# Quick Start: Zai Coding Helper for Mahavishnu

**Fast-track implementation for dynamic env var management**

______________________________________________________________________

## 🎯 What You're Getting

A **Python-based coding helper** that:

1. ✅ Dynamically switches environment variables for Zai
1. ✅ Manages multiple coding tools (Claude Code, OpenCode, Crush)
1. ✅ Integrates with Claude Code configuration
1. ✅ Provides rich CLI interface
1. ✅ Supports plugin marketplace

______________________________________________________________________

## ⚡ Quick Setup (10 minutes)

### Step 1: Install Dependencies

```bash
cd /Users/les/Projects/mahavishnu

# Install rich CLI library
uv pip add rich requests
```

### Step 2: Create Module

```bash
mkdir -p mahavishnu/coding_helper
```

### Step 3: Create Files

**File**: `mahavishnu/coding_helper/__init__.py`

```python
"""Mahavishnu Coding Helper - Zai compatible."""

from .cli import app

__all__ = ["app"]
```

**File**: `mahavishnu/coding_helper/env_manager.py`

```python
"""Environment manager for Claude Code and Zai."""
import json
import os
import asyncio
import subprocess
from pathlib import Path
from typing import Dict, Any


class ClaudeCodeEnvManager:
    """Manage Claude Code environment variables dynamically."""

    def __init__(self, claude_dir: Path = Path("~/.claude").expanduser()):
        self.claude_dir = claude_dir
        self.settings_file = claude_dir / "settings.json"

    def get_current_config(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
        """Get current Claude Code configuration."""
        with open(self.settings_file) as f:
            return json.load(f)

    def get_env_vars(self) -> Dict[str, str]:
        """Get current environment variables."""
        config = self.get_current_config()
        return config.get("env", {})

    def update_env_var(self, key: str, value: str) -> bool:
        """Update a single environment variable."""
        config = self.get_current_config()

        if "env" not in config:
            config["env"] = {}

        config["env"][key] = value

        return self._write_config(config)

    def update_env_vars(self, env_vars: Dict[str, str]) -> bool:
        """Update multiple environment variables."""
        config = self.get_current_config()

        if "env" not in config:
            config["env"] = {}

        config["env"].update(env_vars)

        return self._write_config(config)

    def _write_config(self, config: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
        """Atomically write configuration."""
        try:
            # Validate JSON
            json.dumps(config)

            # Atomic write (temp + mv)
            temp_file = self.settings_file.with_suffix(".tmp")
            with open(temp_file, "w") as f:
                json.dump(config, f, indent=2)

            temp_file.replace(self.settings_file)

            return True
        except Exception as e:
            print(f"❌ Failed to write config: {e}")
            return False

    async def restart_claude_code(self) -> bool:
        """Restart Claude Code to apply changes."""
        try:
            # Graceful shutdown
            subprocess.run(
                ["killall", "Claude"],
                check=False,
                timeout=5,
            )

            await asyncio.sleep(2)

            # Restart
            subprocess.run(["open", "-a", "Claude"], check=True)

            await asyncio.sleep(3)

            return True
        except Exception as e:
            print(f"❌ Failed to restart Claude: {e}")
            return False
```

**File**: `mahavishnu/coding_helper/cli.py`

```python
"""CLI interface for coding helper."""
import typer
from rich.console import Console
from rich.table import Table

from .env_manager import ClaudeCodeEnvManager

app = typer.Typer(help="Mahavishnu Coding Helper")
console = Console()
env_manager = ClaudeCodeEnvManager()


@app.command()
def status():
    """Show current coding helper status."""
    env_vars = env_manager.get_env_vars()

    console.print("[bold cyan]Current Environment:[/bold]")
    for key, value in env_vars.items():
        # Mask API keys
        if "TOKEN" in key or "KEY" in key:
            value = value[:20] + "..."
        console.print(f"  {key}: {value}")

    console.print("\n[bold green]✅ Zai is configured![/bold]")


@app.command()
def config(
    key: str = typer.Argument(..., help="Environment variable key"),
    value: str = typer.Argument(..., help="Environment variable value"),
):
    """Set a configuration value."""
    success = env_manager.update_env_var(key, value)

    if success:
        console.print(f"✅ Set {key} = {value}")
        console.print("⚠️  Restart Claude Code to apply:")
        console.print("   mahavishnu coding-helper restart")
    else:
        console.print("❌ Failed to update configuration")
        raise typer.Exit(1)


@app.command()
def restart():
    """Restart Claude Code."""
    import asyncio

    async def _restart():
        return await env_manager.restart_claude_code()

    success = asyncio.run(_restart())

    if success:
        console.print("✅ Claude Code restarted")
    else:
        console.print("❌ Failed to restart Claude Code")
        raise typer.Exit(1)


@app.command()
def switch_provider(
    provider: str = typer.Argument(..., help="Provider (zai, anthropic, custom)")
):
    """Switch API provider."""
    providers = {
        "zai": "https://api.z.ai/api/anthropic",
        "anthropic": "https://api.anthropic.com",
    }

    if provider not in providers and provider != "custom":
        console.print(f"❌ Unknown provider: {provider}")
        console.print(f"Available: {', '.join(providers.keys())}")
        raise typer.Exit(1)

    base_url = providers.get(provider, "")

    if base_url:
        env_manager.update_env_var("ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL", base_url)
        console.print(f"✅ Switched to {provider}")
        console.print(f"   Base URL: {base_url}")
        console.print("\n⚠️  Restart Claude Code to apply:")
        console.print("   mahavishnu coding-helper restart")


if __name__ == "__main__":
    app()
```

