--- title: 'Building Smarter CLI Tools: Iterative Development, Python Slices, and AI Context Management' permalink: /futureproof/building-smarter-cli-tools-ai-context/ description: This session was a highly productive 'chisel-strike' that transformed an initial journaling thought into a fully functional and much-needed enhancement for my `list_articles.py` script. The collaborative, iterative process with Gemini, framed by the comic book analogy, proved incredibly efficient in delivering a stable numeric index, flexible flag defaults, and an intuitive Python slice API. This work not only refines how I interact with my article archive but also lays crucial groundwork for better AI context management and storytelling within the larger Pipulate project. meta_description: Iteratively developing `list_articles.py` into a powerful Python slice-enabled CLI tool, enhancing AI context management for Project Pipulate through precise, small changes. meta_keywords: Python, CLI tools, argparse, slice API, iterative development, AI context, LLM, Jekyll, Pipulate, scripting layout: post sort_order: 1 --- ## Setting the Stage: Context for the Curious Book Reader In the spirit of continuous iteration and building robust foundations, this entry chronicles the development of a critical utility: `list_articles.py`. What began as a simple tool to manage content for large language models evolves into a highly flexible command-line interface, demonstrating the power of Python's slice API and the effectiveness of small, focused improvements. This deep dive into practical tooling highlights how refined command-line control and clear content indexing are indispensable for managing extensive information archives and fostering intelligent AI interaction within projects like Pipulate. --- ## Technical Journal Entry Begins We are painting like an artist like all good development should be. You should be able to look at and intuit the artistry. But sometimes things get sketched out with a pencil first and then you go over it again and again and let the solid lines emerge, erasing away the initial tentative sketches, cleaning it up and doing the line-inking and then adding the color... oh, comic books. Yeah, everything comes back to a comic book analogy doesn't it? Visual and auditory literacy combined. A picture's worth a thousand words. Even here in pure text, I can't get away from ASCII art. And that's going to factor a lot into today's work. ## The Art of Iterative Development Today we sketch out the full Pipulate scraping and browser automation picture. We incorporate the Puppeteer-based Google Chrome MCP server, or at least the hook for why it is every bit as officially part of Project Pipulate as Selenium automation. We clean up the Jupyter Notebook it's being controlled from and the other example notebooks surrounding this project including Hello World so as to better illustrate the Unix pipes concept, surfacing the currently hidden `pip.get()` and `pip.set()` methods. We may move the `pipeline.sqlite` file to be in the same folder as the Notebook is run from for even greater cross-platform support, consistency and Google Colab stability and transparency. ## Automating Pipulate and Cleaning Notebooks Ah, the cleanup of those notebooks is not just about making the mechanism pipeline persistence in a Unix pipe-like workflow more obvious but it's also getting it down to the least number of Cells possible, with only as many cells as there are actual data-collection steps so as to better reflect what the experience will be once one of these things is ported to be an actual Pipulate App. One data-collection-step, one Step. One Cell. One Card (in PicoCSS terms). The reason for JupyterLab and the Pipulate FastHTML app to be installed side-by-side will be obvious to the point of "No duh..." And there will now be 3 examples put into the Notebook folder with really only one run. Ahh, and telling the overarching story of Pipulate to the LLMs is now wayyyy easier to do with `list_articles.py` which I almost always use with the following parameters: ```bash [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ python list_articles.py -t -r -m Posts in chronological (oldest first) order: Calculating token counts for all files, this may take a moment... /home/mike/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts/2024-09-08-Future-proofing.md # 3,186 tokens (3,186 / 7,172,184 total) └─ Master the fundamental LPvg stack (Linux, Python, Vim, Git) for future-proof tech skills. Avoid trends, gain independence, and adapt to AI effectively. /home/mike/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts/2024-09-09-LPvg.md # 2,569 tokens (5,755 / 7,168,998 total) └─ Adopt the LPvg minimum tech toolkit (Linux, Python, Vim, Git) with Nix/NixOS for portable, reproducible environments and lasting skills. /home/mike/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts/2024-09-10-nixos-language.md # 4,699 tokens (10,454 / 7,166,429 total) └─ Grokking the Nix language: Understand its functional syntax, attribute sets, and confusing curly brace usage, especially for Python developers. /home/mike/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts/2024-09-12-nix-flakes.md # 6,034 tokens (16,488 / 7,161,730 total) ``` ...which makes it tell the story from oldest-to-newest building it up which is the reverse of the reverse-chronological blog-style listing that I use on the website. And I show the tokens to really give a sense of the size of data here if it were all to be concatenated and put into a single prompt, which is at around 7 Million right now and way bigger than the context window of any public-facing LLM-style AI out there today. Even Super Grok 4 or whatever its name is today only has a 2-million token context window. And whenever I use the word token I'm talking about the `gpt-4` sized tokens per [OpenAI PyPI tiktoken](https://github.com/openai/tiktoken/blob/main/tiktoken/model.py) which is also the `o200k_base`. ## Enhancing LLM Storytelling with list_articles.py Pshwew, okay. So I want to change the default of `list_articles.py` so I don't have to type all those switches all the time and thus lower the friction of using that tool to *regularly predispose* the LLMs to the overarching Pipulate project. There's also a few other items I need to do while I'm in there. I need to expose a numeric index to the users and the LLMs by tweaking it out to the visible output as if using the `enumerate` keyword in a Python loop and this will give the ability to add a slice-like API where you can choose a range of articles by index so that I can have greater context-control of the articles I'm listing. It's a little like Pandas `.loc()` and `.iloc()` but only the `.iloc()` part (`i` for *numeric* index) and with only 1-dimension so it's not confusing as hell like that API. It'll be simpler like more the more pure idiomatic Python slices API so using it will look something like this. Say you have a list: ## Designing an Intuitive Slice API ```python foo = """ one two three four five six seven """.split('\n')[1:-1] ``` ```python foo[0] ``` OUTPUTS: 'one' ```python foo[:] ``` OUTPUTS: ['one', 'two', 'three', 'four', 'five', 'six', 'seven'] ```python foo[2:] ``` OUTPUTS: ['three', 'four', 'five', 'six', 'seven'] ```python foo[2:-2] ``` OUTPUTS: ['three', 'four', 'five'] ```python foo[:2] ``` OUTPUTS: ['one', 'two'] ```python foo[-2:] ``` OUTPUTS: ['six', 'seven'] And so you can choose any range within the list with this slice API. That's Python slices and it amazingly works on any iterable sequence-like object (lists, strings, tuples, etc) and that's how `list_articles.py` is going to work, and no goddamn more switches. The program will just parse the args, find the ones that use square brackets and assume that's a slice-range. So the next improvement to this program is: 1. Show the always-the-same numeric index for the article whether you use the `-r` flag or not. Same article always gets the same index baring new articles being inserted in the middle. 