WHIS(1)

NAME

whisVoice-to-text CLI for terminal users

SYNOPSIS

$sudo apt install libvulkan-dev

INFO

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DESCRIPTION

Voice-to-text CLI for terminal users

README

whis

whis

Your voice, piped to clipboard.
Website · Desktop · Mobile · Releases

Why?

  • Built for AI workflows — speak your prompt, paste to OpenCode, Claude, Codex, ...
  • Cloud or local — OpenAI, Mistral, Groq, Deepgram, ElevenLabs, or free with local Whisper
  • Simple — record → transcribe → clipboard

Quick Start

# Install
cargo install whis-cli

Setup (interactive wizard)

whis setup

Run

whis # Press Enter to stop — text copied!

Screenshot

whis Demo

Usage

# Record once
whis

Background service mode

whis start # Start background service whis toggle # Toggle recording (bind to your compositor hotkey)

Post-process with AI (presets define the transformation)

whis --post-process

Use with terminal AI assistants

claude "$(whis --as ai-prompt)" # Start session with voice prompt whis --as ai-prompt --print # For shell mode (outputs to stdout)

Presets

whis --as email # Use preset whis preset # List all whis preset new xyz # Print template for new preset whis preset edit xyz # Edit in $EDITOR

Transcribe existing audio

whis -f recording.wav

Help - for you or your helper

whis --help

Installation

cargo install whis-cli

Or download binaries from GitHub Releases.

Requirements

  • API key from OpenAI, Mistral, Groq, Deepgram, or ElevenLabs — or use local Whisper/Parakeet (no API key needed)
  • Linux only: Vulkan SDK for local transcription
    sudo apt install libvulkan-dev vulkan-tools glslc libshaderc-dev  # Ubuntu/Debian
    sudo pacman -S vulkan-headers vulkan-tools shaderc                # Arch
    
  • Linux (X11/Wayland), macOS, or Windows

For hotkey mode (Linux, pick one):

# Option 1: Compositor keybinding (no permissions needed)
# GNOME: Settings > Keyboard > Custom Shortcuts → whis toggle
# Sway:  bindsym Ctrl+Alt+w exec whis toggle
# Hyprland: bind = CTRL ALT, W, exec, whis toggle

Option 2: Direct capture

sudo usermod -aG input $USER && logout

Then: whis start

Desktop & Mobile

  • Desktop — GUI with system tray
  • Mobile — Android app (Alpha)

Development

git clone https://github.com/frankdierolf/whis.git
cd whis
just                # List all commands
just install-cli    # Build and install CLI

See CONTRIBUTING.md for full setup instructions.

Architecture

Whis Architecture

License

MIT

SEE ALSO

clihub3/4/2026WHIS(1)