Using Zcrafter: The Interactive Interface
Zcrafter is more than just a command-line tool; it's a full-featured interactive environment designed to feel like a modern chat application within your terminal.
The Interface Layout
When you launch Zcrafter, you'll see a clean, three-part interface:
- Chat History (Center): This is where your conversation with the AI lives. Responses are streamed in real-time with markdown formatting, code highlighting, and emoji support.
- Input Bar (Bottom): The prompt
>indicates where you can type. It supports multi-line input (paste your code!) and history navigation (Up/Down arrows). - Status Bar (Bottom Edge): Displays critical information at a glance:
- Shortcuts: Quick reminders for key commands.
- Mainframe Status: Shows if you are Connected or Disconnected.
- Active Model: Displays which AI model (e.g., GPT-4o, Claude 3.5) is currently answering.
Context Awareness
One of Zcrafter's most powerful features is its ability to understand your context.
- File Awareness: If you have a file open in the built-in editor, Zcrafter "sees" it. You can ask "Explain this code" or "Fix the bug in line 40" without copy-pasting the file.
- Conversation Memory: The AI remembers your previous questions. You can ask follow-ups like "Can you make that solution faster?" or "What about the other error?"
Keyboard Shortcuts
Mastering these shortcuts will drastically improve your efficiency.
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl+d | Command Palette | The central hub. Reset keys, clear screen, or change settings. |
| Ctrl+\ | Mainframe Manager | Connect, disconnect, or edit mainframe profiles. |
| Ctrl+O | Switch Model | Cycle through AI models (e.g., from Flash to Opus). |
| Ctrl+l | Toggle Console | Opens the debug console to view internal logs and API calls. |
| Ctrl+\ | Credentials | Quickly enter or update your mainframe credentials. |
| Ctrl+S | Visibility | Toggle password visibility in input fields. |
| Ctrl+H | Help | Shows the quick reference cheat sheet. |
| Ctrl+C | Cancel/Exit | Press once to stop generation. Press twice to exit. |
AI Agents
Behind the scenes, Zcrafter uses specialized "Agents" to handle your requests:
- Coder Agent: The expert programmer. It handles code generation, debugging, and technical explanations.
- Task Agent: The project manager. It breaks down complex requests (e.g., "Refactor this entire module") into smaller, executable steps.
- Summarizer Agent: The librarian. It reads long mainframe logs or documentation and gives you a concise summary.
You don't need to select these agents manually; Zcrafter automatically routes your request to the right expert.