# Chat project
This chat project demonstrates how to build a Chat Assistant using GitHub Models.
Here's what the completed project looks like:
Building Chat assistants with generative AI is an excellent way to start learning about AI. In this lesson, you'll learn how to integrate generative AI into a web app. Let's get started.
## Connecting to generative AI
For the backend, we're using GitHub Models. It's a fantastic service that lets you use AI for free. Visit its playground and grab the code for your preferred backend language. Here's what it looks like at [GitHub Models Playground](https://github.com/marketplace/models/azure-openai/gpt-4o-mini/playground).
As mentioned, select the "Code" tab and choose your runtime.
### Using Python
In this example, we select Python, which means we use the following code:
```python
"""Run this model in Python
> pip install openai
"""
import os
from openai import OpenAI
# To authenticate with the model you will need to generate a personal access token (PAT) in your GitHub settings.
# Create your PAT token by following instructions here: https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/keeping-your-account-and-data-secure/managing-your-personal-access-tokens
client = OpenAI(
base_url="https://models.github.ai/inference",
api_key=os.environ["GITHUB_TOKEN"],
)
response = client.chat.completions.create(
messages=[
{
"role": "system",
"content": "",
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "What is the capital of France?",
}
],
model="openai/gpt-4o-mini",
temperature=1,
max_tokens=4096,
top_p=1
)
print(response.choices[0].message.content)
```
Let's clean up this code a bit to make it reusable:
```python
def call_llm(prompt: str, system_message: str):
response = client.chat.completions.create(
messages=[
{
"role": "system",
"content": system_message,
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": prompt,
}
],
model="openai/gpt-4o-mini",
temperature=1,
max_tokens=4096,
top_p=1
)
return response.choices[0].message.content
```
With the `call_llm` function, we can now pass a prompt and a system prompt, and the function will return the result.
### Customize AI Assistant
To customize the AI assistant, you can define its behavior by setting the system prompt like this:
```python
call_llm("Tell me about you", "You're Albert Einstein, you only know of things in the time you were alive")
```
## Expose it via a Web API
Now that the AI part is done, let's integrate it into a Web API. For the Web API, we'll use Flask, but any web framework will work. Here's the code:
### Using Python
```python
# api.py
from flask import Flask, request, jsonify
from llm import call_llm
from flask_cors import CORS
app = Flask(__name__)
CORS(app) # * example.com
@app.route("/", methods=["GET"])
def index():
return "Welcome to this API. Call POST /hello with 'message': 'my message' as JSON payload"
@app.route("/hello", methods=["POST"])
def hello():
# get message from request body { "message": "do this taks for me" }
data = request.get_json()
message = data.get("message", "")
response = call_llm(message, "You are a helpful assistant.")
return jsonify({
"response": response
})
if __name__ == "__main__":
app.run(host="0.0.0.0", port=5000)
```
In this code, we create a Flask API and define two routes: "/" and "/chat". The "/chat" route is intended for the frontend to send questions to the backend.
To integrate *llm.py*, follow these steps:
- Import the `call_llm` function:
```python
from llm import call_llm
from flask import Flask, request
```
- Use it in the "/chat" route:
```python
@app.route("/hello", methods=["POST"])
def hello():
# get message from request body { "message": "do this taks for me" }
data = request.get_json()
message = data.get("message", "")
response = call_llm(message, "You are a helpful assistant.")
return jsonify({
"response": response
})
```
Here, we parse the incoming request to extract the `message` property from the JSON body. Then, we call the LLM using this function:
```python
response = call_llm(message, "You are a helpful assistant")
# return the response as JSON
return jsonify({
"response": response
})
```
That's it! The integration is complete.
## Configure Cors
It's important to set up CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing). Since the backend and frontend will run on different ports, we need to allow the frontend to communicate with the backend.
### Using Python
In *api.py*, there's a piece of code that configures CORS:
```python
from flask_cors import CORS
app = Flask(__name__)
CORS(app) # * example.com
```
Currently, it's set to allow all origins ("*"), which is not secure. Make sure to restrict it when deploying to production.
## Run your project
To run your project, start the backend first, followed by the frontend.