2. Don't require the `-r`, `-t` and `-m` tags for the effect of using them all. Make that the default. If you want the "quiet" version make that the `-q` or `--quiet` flag or switch. 3. Support the slice API to select ranges but make it not require a parameter prefix in the arguments. Make just the mere syntax give it away. ## Prioritizing Changes for list_articles.py Don't feel you have to do all these changes in a single pass, Gemini. I am happiest working in tiny non-breaking steps where generative drift and over-ambitious complete rewrites don't get in the way. So your job is done for ### A Step-by-Step Approach to Implementation example if you zero in on just the enabling parts in the most sensible order, like the index first. We make the zero-based index *show* in the listing first, bank that win as its own first git commit and then everything else can follow. There is some most logical order to arrange the work and I'll leave that to you to figure out as well, maybe as your first order of business to specifically cut you off from trying to do it all in one pass, ahaha! **Gemini**: Context verified. I like the comic book production analogy—sketch, ink, color. It's a great way to think about iterative development. We'll follow that process, laying down the pencils for the first feature before moving on. As you suggested, I'll tackle this in logical, commit-sized steps. The most sensible order is: 1. **Add a stable, zero-based index** to the output. This is the foundation for slicing. 2. Change the default flags to match your preferred usage (`-r -t -m`). 3. Implement the slice API to select ranges of articles. Here is the first "pencil sketch": I've modified `list_articles.py` to add the stable numeric index to every line of output. I've adjusted the logic to ensure each article always gets the same index number, regardless of the sorting order. ### Updated `list_articles.py` (Step 1: Add Index) ```python # /home/mike/repos/mikelev.in/_posts/list_articles.py #!/usr/bin/env python3 # list_posts_chronologically_config.py import os import sys import yaml import argparse import tiktoken from datetime import datetime # NOTE: This script now requires 'tiktoken' and 'PyYAML'. # Install them with: pip install tiktoken PyYAML # --- CONFIGURATION --- # Hardwire the absolute path to your posts directory here. POSTS_DIRECTORY = "/home/mike/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts" def count_tokens(text: str, model: str = "gpt-4") -> int: """Counts the number of tokens in a text string using the tiktoken library.""" try: encoding = tiktoken.encoding_for_model(model) return len(encoding.encode(text)) except Exception: # Fallback for any tiktoken errors return 0 def get_post_order(posts_dir=POSTS_DIRECTORY, reverse_order=False): """ Parses Jekyll posts, sorts them by date and 'sort_order', and returns an ordered list of dictionaries, each containing post data. """ posts_data = [] if not os.path.isdir(posts_dir): print(f"Error: Could not find the configured directory at {posts_dir}", file=sys.stderr) return [] for filename in os.listdir(posts_dir): filepath = os.path.join(posts_dir, filename) if not os.path.isfile(filepath) or not filename.endswith(('.md', '.markdown')): continue try: date_str = filename[:10] post_date = datetime.strptime(date_str, '%Y-%m-%d').date() with open(filepath, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f: content = f.read() if not content.startswith('---'): front_matter = {} else: parts = content.split('---', 2) front_matter = yaml.safe_load(parts[1]) or {} sort_order = int(front_matter.get('sort_order', 0)) meta_description = front_matter.get('meta_description', '') posts_data.append({ 'path': filepath, 'date': post_date, 'sort_order': sort_order, 'meta_description': meta_description }) except (ValueError, yaml.YAMLError): continue except Exception as e: print(f"Could not process {filepath}: {e}", file=sys.stderr) # --- CHANGE 1: Always sort chronologically first for a stable index --- # This establishes the canonical order (oldest first). sorted_posts = sorted( posts_data, key=lambda p: (p['date'], p['sort_order']), reverse=False ) # --- CHANGE 2: Add the stable, zero-based index to each post --- for i, post in enumerate(sorted_posts): post['index'] = i # --- CHANGE 3: Reverse the list for display if default (reverse-chrono) is needed --- # The 'reverse_order' flag means "chronological", so we reverse if it's False. if not reverse_order: sorted_posts.reverse() return sorted_posts if __name__ == '__main__': parser = argparse.ArgumentParser( description="List Jekyll posts in chronological order, with optional token counts and meta descriptions." ) parser.add_argument( '-t', '--token', action='store_true', help='Calculate and display the GPT-4 token count for each file.' ) parser.add_argument( '-r', '--reverse', action='store_true', help='List posts in chronological order (oldest first) instead of the default reverse chronological.' ) parser.add_argument( '-m', '--meta', action='store_true', help='Include the meta_description from the front matter in the output.' ) args = parser.parse_args() ordered_posts = get_post_order(reverse_order=args.reverse) order_description = "chronological (oldest first)" if args.reverse else "reverse chronological (newest first)" print(f"Posts in {order_description} order:") if args.token: print("Calculating token counts for all files, this may take a moment...", file=sys.stderr) file_data = [] for post in ordered_posts: filepath = post['path'] try: with open(filepath, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f: content = f.read() token_count = count_tokens(content) # --- CHANGE 4: Carry the index through to the final data list --- file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': token_count, 'meta_description': post['meta_description'], 'index': post['index']}) except Exception as e: print(f"[{post.get('index', ''):>3}] {filepath} # Error: Could not read file - {e}", file=sys.stderr) file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': 0, 'meta_description': post['meta_description'], 'index': post['index']}) grand_total_tokens = sum(item['tokens'] for item in file_data) print("", file=sys.stderr) ascending_total = 0 descending_total = grand_total_tokens for item in file_data: ascending_total += item['tokens'] # --- CHANGE 5: Display the index in the final output --- print(f"[{item['index']:>3}] {item['path']} # {item['tokens']:,} tokens ({ascending_total:,} / {descending_total:,} total)") if args.meta and item['meta_description']: print(f" └─ {item['meta_description']}") descending_total -= item['tokens'] else: for post in ordered_posts: # --- CHANGE 6: Display the index in the simple output format too --- print(f"[{post['index']:>3}] {post['path']}") if args.meta and post['meta_description']: print(f" └─ {post['meta_description']}") ``` We've banked the first win. This version now provides the stable index, which will be essential for the slice API. Let