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Zai Cli

CommunityPopular
numman-ali
zai-cli

Z.AI CLI providing: - Vision: image/video analysis, OCR, UI-to-code, error diagnosis (GLM-4.6V) - Search: real-time web search with domain/recency filtering - Reader: web page to markdown extraction - Repo: GitHub code search and reading via ZRead - Tools: MCP tool discovery and raw calls - Code: TypeScript tool chaining Use for visual content analysis, web search, page reading, or GitHub exploration. Requires Z_AI_API_KEY.

Overview

Publishernumman-ali
Repositoryn-skills
Skill namezai-cli
Stars
1.1K
Forks
109
Bundled files
1
LicenseApache-2.0
Links
  • Markdown instructions

    A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.

  • Works with any LLM

    AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.

  • 1 bundled files

    Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.

  • Open source

    Published by numman-ali on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Zai Cli AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

1

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
    https://github.com/numman-ali/n-skills/tree/main/skills/tools/zai-cli/skills/zai-cli
  4. Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.
Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.
2

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/numman-ali/n-skills.git /tmp/n-skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/n-skills/skills/tools/zai-cli/skills/zai-cli .claude/skills/zai-cli
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Zai Cli in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Zai Cli on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Zai Cli is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

  • Loaded only when it is needed

    The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.

  • Switch models mid-chat

    Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

ZAI CLI

Access Z.AI capabilities via npx zai-cli. The CLI is self-documenting - use --help at any level.

Setup

bash
export Z_AI_API_KEY="your-api-key"

Get a key at: https://z.ai/manage-apikey/apikey-list

Commands

CommandPurposeHelp
visionAnalyze images, screenshots, videos--help for 8 subcommands
searchReal-time web search--help for filtering options
readFetch web pages as markdown--help for format options
repoGitHub code search and reading--help for tree/search/read
toolsList available MCP tools
toolShow tool schema
callRaw MCP tool invocation
codeTypeScript tool chaining
doctorCheck setup and connectivity

Quick Start

bash
# Analyze an image
npx zai-cli vision analyze ./screenshot.png "What errors do you see?"

# Search the web
npx zai-cli search "React 19 new features" --count 5

# Read a web page
npx zai-cli read https://docs.example.com/api
npx zai-cli read https://docs.example.com/api --with-images-summary --no-gfm

# Explore a GitHub repo
npx zai-cli repo search facebook/react "server components"
npx zai-cli repo search openai/codex "config" --language en
npx zai-cli repo tree openai/codex --path codex-rs --depth 2

# Check setup
npx zai-cli doctor

Output

Default: data-only (raw output for token efficiency). Use --output-format json for { success, data, timestamp } wrapping.

Advanced

For raw MCP tool calls (tools, tool, call), Code Mode, and performance tuning (cache/retries), see references/advanced.md.

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Zai Cli AI skill do?

Z.AI CLI providing: - Vision: image/video analysis, OCR, UI-to-code, error diagnosis (GLM-4.6V) - Search: real-time web search with domain/recency filtering - Reader: web page to markdown extraction - Repo: GitHub code search and reading via ZRead - Tools: MCP tool discovery and raw calls - Code: TypeScript tool chaining Use for visual content analysis, web search, page reading, or GitHub exploration. Requires Z_AI_API_KEY.

Why use Zai Cli on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Zai Cli is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Zai Cli in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/numman-ali/n-skills/tree/main/skills/tools/zai-cli/skills/zai-cli. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Zai Cli?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Zai Cli?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Zai Cli with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Zai Cli AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by numman-ali under the Apache-2.0 license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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