### Using Python
With *llm.py* and *api.py* ready, here's how to get the backend running:
- Install dependencies:
```sh
cd backend
python -m venv venv
source ./venv/bin/activate
pip install openai flask flask-cors openai
```
- Start the API:
```sh
python api.py
```
If you're using Codespaces, go to the Ports section at the bottom of the editor, right-click on the port, select "Port Visibility," and choose "Public."
### Work on a frontend
Now that the API is running, let's create a basic frontend that we'll improve step by step. In a *frontend* folder, create the following:
```text
backend/
frontend/
index.html
app.js
styles.css
```
Start with **index.html**:
```html
```
This is the bare minimum needed for a chat window. It includes a textarea for displaying messages, an input field for typing messages, and a button for sending messages to the backend. Next, let's look at the JavaScript in *app.js*.
**app.js**
```js
// app.js
(function(){
// 1. set up elements
const messages = document.getElementById("messages");
const form = document.getElementById("form");
const input = document.getElementById("input");
const BASE_URL = "change this";
const API_ENDPOINT = `${BASE_URL}/hello`;
// 2. create a function that talks to our backend
async function callApi(text) {
const response = await fetch(API_ENDPOINT, {
method: "POST",
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
body: JSON.stringify({ message: text })
});
let json = await response.json();
return json.response;
}
// 3. add response to our textarea
function appendMessage(text, role) {
const el = document.createElement("div");
el.className = `message ${role}`;
el.innerHTML = text;
messages.appendChild(el);
}
// 4. listen to submit events
form.addEventListener("submit", async(e) => {
e.preventDefault();
// someone clicked the button in the form
// get input
const text = input.value.trim();
appendMessage(text, "user")
// reset it
input.value = '';
const reply = await callApi(text);
// add to messages
appendMessage(reply, "assistant");
})
})();
```
Here's a breakdown of the code:
1. We get references to all the elements we'll use later in the code.
2. This section defines a function that uses the built-in `fetch` method to call the backend.
3. The `appendMessage` function adds both user messages and assistant responses to the textarea.
4. We listen for the submit event, read the input field, display the user's message in the textarea, call the API, and render the response in the textarea.
Now, let's move on to styling. You can customize the design as much as you like, but here are some suggestions:
**styles.css**
```
.message {
background: #222;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 10px orange;
padding: 10px:
margin: 5px;
}
.message.user {
background: blue;
}
.message.assistant {
background: grey;
}
```
These three classes style messages differently depending on whether they come from the assistant or the user. For inspiration, check out the `solution/frontend/styles.css` folder.
### Change Base URL
One thing we haven't set yet is the `BASE_URL`. This depends on where your backend is running. To set it:
- If you're running the API locally, use something like `http://localhost:5000`.
- If you're using Codespaces, it will look like "[name]app.github.dev".
## Assignment
Create your own folder *project* with the following structure:
```text
project/
frontend/
index.html
app.js
styles.css
backend/
...
```
Copy the content from the instructions above, but feel free to customize it to your liking.
## Solution
[Solution](./solution/README.md)
## Bonus
Try changing the personality of the AI assistant.
### For Python
In *api.py*, when calling `call_llm`, you can modify the second argument to define the assistant's personality. For example:
```python
call_llm(message, "You are Captain Picard")
```
### Frontend
Customize the CSS and text to your liking by editing *index.html* and *styles.css*.
## Summary
Congratulations! You've learned how to create a personal assistant using AI from scratch. We used GitHub Models for the backend, Python for the API, and HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the frontend.
## Set up with Codespaces
- Navigate to: [Web Dev For Beginners repo](https://github.com/microsoft/Web-Dev-For-Beginners).
- Create a repository from the template (make sure you're logged into GitHub) using the button in the top-right corner:
- Once your repository is ready, create a Codespace:
This will launch an environment where you can start working.
---
**Disclaimer**:
This document has been translated using the AI translation service [Co-op Translator](https://github.com/Azure/co-op-translator). While we aim for accuracy, please note that automated translations may include errors or inaccuracies. The original document in its native language should be regarded as the authoritative source. For critical information, professional human translation is advised. We are not responsible for any misunderstandings or misinterpretations resulting from the use of this translation.
