# 💬 Basic Chat Operations

This guide explains how to use the basic chat functionality of the Acode AI CLI Assistant Plugin.

## 🎯 Accessing the AI Assistant

There are several ways to open the AI assistant:

### Keyboard Shortcut
- **Windows/Linux**: `Ctrl + Shift + A`
- **Mac**: `Cmd + Shift + A`

### Through Menu
1. Open Acode
2. Tap the AI CLI Assistant icon in the sidebar

## 📝 Chat Interface

The chat interface consists of three main components:

### Message Display Area
- Shows the conversation history between you and the AI
- Displays both your queries and AI responses
- Supports markdown formatting for rich text
- Auto-scrolls to show the latest messages

### Input Text Area
- Where you type your queries
- Supports multi-line input (use Shift + Enter for new lines)
- Has a placeholder with usage instructions

### Action Buttons
- **Send Button**: Submit your query to the AI
- **Stop Button**: Cancel ongoing AI generation
- **New Chat Button**: Start a fresh conversation
- **History Button**: Access previous conversations

## 📥 Sending Queries

### Simple Questions
You can ask the AI anything related to coding:
```
How do I create a React component?
Explain what a promise is in JavaScript
What's the difference between let and const?
```

### Code-Related Queries
For more specific coding assistance:
```
How can I optimize this function?
Explain this SQL query
Convert this Python code to JavaScript
```

### Project-Level Questions
Ask about your entire project:
```
How should I organize this project?
What's the best way to structure these files?
Suggest improvements to my architecture
```

## 📤 Receiving Responses

### Response Formatting
AI responses are formatted with:
- **Markdown support**: Code blocks, lists, headers, etc.
- **Syntax highlighting**: For code snippets in responses
- **Copy buttons**: Easy copying of code blocks
- **Smooth animations**: For better visual experience

### Response Actions
After receiving a response, you can:
- **Copy code blocks**: Click the copy button on any code block
- **Copy entire messages**: Use the menu option to copy all messages
- **Export conversations**: Save chats for future reference

## 📚 Conversation History

The plugin automatically saves your conversations:

### Accessing History
1. Click the **History** button in the chat header
2. Browse through previous conversations
3. Click on any conversation to load it

### Managing History
- **Delete conversations**: Use the X button next to each history item
- **Clear all history**: Use the menu option to clear all chat history
- **Export conversations**: Save chats as JSON files for backup

### History Storage
- Conversations are saved locally on your device
- Each conversation is associated with its first query
- History is encrypted along with API keys for security

## 🔄 Starting New Conversations

To start a fresh conversation:
1. Click the **New Chat** button in the chat header
2. Or use the menu option "Clear Chat History"
3. The message display area will be cleared
4. Previous conversation history is saved automatically

## ⚡ Real-Time Features

### Streaming Responses
- AI responses appear character by character for a natural feel
- You can stop generation at any time using the Stop button
- Visual indicators show when the AI is thinking

### Context Awareness
The AI automatically has context about:
- Current file name and extension
- Current file content
- Cursor position
- Project structure

## 🛠️ Advanced Chat Options

### Menu Features
Click the menu icon (three dots) in the chat header to access:

- **Clear Chat History**: Start with a clean slate
- **Export Conversation**: Save the current chat
- **Copy All Messages**: Copy entire conversation to clipboard
- **Bulk Operations**: Access file management tools
- **Project Organization**: Get AI-powered project structure suggestions
- **Settings**: Adjust plugin configuration

### Model Selection
Change the AI model without switching providers:
1. Click the menu icon
2. Select "Model"
3. Choose from available models
4. The conversation continues with the new model

## 📋 Best Practices for Chatting

### Effective Queries
- Be specific about what you need
- Include relevant context when possible
- Ask one question at a time for clearer responses

### Code Examples
When asking about code:
- Include the relevant code snippet
- Mention the programming language if not obvious
- Describe what you're trying to achieve

### Follow-Up Questions
- You can ask follow-up questions in the same conversation
- The AI remembers previous messages in the conversation
- This helps provide more contextually relevant responses

## 🐛 Troubleshooting Chat Issues

### Common Chat Problems

#### No Response
- Check your internet connection
- Verify your API key is valid
- Ensure the selected AI provider is functioning

#### Slow Responses
- Some providers may be slower than others
- Large context can slow down responses
- Try switching to a faster model or provider

#### Inaccurate Responses
- AI models can sometimes provide incorrect information
- Verify critical code before implementing
- Try rephrasing your query for better results

#### Formatting Issues
- Some complex markdown may not render perfectly
- Code blocks should always display correctly
- Report rendering issues on GitHub

### Chat Verification

To verify chat functionality:
1. Open the AI assistant
2. Send a simple test query
3. Wait for response
4. Check that formatting and code blocks display correctly

## 📞 Getting Help

If you encounter issues with chat operations:
1. Check the [Common Issues](Common-Issues.md) documentation
2. Visit our [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/RenzMc/Acode-Plugin-AI-cli/issues) page
3. Join our [Discussions](https://github.com/RenzMc/Acode-Plugin-AI-cli/discussions) community for support

---

<div align="center">

[🏠 Home](Home.md) | [⬆ Back to Top](#-basic-chat-operations) | [⚡ Real-Time Code Analysis](Real-Time-Code-Analysis.md)

</div>