
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-api03-..."
export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-..."
export GOOGLE_API_KEY="AIza..."

# Or in .env file
echo "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-api03-..." >> .env
echo "OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-..." >> .env

Verify Configuration

# Check current configuration
/config

# Test API connectivity
/debug

# List available models
/models

⚙️ Agent Configuration

Universal Agent Settings

Configure the Universal Agent for optimal performance:

# Set agent behavior style
/agent-config universal-agent --style collaborative
/agent-config universal-agent --style autonomous
/agent-config universal-agent --style guided

# Set verbosity level
/agent-config universal-agent --verbosity detailed
/agent-config universal-agent --verbosity concise
/agent-config universal-agent --verbosity minimal

# Configure permissions
/agent-config universal-agent --permissions "read:src/,write:src/,execute:npm,git"

# Set context paths
/agent-config universal-agent --context "src/,tests/,docs/"

VM Agent Settings

Configure the VM Agent for secure development:

# Set isolation level
/agent-config vm-agent --isolation-level strict
/agent-config vm-agent --isolation-level moderate
/agent-config vm-agent --isolation-level permissive

# Configure container resources
/agent-config vm-agent --container-resources "memory:4GB,cpu:2,storage:10GB"

# Set token budget
/agent-config vm-agent --token-budget 50000

🎛️ System Preferences

Model Selection

# Switch to specific model
/model claude-3-5-sonnet
/model gpt-4o
/model gemini-1.5-pro
/model ollama:llama3.1:8b

# View current model
/model

# List all available models
/models

Creativity Settings

# Set temperature (creativity level)
/temp 0.7    # Balanced creativity
/temp 0.3    # More focused
/temp 1.2    # More creative

# View current temperature
/temp

Session Management

# Enable/disable chat history
/history on
/history off

# Set system prompt
/system "You are a senior React developer specializing in TypeScript and performance optimization"

# Clear current session
/clear

# Start new session
/new "React Authentication Project"

🔒 Security Configuration

Approval System

Configure the approval system for sensitive operations:

# Set approval level
/security --approval-level strict
/security --approval-level moderate
/security --approval-level permissive

# Configure approval timeout
/security --approval-timeout 300

# Enable/disable specific approvals
/security --enable-file-write-approval
/security --enable-command-execution-approval
/security --enable-network-access-approval

Sandbox Settings

# Enable sandbox mode
/sandbox --enable

# Configure file system access
/sandbox --allow-file-system
/sandbox --restrict-paths "/home/user/projects"

# Configure command execution
/sandbox --allow-commands "npm,git,node"
/sandbox --block-commands "rm,rmdir,sudo"

# Configure network access
/sandbox --allow-network
/sandbox --restrict-domains "github.com,npmjs.com"

Developer Mode

# Enable developer mode (reduces security restrictions)
/dev-mode

# Disable developer mode
/dev-mode --disable

# Check current mode
/dev-mode --status

📊 Performance Settings

Caching Configuration

# Enable response caching
/cache --enable

# Set cache size
/cache --size 100MB

# Clear cache
/cache --clear

# Configure cache TTL
/cache --ttl 3600

Memory Management

# Set memory limits
/memory --limit 2GB

# Configure garbage collection
/memory --gc-interval 300

# Monitor memory usage
/memory --stats

Parallel Execution

# Configure parallel execution
/parallel --max-concurrent 3
/parallel --timeout 300

# Enable parallel mode
/parallel --enable

# Disable parallel mode
/parallel --disable

🎨 UI Customization

Display Settings

# Set compact mode
/set compact true

# Enable clean chat mode
/set clean-chat true

# Configure live updates
/set live-updates ephemeral

# Set minimal stream mode
/set minimal-stream true

Color Themes

# Set color theme
/theme dark
/theme light
/theme auto

# Customize colors
/theme --primary "#4EC5F1"
/theme --secondary "#1f39ff"

🔧 Advanced Configuration

LSP Integration

# Enable LSP integration
/lsp --enable

# Configure LSP servers
/lsp --add typescript
/lsp --add python
/lsp --add rust

# Set LSP timeout
/lsp --timeout 5000

Context Management

# Configure context retention
/context --retention 7d
/context --max-files 1000

# Enable context indexing
/context --indexing true

# Set context paths
/context --paths "src/,tests/,docs/"

Logging Configuration

# Set log level
/log --level debug
/log --level info
/log --level warn
/log --level error

# Enable structured logging
/log --structured true

# Set log file
/log --file ~/.nikcli/logs/nikcli.log

📁 Configuration Files

Main Configuration

NikCLI stores configuration in ~/.nikcli/config.json:

{
  "defaultProvider": "anthropic",
  "defaultModel": "claude-3-5-sonnet",
  "temperature": 0.7,
  "historyEnabled": true,
  "approvalLevel": "moderate",
  "sandbox": {
    "enabled": true,
    "allowFileSystem": true,
    "allowCommands": true,
    "allowNetwork": true
  },
  "agents": {
    "universal": {
      "style": "collaborative",
      "verbosity": "detailed",
      "maxConcurrentTasks": 3
    },
    "vm": {
      "isolationLevel": "moderate",
      "tokenBudget": 50000,
      "containerResources": {
        "memory": "4GB",
        "cpu": "2"
      }
    }
  }
}

Environment Variables

Set these environment variables for advanced configuration:

# API Keys
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-api03-..."
export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-..."
export GOOGLE_API_KEY="AIza..."

# Performance
export NIKCLI_COMPACT=1
export NIKCLI_CLEAN_CHAT=1
export NIKCLI_MINIMAL_STREAM=1

# Embedding Optimization
export EMBED_BATCH_SIZE=300
export EMBED_MAX_CONCURRENCY=6
export EMBED_INTER_BATCH_DELAY_MS=25
export INDEXING_BATCH_SIZE=300
export EMBED_ADAPTIVE_BATCHING=true

🔍 Configuration Validation

Check Configuration

# Validate current configuration
/config --validate

# Test all API connections
/debug --full

# Check agent status
/agents --status

# Verify permissions
/security --check

Troubleshooting

API Key Issues

Problem: API keys not working

Solutions:

# Check API key format
/config

# Test API connectivity
/debug

# Re-set API key
/set-key anthropic sk-ant-api03-...

Permission Errors

Problem: Permission denied errors

Solutions:

# Check current permissions
/security --check

# Adjust sandbox settings
/sandbox --allow-file-system

# Enable developer mode temporarily
/dev-mode

Performance Issues

Problem: Slow performance

Solutions:

# Check memory usage
/memory --stats

# Clear cache
/cache --clear

# Adjust parallel execution
/parallel --max-concurrent 2

🎯 Best Practices

1. Start with Defaults

Begin with default configuration and adjust as needed:

# Use default configuration
/config --reset

# Gradually customize
/temp 0.7
/agent-config universal-agent --style collaborative

2. Use Environment Variables

For team projects, use environment variables:

# Create .env file
echo "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-api03-..." > .env
echo "NIKCLI_COMPACT=1" >> .env

3. Regular Configuration Review

Periodically review and optimize configuration:

# Check current settings
/config

# Review performance metrics
/stats

# Optimize based on usage patterns
/agent-config universal-agent --optimize

🚀 Next Steps

Agent System

Learn about cognitive orchestration

Command Reference

Master all commands

Advanced Features

Explore advanced capabilities

Troubleshooting

Solve common problems

Pro Tip: Use /config --export to save your configuration and /config --import to restore it on other machines.