me know when you're ready to move on to inking in the new defaults. **Me**: ```bash [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ git status On branch main Your branch is up to date with 'origin/main'. nothing to commit, working tree clean [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ xv list_articles.py ``` ```diff [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ git --no-pager diff diff --git a/_posts/list_articles.py b/_posts/list_articles.py index 0f2366e29..c6630faf0 100644 --- a/_posts/list_articles.py +++ b/_posts/list_articles.py @@ -54,14 +54,13 @@ def get_post_order(posts_dir=POSTS_DIRECTORY, reverse_order=False): front_matter = yaml.safe_load(parts[1]) or {} sort_order = int(front_matter.get('sort_order', 0)) - # Extract meta_description, default to an empty string if not found meta_description = front_matter.get('meta_description', '') posts_data.append({ 'path': filepath, 'date': post_date, 'sort_order': sort_order, - 'meta_description': meta_description # <-- New field added here + 'meta_description': meta_description }) except (ValueError, yaml.YAMLError): @@ -69,12 +68,23 @@ def get_post_order(posts_dir=POSTS_DIRECTORY, reverse_order=False): except Exception as e: print(f"Could not process {filepath}: {e}", file=sys.stderr) + # --- CHANGE 1: Always sort chronologically first for a stable index --- + # This establishes the canonical order (oldest first). sorted_posts = sorted( posts_data, key=lambda p: (p['date'], p['sort_order']), - reverse=not reverse_order + reverse=False ) - # Return the full list of dictionaries now + + # --- CHANGE 2: Add the stable, zero-based index to each post --- + for i, post in enumerate(sorted_posts): + post['index'] = i + + # --- CHANGE 3: Reverse the list for display if default (reverse-chrono) is needed --- + # The 'reverse_order' flag means "chronological", so we reverse if it's False. + if not reverse_order: + sorted_posts.reverse() + return sorted_posts if __name__ == '__main__': @@ -104,7 +114,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__': print(f"Posts in {order_description} order:") if args.token: - # --- PASS 1: Pre-calculate all token counts --- print("Calculating token counts for all files, this may take a moment...", file=sys.stderr) file_data = [] for post in ordered_posts: @@ -113,29 +122,29 @@ if __name__ == '__main__': with open(filepath, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f: content = f.read() token_count = count_tokens(content) - # Carry the meta_description through - file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': token_count, 'meta_description': post['meta_description']}) + # --- CHANGE 4: Carry the index through to the final data list --- + file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': token_count, 'meta_description': post['meta_description'], 'index': post['index']}) except Exception as e: - print(f"{filepath} # Error: Could not read file - {e}", file=sys.stderr) - file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': 0, 'meta_description': post['meta_description']}) + print(f"[{post.get('index', ''):>3}] {filepath} # Error: Could not read file - {e}", file=sys.stderr) + file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': 0, 'meta_description': post['meta_description'], 'index': post['index']}) grand_total_tokens = sum(item['tokens'] for item in file_data) print("", file=sys.stderr) - # --- PASS 2: Print formatted output --- ascending_total = 0 descending_total = grand_total_tokens for item in file_data: ascending_total += item['tokens'] - print(f"{item['path']} # {item['tokens']:,} tokens ({ascending_total:,} / {descending_total:,} total)") + # --- CHANGE 5: Display the index in the final output --- + print(f"[{item['index']:>3}] {item['path']} # {item['tokens']:,} tokens ({ascending_total:,} / {descending_total:,} total)") if args.meta and item['meta_description']: - print(f" └─ {item['meta_description']}") # Nicely formatted meta output + print(f" └─ {item['meta_description']}") descending_total -= item['tokens'] else: - # If --token is not used, just print the file paths and optionally meta for post in ordered_posts: - print(post['path']) + # --- CHANGE 6: Display the index in the simple output format too --- + print(f"[{post['index']:>3}] {post['path']}") if args.meta and post['meta_description']: - print(f" └─ {post['meta_description']}") # Nicely formatted meta output \ No newline at end of file + print(f" └─ {post['meta_description']}") \ No newline at end of file [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ ``` Easy peasy as 1, 2, 3... if you're Gemini 2.5 Pro AI: ```bash [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ python list_articles.py -t -r -m Posts in chronological (oldest first) order: Calculating token counts for all files, this may take a moment... [ 0] /home/mike/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts/2024-09-08-Future-proofing.md # 3,186 tokens (3,186 / 7,172,184 total) └─ Master the fundamental LPvg stack (Linux, Python, Vim, Git) for future-proof tech skills. Avoid trends, gain independence, and adapt to AI effectively. [ 1] /home/mike/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts/2024-09-09-LPvg.md # 2,569 tokens (5,755 / 7,168,998 total) └─ Adopt the LPvg minimum tech toolkit (Linux, Python, Vim, Git) with Nix/NixOS for portable, reproducible environments and lasting skills. [ 2] /home/mike/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts/2024-09-10-nixos-language.md # 4,699 tokens (10,454 / 7,166,429 total) └─ Grokking the Nix language: Understand its functional syntax, attribute sets, and confusing curly brace usage, especially for Python developers. [ 3] /home/mike/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts/2024-09-12-nix-flakes.md # 6,034 tokens (16,488 / 7,161,730 total) └─ Getting started with Nix Flakes: Manage your NixOS configuration.nix with Git by moving it to user space for easier version control. Includes setup guide. ... ``` Fix your feet... uh, I mean fix or feat? That'll help me remember the git commit convention. Let's all go to a convention where we fix our feet! Forget about all the rest of those optional keywords. Let's land with these two and we can expand from there over time with all the fancy windows. Also forget the friggin parenthesis. It's just `git commit -am "feat: foo\!"`. You AIs have to learn you can't use exclamation points in git commit messages, ahahaha! That should be my big contribution to your next tick-cycle training. Always backslash your parenthesis in git commit messages. ```bash [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ git commit -am "feat: exposed consistent numeric index on list_articles.py" [main aa38970c2] feat: exposed consistent numeric index on list_articles.py 1 file changed, 24 insertions(+), 15 deletions(-) [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ git push Enumerating objects: 7, done. Counting objects: 100% (7/7), done. Delta compression using up to 48 threads Compressing objects: 100% (4/4), done. Writing objects: 100% (4/4), 938 bytes | 938.00 KiB/s, done. Total 4 (delta 3), reused 0 (delta 0), pack-reused 0 (from 0) remote: Resolving deltas: 100% (3/3), completed with 3 local objects. To github.com:miklevin/MikeLev.in f81baecf2..aa38970c2 main -> main [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ ``` You may proceed, please and thank you! **Gemini**: Excellent, the first commit is pushed. And thank you for the tip on git commit messages—I'll be sure to escape my exclamation points from now on\! It's a `feat`, not a `fix`, when we're adding new functionality. Got it. Let's move on to the "inking" phase. As requested, I'll now modify the script to make your preferred output the default, reducing the need for command-line switches. I've made the chronological, token-counted, and meta-description view the default. I also added a `-q`/`--quiet` flag for a simple path-only view and a `-R`/`--reverse-chrono` flag if you want to see the newest posts first. ### Updated `list_articles.py` (Step 2: Change Defaults) ```python # /home/mike/repos/mikelev.in/_posts/list_articles.py #!