CLI piped input

README.md

@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ venice chat -t calculator,weather "What's 25 * 4.5?"
 # JSON output for scripting
 venice chat -f json "List 3 colors" | jq '.content'
 
+# Use piped context plus an instruction
+cat error.log | venice chat "find the root cause"
+
 # Disable streaming
 venice chat --no-stream "Quick question"
 ```

src/commands/chat.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import test from 'node:test';
+import { buildChatUserMessage } from './chat.js';
+
+test('buildChatUserMessage uses prompt when only args are provided', () => {
+  const message = buildChatUserMessage('find the root cause');
+  assert.deepEqual(message, { role: 'user', content: 'find the root cause' });
+});
+
+test('buildChatUserMessage uses stdin when prompt is empty', () => {
+  const message = buildChatUserMessage('', 'error line 1\nerror line 2');
+  assert.deepEqual(message, { role: 'user', content: 'error line 1\nerror line 2' });
+});
+
+test('buildChatUserMessage merges stdin and prompt into one message', () => {
+  const message = buildChatUserMessage('find the root cause', 'stack trace...');
+  assert.deepEqual(message, { role: 'user', content: 'stack trace...\n\nfind the root cause' });
+});
+
+test('buildChatUserMessage returns null when both inputs are empty', () => {
+  const message = buildChatUserMessage('', '');
+  assert.equal(message, null);
+});

src/commands/chat.ts

@@ -56,15 +56,16 @@ export function registerChatCommand(program: Command): void {
         return;
       }
 
-      // Get prompt from args or stdin
+      // Get prompt from args and optionally stdin
       let prompt = promptParts.join(' ');
-
-      if (!prompt && !process.stdin.isTTY) {
-        // Read from stdin
-        prompt = await readStdin();
+      let pipedInput = '';
+
+      if (!process.stdin.isTTY) {
+        pipedInput = await readStdin();
       }
 
-      if (!prompt) {
+      const userMessage = buildChatUserMessage(prompt, pipedInput);
+      if (!userMessage) {
         console.error(formatError('No prompt provided. Usage: venice chat "Your message"'));
         process.exit(1);
       }
@@ -100,8 +101,8 @@ export function registerChatCommand(program: Command): void {
         }
       }
 
-      // Add user message
-      messages.push({ role: 'user', content: prompt });
+      // Add user message from stdin/args
+      messages.push(userMessage);
 
       // Get tool definitions
       const toolNames = options.tools?.split(',').map((t: string) => t.trim()) || [];
@@ -418,6 +419,20 @@ async function readStdin(): Promise<string> {
   return Buffer.concat(chunks).toString('utf-8').trim();
 }
 
+export function buildChatUserMessage(prompt: string, pipedInput?: string): Message | null {
+  if (pipedInput && prompt) {
+    return { role: 'user', content: `${pipedInput}\n\n${prompt}` };
+  }
+  if (pipedInput) {
+    return { role: 'user', content: pipedInput };
+  }
+  if (prompt) {
+    return { role: 'user', content: prompt };
+  }
+
+  return null;
+}
+
 // Character prompts
 const CHARACTER_PROMPTS: Record<string, string> = {
   pirate: 'You are a pirate captain. Respond in pirate speak with nautical terms, "arr"s, and maritime metaphors. Be adventurous and bold.',