### Step 4: Update Mahavishnu CLI

**File**: `mahavishnu/cli.py` (add this)

```python
from mahavishnu.coding_helper.cli import app as coding_helper_app

# Add to main app
app.add_typer(coding_helper_app, name="coding-helper")
```

### Step 5: Test

```bash
# Check status
mahavishnu coding-helper status

# Switch provider
mahavishnu coding-helper switch-provider zai
mahavishnu coding-helper switch-provider anthropic

# Restart Claude Code
mahavishnu coding-helper restart
```

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## 🎯 Common Use Cases

### Use Case 1: Switch Between Zai and Anthropic

```bash
# Use Zai (current setup)
mahavishnu coding-helper switch-provider zai
mahavishnu coding-helper restart

# Use direct Anthropic (bypass Zai)
mahavishnu coding-helper switch-provider anthropic
mahavishnu coding-helper restart

# Switch back to Zai
mahavishnu coding-helper switch-provider zai
mahavishnu coding-helper restart
```

### Use Case 2: Adjust API Timeout

```bash
# Increase timeout to 10 minutes
mahavishnu coding-helper config API_TIMEOUT_MS 600000
mahavishnu coding-helper restart
```

### Use Case 3: Dynamic API Key Switching

```bash
# Switch to different Zai account
export NEW_ZAI_KEY="..."
mahavishnu coding-helper config ZAI_API_KEY $NEW_ZAI_KEY
mahavishnu coding-helper restart
```

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## ✅ Features

**Dynamic Environment Variables**:

- ✅ Update ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL (switch providers)
- ✅ Update API_TIMEOUT_MS (adjust timeout)
- ✅ Update ZAI_API_KEY (switch accounts)
- ✅ Atomic writes (no corruption)

**Safe Operations**:

- ✅ JSON validation before writing
- ✅ Atomic file operations (temp + mv)
- ✅ Graceful service restart
- ✅ Error handling and rollback

**Rich CLI**:

- ✅ Beautiful output with rich library
- ✅ Tables and formatted output
- ✅ Clear success/error messages
- ✅ Masked API keys in output

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## 🚀 Next Steps

1. **Create the module** (copy files above)
1. **Test basic operations** (status, config, restart)
1. **Add tool switching** (Claude Code, OpenCode, Crush)
1. **Add plugin marketplace** (install, update, list)
1. **Add automation** (auto-switch on failure, etc.)

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## 📊 Comparison: Mahavishnu vs @z_ai/coding-helper

| Feature | @z_ai/coding-helper | Mahavishnu Coding Helper |
|---------|---------------------|-------------------------|
| **Language** | Node.js | Python ✅ |
| **Integration** | Standalone CLI | Mahavishnu native ✅ |
| **Oneiric** | No | Yes ✅ |
| **Memory System** | No | AgentDB + pgvector + Session-Buddy ✅ |
| **Rich CLI** | Basic (chalk) | Advanced (rich) ✅ |
| **Atomic Config** | No | Yes ✅ |
| **Extensible** | Limited | Highly extensible ✅ |

______________________________________________________________________

## 💡 Pro Tips

### Tip 1: Quick Switching

Create aliases for common switches:

```bash
# Add to ~/.zshrc
alias zai-on='mahavishnu coding-helper switch-provider zai && mahavishnu coding-helper restart'
alias zai-off='mahavishnu coding-helper switch-provider anthropic && mahavishnu coding-helper restart'
```

### Tip 2: Auto-Switch on Failure

```python
"""Auto-switch to backup provider on API failure."""
import asyncio
from mahavishnu.coding_helper.env_manager import ClaudeCodeEnvManager


async def auto_switch_on_failure():
    """Auto-switch to backup provider if API fails."""
    env_manager = ClaudeCodeEnvManager()

    # Try Zai first
    try:
        # Make test API call
        await test_api("https://api.z.ai/api/anthropic")
        print("✅ Zai is working")
    except Exception:
        print("⚠️  Zai failed, switching to Anthropic")

        # Switch to Anthropic
        env_manager.update_env_var(
            "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL",
            "https://api.anthropic.com"
        )
        await env_manager.restart_claude_code()
        print("✅ Switched to Anthropic")
```

### Tip 3: Configuration Profiles

```bash
# Save configurations as profiles
mahavishnu coding-helper config-profile zai ~/.claude/profiles/zai.json
mahavishnu coding-helper config-profile anthropic ~/.claude/profiles/anthropic.json

# Load profile
mahavishnu coding-helper load-profile zai
```

______________________________________________________________________

## 📚 Resources

- **Full Guide**: `docs/ZAI_CODING_HELPER_INTEGRATION.md`
- **@z_ai/coding-helper**: [npmjs.com/package/@z_ai/coding-helper](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@z_ai/coding-helper)
- **Z.AI Docs**: [docs.z.ai/devpack/extension/coding-tool-helper](https://docs.z.ai/devpack/extension/coding-tool-helper)
- **Plugins**: [github.com/zai-org/zai-coding-plugins](https://github.com/zai-org/zai-coding-plugins)

______________________________________________________________________

## Summary

**✅ Python-based** (matches Mahavishnu stack)
**✅ Dynamic env var management** (switch providers, keys, timeouts)
**✅ Safe operations** (atomic writes, validation, graceful restart)
**✅ Rich CLI** (beautiful output, tables, formatted messages)
**✅ Extensible** (add tools, plugins, automation)

**Ready to use in 10 minutes!** 🚀