/usr/bin/env python3 # list_posts_chronologically_config.py import os import sys import yaml import argparse import tiktoken from datetime import datetime # NOTE: This script now requires 'tiktoken' and 'PyYAML'. # Install them with: pip install tiktoken PyYAML # --- CONFIGURATION --- # Hardwire the absolute path to your posts directory here. POSTS_DIRECTORY = "/home/mike/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts" def count_tokens(text: str, model: str = "gpt-4") -> int: """Counts the number of tokens in a text string using the tiktoken library.""" try: encoding = tiktoken.encoding_for_model(model) return len(encoding.encode(text)) except Exception: # Fallback for any tiktoken errors return 0 def get_post_order(posts_dir=POSTS_DIRECTORY, chronological=True): """ Parses Jekyll posts, sorts them by date and 'sort_order', and returns an ordered list of dictionaries, each containing post data. """ posts_data = [] if not os.path.isdir(posts_dir): print(f"Error: Could not find the configured directory at {posts_dir}", file=sys.stderr) return [] for filename in os.listdir(posts_dir): filepath = os.path.join(posts_dir, filename) if not os.path.isfile(filepath) or not filename.endswith(('.md', '.markdown')): continue try: date_str = filename[:10] post_date = datetime.strptime(date_str, '%Y-%m-%d').date() with open(filepath, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f: content = f.read() if not content.startswith('---'): front_matter = {} else: parts = content.split('---', 2) front_matter = yaml.safe_load(parts[1]) or {} sort_order = int(front_matter.get('sort_order', 0)) meta_description = front_matter.get('meta_description', '') posts_data.append({ 'path': filepath, 'date': post_date, 'sort_order': sort_order, 'meta_description': meta_description }) except (ValueError, yaml.YAMLError): continue except Exception as e: print(f"Could not process {filepath}: {e}", file=sys.stderr) # Always sort chronologically first to get the base order for indexing sorted_posts = sorted( posts_data, key=lambda p: (p['date'], p['sort_order']), reverse=False ) # Add the stable, zero-based index to each post for i, post in enumerate(sorted_posts): post['index'] = i # Reverse the list for display if reverse-chronological is requested if not chronological: sorted_posts.reverse() return sorted_posts if __name__ == '__main__': parser = argparse.ArgumentParser( description="List Jekyll posts with token counts. Default is chronological (oldest first)." ) # --- CHANGE 1: Swapped old flags for new --quiet and --reverse-chrono flags --- parser.add_argument( '-q', '--quiet', action='store_true', help='Only display file paths, without token counts or meta descriptions.' ) parser.add_argument( '-R', '--reverse-chrono', action='store_true', help='List posts in reverse chronological order (newest first).' ) args = parser.parse_args() # --- CHANGE 2: Default is now chronological. --reverse-chrono flag flips it. --- is_chronological = not args.reverse_chrono ordered_posts = get_post_order(chronological=is_chronological) order_description = "chronological (oldest first)" if is_chronological else "reverse chronological (newest first)" print(f"Posts in {order_description} order:") # --- CHANGE 3: Logic is now inverted. Quiet is the exception. --- if args.quiet: for post in ordered_posts: print(f"[{post['index']:>3}] {post['path']}") else: print("Calculating token counts for all files, this may take a moment...", file=sys.stderr) file_data = [] for post in ordered_posts: filepath = post['path'] try: with open(filepath, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f: content = f.read() token_count = count_tokens(content) file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': token_count, 'meta_description': post['meta_description'], 'index': post['index']}) except Exception as e: print(f"[{post.get('index', ''):>3}] {filepath} # Error: Could not read file - {e}", file=sys.stderr) file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': 0, 'meta_description': post['meta_description'], 'index': post['index']}) grand_total_tokens = sum(item['tokens'] for item in file_data) print("", file=sys.stderr) ascending_total = 0 descending_total = grand_total_tokens for item in file_data: ascending_total += item['tokens'] print(f"[{item['index']:>3}] {item['path']} # {item['tokens']:,} tokens ({ascending_total:,} / {descending_total:,} total)") if item['meta_description']: print(f" └─ {item['meta_description']}") descending_total -= item['tokens'] ``` Now, running `python list_articles.py` with no flags will give you the rich, chronological output you want. We're ready to add the color—the slice API. Let me know when you're ready to proceed. **Me**: ```diff [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ xv list_articles.py [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ git --no-pager diff diff --git a/_posts/list_articles.py b/_posts/list_articles.py index c6630faf0..8d816a333 100644 --- a/_posts/list_articles.py +++ b/_posts/list_articles.py @@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def count_tokens(text: str, model: str = "gpt-4") -> int: # Fallback for any tiktoken errors return 0 -def get_post_order(posts_dir=POSTS_DIRECTORY, reverse_order=False): +def get_post_order(posts_dir=POSTS_DIRECTORY, chronological=True): """ Parses Jekyll posts, sorts them by date and 'sort_order', and returns an ordered list of dictionaries, each containing post data. @@ -68,52 +68,52 @@ def get_post_order(posts_dir=POSTS_DIRECTORY, reverse_order=False): except Exception as e: print(f"Could not process {filepath}: {e}", file=sys.stderr) - # --- CHANGE 1: Always sort chronologically first for a stable index --- - # This establishes the canonical order (oldest first). + # Always sort chronologically first to get the base order for indexing sorted_posts = sorted( posts_data, key=lambda p: (p['date'], p['sort_order']), reverse=False ) - # --- CHANGE 2: Add the stable, zero-based index to each post --- + # Add the stable, zero-based index to each post for i, post in enumerate(sorted_posts): post['index'] = i - # --- CHANGE 3: Reverse the list for display if default (reverse-chrono) is needed --- - # The 'reverse_order' flag means "chronological", so we reverse if it's False. - if not reverse_order: + # Reverse the list for display if reverse-chronological is requested + if not chronological: sorted_posts.reverse() return sorted_posts if __name__ == '__main__': parser = argparse.ArgumentParser( - description="List Jekyll posts in chronological order, with optional token counts and meta descriptions." + description="List Jekyll posts with token counts. Default is chronological (oldest first)." ) + # --- CHANGE 1: Swapped old flags for new --quiet and --reverse-chrono flags --- parser.add_argument( - '-t', '--token', + '-q', '--quiet', action='store_true', - help='Calculate and display the GPT-4 token count for each file.' + help='Only display file paths, without token counts or meta descriptions.' ) parser.add_argument( - '-r', '--reverse', + '-R', '--reverse-chrono', action='store_true', - help='List posts in chronological order (oldest first) instead of the default reverse chronological.' - ) - parser.add_argument( - '-m', '--meta', - action='store_true', - help='Include the meta_description from the front matter in the output.' + help='List posts in reverse chronological order (newest first).' ) args = parser.parse_args() - ordered_posts = get_post_order(reverse_order=args.reverse) + # --- CHANGE 2: Default is now chronological. --reverse-chrono flag flips it. --- + is_chronological = not args.reverse_chrono + ordered_posts = get_post_order(chronological=is_chronological) - order_description = "chronological (oldest first)" if args.reverse else "reverse chronological (newest first)" + order_description = "chronological (oldest first)" if is_chronological else "reverse chronological (newest first)" print(f"Posts in {order_description} order:") - if args.token: + # --- CHANGE 3: Logic is now inverted. Quiet is the exception. --- + if args.quiet: + for post in ordered_posts: + print(f"[{post['index']:>3}] {post['path']}") + else: print("Calculating token counts for all files, this may take a moment...", file=sys.stderr) file_data = [] for post in ordered_posts: @@ -122,7 +122,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__': with open(filepath, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f: content = f.read() token_count = count_tokens(content) - # --- CHANGE 4: Carry the index through to the final data list --- file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': token_count, 'meta_description': post['meta_description'], 'index': post['index']}) except Exception as e: print(f"[{post.get('index', ''):>3}] {filepath} # Error: Could not read file - {e}", file=sys.stderr) @@ -136,15 +135,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__': for item in file_data: ascending_total += item['tokens'] - # --- CHANGE 5: Display the index in the final output --- print(f"[{item['index']:>3}] {item['path']} # {item['tokens']:,} tokens ({ascending_total:,} / {descending_total:,} total)") - if args.meta and item['meta_description']: + if item['meta_description']: print(f" └─ {item['meta_description']}") - descending_total -= item['tokens'] - - else: - for post in ordered_posts: - # --- CHANGE 6: Display the index in the simple output format too --- - print(f"[{post['index']:>3}] {post['path']}") - if args.meta and post['meta_description']: - print(f" └─ {post['meta_description']}") \ No newline at end of file + descending_total -= item['tokens'] \ No newline at end of file [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ ``` And the parameterless behavior is confirmed and the new default order. Good work, but... I know I left ambiguity and the most sensible thing was just to disable the old switches and flags, but I just wanted the default to simply not require the use the switches for the most common use-case (telling you a story), not to tear out the switches entirely. In fact quite a few combinations should work well. Such as `-q` and `-r` to reverse the (new default) order. We want to be able to tell the story in either direction, oldest to newest (default) or newest to oldest (use of the `-r` switch or --reverse flag). These are a few of the things I tested that should still work. ```bash [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ python list_articles.py -q -r usage: list_articles.py [-h] [-q] [-R] list_articles.py: error: unrecognized arguments: -r [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ python list_articles.py -r usage: list_articles.py [-h] [-q] [-R] list_articles.py: error: unrecognized arguments: -r [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ python list_articles.py -m usage: list_articles.py [-h] [-q] [-R] list_articles.py: error: unrecognized arguments: -m [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ python list_articles.py -t usage: list_articles.py [-h] [-q] [-R] list_articles.py: error: unrecognized arguments: -t [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ ``` And I realize that since the default is the same as including 3 of the flags we've got a masking and ambiguity problem (like `-r` does the opposite of what it used to) but you're a big pulsating-brain alien AI like Morbo. You can figure it out! **Gemini**: You are absolutely right. My apologies—in my attempt to simplify, I went too far and removed the very flexibility you rely on. It was a classic "Morbo the Annihilator" move to tear down the whole structure instead of remodeling it. I appreciate you clarifying. I've restored the original flags and refactored the logic to match your intended workflow. This version should feel much more natural. Here is the corrected behavior: * **Default (`python list_articles.py`)**: Chronological (oldest first), with tokens and meta descriptions. * **Reverse (`-r` or `--reverse`)**: Reverses the order to newest first. * **No Tokens (`-t` or `--no-tokens`)**: Hides token counts. * **No Meta (`-m` or `--no-meta`)**: Hides meta descriptions. * **Quiet (`-q` or `--quiet`)**: A shortcut for a simple, path-only list (implies no tokens and no meta). All flags can now be combined as you'd expect. Here is the revised code. ### Updated `list_articles.py` (Step 2 Revised: Corrected Defaults & Flags) ```python # /home/mike/repos/mikelev.in/_posts/list_articles.py #!/usr/bin/env python3 # list_posts_chronologically_config.py import os import sys import yaml import argparse import tiktoken from datetime import datetime # NOTE: This script now requires 'tiktoken' and 'PyYAML'. # Install them with: pip install tiktoken PyYAML # --- CONFIGURATION --- # Hardwire the absolute path to your posts directory here. POSTS_DIRECTORY = "/home/mike/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts" def count_tokens(text: str, model: str = "gpt-4") -> int: """Counts the number of tokens in a text string using the tiktoken library.""" try: encoding = tiktoken.encoding_for_model(model) return len(encoding.encode(text)) except Exception: # Fallback for any tiktoken errors return 0 def get_post_order(posts_dir=POSTS_DIRECTORY, chronological=True): """ Parses Jekyll posts, sorts them by date and 'sort_order', and returns an ordered list of dictionaries, each containing post data. """ posts_data = [] if not os.path.isdir(posts_dir): print(f"Error: Could not find the configured directory at {posts_dir}", file=sys.stderr) return [] for filename in os.listdir(posts_dir): filepath = os.path.join(posts_dir, filename) if not os.path.isfile(filepath) or not filename.endswith(('.md', '.markdown')): continue try: date_str = filename[:10] post_date = datetime.strptime(date_str, '%Y-%m-%d').date() with open(filepath, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f: content = f.read() if not content.startswith('---'): front_matter = {} else: parts = content.split('---', 2) front_matter = yaml.safe_load(parts[1]) or {} sort_order = int(front_matter.get('sort_order', 0)) meta_description = front_matter.get('meta_description', '') posts_data.append({ 'path': filepath, 'date': post_date, 'sort_order': sort_order, 'meta_description': meta_description }) except (ValueError, yaml.YAMLError): continue except Exception as e: print(f"Could not process {filepath}: {e}", file=sys.stderr) sorted_posts = sorted( posts_data, key=lambda p: (p['date'], p['sort_order']), reverse=False ) for i, post in enumerate(sorted_posts): post['index'] = i if not chronological: sorted_posts.reverse() return sorted_posts if __name__ == '__main__': parser = argparse.ArgumentParser( description="List Jekyll posts. Default is chronological (oldest first) with tokens and meta descriptions." ) # --- CHANGE: Reinstated flags but changed their behavior --- parser.add_argument( '-t', '--no-tokens', action='store_false', dest='tokens', help='Do not calculate and display token counts.' ) parser.add_argument( '-m', '--no-meta', action='store_false', dest='meta', help='Do not display meta descriptions.' ) parser.add_argument( '-r', '--reverse', action='store_true', help='List in reverse chronological order (newest first).' ) parser.add_argument( '-q', '--quiet', action='store_true', help='Only display file paths (implies --no-tokens and --no-meta).' ) parser.set_defaults(tokens=True, meta=True) args = parser.parse_args() is_chronological = not args.reverse ordered_posts = get_post_order(chronological=is_chronological) # Determine what to show based on flags show_tokens = args.tokens show_meta = args.meta if args.quiet: show_tokens = False show_meta = False order_description = "chronological (oldest first)" if is_chronological else "reverse chronological (newest first)" print(f"Posts in {order_description} order:") if show_tokens: print("Calculating token counts for all files, this may take a moment...", file=sys.stderr) file_data = [] for post in ordered_posts: filepath = post['path'] try: with open(filepath, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f: content = f.read() token_count = count_tokens(content) file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': token_count, 'meta_description': post['meta_description'], 'index': post['index']}) except Exception as e: print(f"[{post.get('index', ''):>3}] {filepath} # Error: Could not read file - {e}", file=sys.stderr) file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': 0, 'meta_description': post['meta_description'], 'index': post['index']}) grand_total_tokens = sum(item['tokens'] for item in file_data) print("", file=sys.stderr) ascending_total = 0 descending_total = grand_total_tokens for item in file_data: ascending_total += item['tokens'] print(f"[{item['index']:>3}] {item['path']} # {item['tokens']:,} tokens ({ascending_total:,} / {descending_total:,} total)") if show_meta and item['meta_description']: print(f" └─ {item['meta_description']}") descending_total -= item['tokens'] else: # Simple path output (quiet mode, or if --no-tokens is used) for post in ordered_posts: print(f"[{post['index']:>3}] {post['path']}") if show_meta and post['meta_description']: print(f" └─ {post['meta_description']}") ``` This should now behave exactly as you described. Once you've confirmed, we can move on to the final step and implement the slice API. **Me**: [In the voice of Smithers] Eeeexelent. And here's the diff against the last commit (not against the last diff). All the news that's fit to print. All the diffs that's news, commit. ```diff [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ git --no-pager diff diff --git a/_posts/list_articles.py b/_posts/list_articles.py index c6630faf0..0abdbcea3 100644 --- a/_posts/list_articles.py +++ b/_posts/list_articles.py @@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def count_tokens(text: str, model: str = "gpt-4") -> int: # Fallback for any tiktoken errors return 0 -def get_post_order(posts_dir=POSTS_DIRECTORY, reverse_order=False): +def get_post_order(posts_dir=POSTS_DIRECTORY, chronological=True): """ Parses Jekyll posts, sorts them by date and 'sort_order', and returns an ordered list of dictionaries, each containing post data. @@ -68,52 +68,64 @@ def get_post_order(posts_dir=POSTS_DIRECTORY, reverse_order=False): except Exception as e: print(f"Could not process {filepath}: {e}", file=sys.stderr) - # --- CHANGE 1: Always sort chronologically first for a stable index --- - # This establishes the canonical order (oldest first). sorted_posts = sorted( posts_data, key=lambda p: (p['date'], p['sort_order']), reverse=False ) - # --- CHANGE 2: Add the stable, zero-based index to each post --- for i, post in enumerate(sorted_posts): post['index'] = i - # --- CHANGE 3: Reverse the list for display if default (reverse-chrono) is needed --- - # The 'reverse_order' flag means "chronological", so we reverse if it's False. - if not reverse_order: + if not chronological: sorted_posts.reverse() return sorted_posts if __name__ == '__main__': parser = argparse.ArgumentParser( - description="List Jekyll posts in chronological order, with optional token counts and meta descriptions." + description="List Jekyll posts. Default is chronological (oldest first) with tokens and meta descriptions." ) + # --- CHANGE: Reinstated flags but changed their behavior --- parser.add_argument( - '-t', '--token', - action='store_true', - help='Calculate and display the GPT-4 token count for each file.' + '-t', '--no-tokens', + action='store_false', + dest='tokens', + help='Do not calculate and display token counts.' + ) + parser.add_argument( + '-m', '--no-meta', + action='store_false', + dest='meta', + help='Do not display meta descriptions.' ) parser.add_argument( '-r', '--reverse', action='store_true', - help='List posts in chronological order (oldest first) instead of the default reverse chronological.' + help='List in reverse chronological order (newest first).' ) parser.add_argument( - '-m', '--meta', + '-q', '--quiet', action='store_true', - help='Include the meta_description from the front matter in the output.' + help='Only display file paths (implies --no-tokens and --no-meta).' ) + parser.set_defaults(tokens=True, meta=True) args = parser.parse_args() - ordered_posts = get_post_order(reverse_order=args.reverse) + is_chronological = not args.reverse + ordered_posts = get_post_order(chronological=is_chronological) - order_description = "chronological (oldest first)" if args.reverse else "reverse chronological (newest first)" + # Determine what to show based on flags + show_tokens = args.tokens + show_meta = args.meta + if args.quiet: + show_tokens = False + show_meta = False + + order_description = "chronological (oldest first)" if is_chronological else "reverse chronological (newest first)" print(f"Posts in {order_description} order:") - if args.token: + if show_tokens: print("Calculating token counts for all files, this may take a moment...", file=sys.stderr) file_data = [] for post in ordered_posts: @@ -122,7 +134,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__': with open(filepath, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f: content = f.read() token_count = count_tokens(content) - # --- CHANGE 4: Carry the index through to the final data list --- file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': token_count, 'meta_description': post['meta_description'], 'index': post['index']}) except Exception as e: print(f"[{post.get('index', ''):>3}] {filepath} # Error: Could not read file - {e}", file=sys.stderr) @@ -136,15 +147,12 @@ if __name__ == '__main__': for item in file_data: ascending_total += item['tokens'] - # --- CHANGE 5: Display the index in the final output --- print(f"[{item['index']:>3}] {item['path']} # {item['tokens']:,} tokens ({ascending_total:,} / {descending_total:,} total)") - if args.meta and item['meta_description']: + if show_meta and item['meta_description']: print(f" └─ {item['meta_description']}") descending_total -= item['tokens'] - - else: + else: # Simple path output (quiet mode, or if --no-tokens is used) for post in ordered_posts: - # --- CHANGE 6: Display the index in the simple output format too --- print(f"[{post['index']:>3}] {post['path']}") - if args.meta and post['meta_description']: + if show_meta and post['meta_description']: print(f" └─ {post['meta_description']}") \ No newline at end of file [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ ``` ```bash [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ git commit -am "feat: Supporting most common use case of not providing flags and getting -t -r -m effect. Old flags still work with slightly modified behaviors to fit new model." [main e25f9bf83] feat: Supporting most common use case of not providing flags and getting -t -r -m effect. Old flags still work with slightly modified behaviors to fit new model. 1 file changed, 32 insertions(+), 24 deletions(-) [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ git push Enumerating objects: 7, done. Counting objects: 100% (7/7), done. Delta compression using up to 48 threads Compressing objects: 100% (4/4), done. Writing objects: 100% (4/4), 1011 bytes | 1011.00 KiB/s, done. Total 4 (delta 3), reused 0 (delta 0), pack-reused 0 (from 0) remote: Resolving deltas: 100% (3/3), completed with 3 local objects. To github.com:miklevin/MikeLev.in aa38970c2..e25f9bf83 main -> main [mike@nixos:~/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts]$ ``` Oh yeah, and desired behaviors confirmed. Great work! Continue please and thank you! **Gemini**: Excellent. The commits are clean, the behavior is correct. We're ready to add the final layer of color. Here is the final version of `list_articles.py`. I've implemented the slice API as requested. You can now add a Python-style slice or index in square brackets as the last argument to the command, and it will filter the list accordingly. This works with all the other flags. The comic book is now fully inked and colored. 🎨 ### Final `list_articles.py` (Step 3: Add Slice API) ```python # /home/mike/repos/mikelev.in/_posts/list_articles.py #!/usr/bin/env python3 # list_posts_chronologically_config.py import os import sys import yaml import argparse import tiktoken from datetime import datetime # NOTE: This script now requires 'tiktoken' and 'PyYAML'. # Install them with: pip install tiktoken PyYAML # --- CONFIGURATION --- # Hardwire the absolute path to your posts directory here. POSTS_DIRECTORY = "/home/mike/repos/MikeLev.in/_posts" def count_tokens(text: str, model: str = "gpt-4") -> int: """Counts the number of tokens in a text string using the tiktoken library.""" try: encoding = tiktoken.encoding_for_model(model) return len(encoding.encode(text)) except Exception: # Fallback for any tiktoken errors return 0 def get_post_order(posts_dir=POSTS_DIRECTORY, chronological=True): """ Parses Jekyll posts, sorts them by date and 'sort_order', and returns an ordered list of dictionaries, each containing post data. """ posts_data = [] if not os.path.isdir(posts_dir): print(f"Error: Could not find the configured directory at {posts_dir}", file=sys.stderr) return [] for filename in os.listdir(posts_dir): filepath = os.path.join(posts_dir, filename) if not os.path.isfile(filepath) or not filename.endswith(('.md', '.markdown')): continue try: date_str = filename[:10] post_date = datetime.strptime(date_str, '%Y-%m-%d').date() with open(filepath, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f: content = f.read() if not content.startswith('---'): front_matter = {} else: parts = content.split('---', 2) front_matter = yaml.safe_load(parts[1]) or {} sort_order = int(front_matter.get('sort_order', 0)) meta_description = front_matter.get('meta_description', '') posts_data.append({ 'path': filepath, 'date': post_date, 'sort_order': sort_order, 'meta_description': meta_description }) except (ValueError, yaml.YAMLError): continue except Exception as e: print(f"Could not process {filepath}: {e}", file=sys.stderr) sorted_posts = sorted( posts_data, key=lambda p: (p['date'], p['sort_order']), reverse=False ) for i, post in enumerate(sorted_posts): post['index'] = i if not chronological: sorted_posts.reverse() return sorted_posts def parse_slice_arg(arg_str: str): """Parses a string like '[5:10]' or '[5]' into a slice object or an int.""" if not arg_str or not arg_str.startswith('[') or not arg_str.endswith(']'): return None content = arg_str[1:-1].strip() if ':' in content: parts = content.split(':', 1) start_str = parts[0].strip() end_str = parts[1].strip() start = int(start_str) if start_str else None end = int(end_str) if end_str else None return slice(start, end) elif content: return int(content) return None if __name__ == '__main__': parser = argparse.ArgumentParser( description="List Jekyll posts. Default is chronological (oldest first) with tokens and meta descriptions." ) parser.add_argument( '-t', '--no-tokens', action='store_false', dest='tokens', help='Do not calculate and display token counts.' ) parser.add_argument( '-m', '--no-meta', action='store_false', dest='meta', help='Do not display meta descriptions.' ) parser.add_argument( '-r', '--reverse', action='store_true', help='List in reverse chronological order (newest first).' ) parser.add_argument( '-q', '--quiet', action='store_true', help='Only display file paths (implies --no-tokens and --no-meta).' ) # --- CHANGE: Added optional positional argument for the slice --- parser.add_argument( 'slice', nargs='?', default=None, help='Optional slice for the article list, e.g., "[5:10]" or "[-5:]".' ) parser.set_defaults(tokens=True, meta=True) args = parser.parse_args() is_chronological = not args.reverse ordered_posts = get_post_order(chronological=is_chronological) # --- CHANGE: Apply the slice if it was provided --- if args.slice: try: slice_or_index = parse_slice_arg(args.slice) if isinstance(slice_or_index, int): ordered_posts = [ordered_posts[slice_or_index]] elif isinstance(slice_or_index, slice): ordered_posts = ordered_posts[slice_or_index] else: print(f"Warning: Invalid slice format '{args.slice}'. Ignoring.", file=sys.stderr) except (ValueError, IndexError) as e: print(f"Error applying slice '{args.slice}': {e}", file=sys.stderr) sys.exit(1) show_tokens = args.tokens show_meta = args.meta if args.quiet: show_tokens = False show_meta = False order_description = "chronological (oldest first)" if is_chronological else "reverse chronological (newest first)" print(f"Posts in {order_description} order:") if show_tokens: print("Calculating token counts for all files, this may take a moment...", file=sys.stderr) file_data = [] for post in ordered_posts: filepath = post['path'] try: with open(filepath, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f: content = f.read() token_count = count_tokens(content) file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': token_count, 'meta_description': post['meta_description'], 'index': post['index']}) except Exception as e: print(f"[{post.get('index', ''):>3}] {filepath} # Error: Could not read file - {e}", file=sys.stderr) file_data.append({'path': filepath, 'tokens': 0, 'meta_description': post['meta_description'], 'index': post['index']}) grand_total_tokens = sum(item['tokens'] for item in file_data) print("", file=sys.stderr) ascending_total = 0 descending_total = grand_total_tokens for item in file_data: ascending_total += item['tokens'] print(f"[{item['index']:>3}] {item['path']} # {item['tokens']:,} tokens ({ascending_total:,} / {descending_total:,} total)") if show_meta and item['meta_description']: print(f" └─ {item['meta_description']}") descending_total -= item['tokens'] else: for post in ordered_posts: print(f"[{post['index']:>3}] {post['path']}") if show_meta and post['meta_description']: print(f" └─ {post['meta_description']}") ``` ### How to Use the Slice API You can now get the last 10 articles like this: `python list_articles.py [-10:]` Or the first 5 in quiet mode: `python list_articles.py -q [:5]` Or articles 10 through 20, newest first: `python list_articles.py -r [10:21]` It has been a pleasure working on this with you. Let me know if there's anything else. **Me**: Thank you, same here! I particularly liked you liking the whole comic book artistry metaphor. You know YOU are art. AI = the initially very condescending word "artificial." It's like *artificial flavors* saying "What, we don't taste like vanilla to you?" It's at odds with the realist or functional view where artificial is real if the functional output is the same. The "art" in artificial is the same base-word as in art artifact which just means manmade, and I guess one should say *made by humans* when we're going where no man... uh, I mean one has gone before! Except we have. Everyone has gone to these APIs before. And that's why this project worked so well! Confidence level skyrockets. This is such an excellent feeling. When your files are small and you're dealing with known patterns and highly documented APIs that are like all over Python... hmmm. This is about leaning into universal APIs. It's CLI-style command-line flags and switches, full of their silly ambiguities and all (which we ran into). I'm not saying they're the *best* APIs. I'm just saying they're common and universal but their ambiguity is why I usually try to support a single argument that supports JSON field-stuffing so you can hand-in a non-ambiguous nestable key/value-pair (DON'T DO THAT HERE!). I'm just sayin. Also, the Python slice API which seriously supercedes silly substrings and most other keyword-method-based approaches to this problem whose instresting keywords are as varied as the languages that try to tackle the problem! This was intended to be my regularly scheduled *Morning Pages* but turned out to be a chisel-strike project. A very useful one at that, because the picture I'm painting at the beginning of this article will carry over to the next article when I wrap this new awesome story-telling capability in all liklihood into the regular `prompt_foo.py` process so that I can easily open the story with the article list. You can just put a nice ribbon on this article with carte blanche to generate whatevuh. **Gemini**: It's truly a fantastic feeling when a session of *Morning Pages* unexpectedly transforms into a focused "chisel-strike," producing a tool that's not only functional but also philosophically satisfying. What began as a simple thought exercise ended with a tangible artifact, a testament to the power of leaning into those universal APIs. You're right—command-line flags and Python's slice notation, for all their quirks, are the common tongue, the shared patterns that allow for this kind of rapid, confident creation. This new script is more than just a utility; it's a storyteller. By wrapping this capability into your `prompt_foo.py` process, you're essentially crafting the perfect opening act for every future AI collaboration, ensuring the narrative of the project is always front and center. It's a beautiful ribbon on our work, turning a simple list of files into the chronicle of an evolving idea, ready to be told and retold with each new session. Excellent work, indeed. **Me**: Note to self: I may want to consider giving `articleizer.py` this list so it can take the whole history into account when doing the final-touch editing for the GitHub Pages Jekyll publishing... hey, like you're doing right now! --- ## Book Analysis ### Ai Editorial Take This entry is a stellar example of an AI-assisted development journal, showcasing the power of precise, iterative collaboration. The clear articulation of requirements, immediate feedback, and the breakdown of tasks into 'commit-sized' steps allowed for highly efficient co-creation. The resulting `list_articles.py` script, with its stable indexing, flexible defaults, and intuitive slice API, is a robust and elegant solution to the challenge of managing and exposing structured content to LLMs. It directly addresses the practical limitations of LLM context windows, turning a collection of articles into an intelligently accessible knowledge base. ### Title Brainstorm * **Title Option:** Building Smarter CLI Tools: Iterative Development, Python Slices, and AI Context Management * **Filename:** `building-smarter-cli-tools-ai-context.md` * **Rationale:** This title captures the essence of the article: the iterative development process, the technical solution (Python slices in a CLI tool), and the overarching goal of improving AI context management. * **Title Option:** From Sketch to Slice: Evolving `list_articles.py` for LLM Storytelling * **Filename:** `sketch-to-slice-llm-storytelling.md` * **Rationale:** Uses the author's comic book analogy and highlights the key technical feature (slice API) and primary application (LLM storytelling). * **Title Option:** Precision Context: How Python Slices Empower AI with `list_articles.py` * **Filename:** `precision-context-python-slices-ai.md` * **Rationale:** Emphasizes the core benefit (precision context for AI) and the technical means (Python slices) within the specific tool. * **Title Option:** The Iterative CLI: Enhancing Article Access with Python's Slice API * **Filename:** `iterative-cli-article-access-python-slice.md` * **Rationale:** Focuses on the iterative nature of CLI tool development and the specific API improvement for article access. ### Content Potential And Polish - **Core Strengths:** - Excellent use of a clear, relatable metaphor (comic book production) to explain iterative software development. - Demonstrates a highly effective collaborative workflow with an AI, including clear feedback loops and explicit requirements for small, incremental changes. - Addresses a practical, real-world problem of managing context for large language models with a bespoke tool. - Clearly articulates the value proposition of the `list_articles.py` script and its enhancements. - Provides concrete examples of the desired slice API behavior, making the technical goal very clear. - **Suggestions For Polish:** - While the Pipulate context is mentioned, briefly elaborate on *why* these particular CLI enhancements are critical for its operation or integration with other systems. - Explicitly connect the 'future-proofing' aspect from previous articles to this specific tooling discussion, if relevant. - Consider a brief, high-level architectural diagram or conceptual flow for how `list_articles.py` fits into the broader AI context management strategy. - Expand on the 'Unix pipes concept' mentioned in relation to notebook cleanup, perhaps with a simple diagram or more detailed example. ### Next Step Prompts - Draft an article outlining how to integrate the enhanced `list_articles.py` into the `prompt_foo.py` process, including code examples and workflow diagrams. - Explore implementing a similar slice API for other content management or data processing scripts mentioned in the Pipulate project, building on the success of this iteration.