CLI option to send a text via commandline

[sulph68]

Love the app as its lightweight and provides everything in a TUI interface.
Is there any possiblity to integrate shell commands to get it s output for messages?

For example, to launch a simple command and get its STDOUT and put it into the message box. And the user can choose to send it.

[pdxlocations]

I like this idea. Could you provide me with some example commands you might enter?

What would we do with commands that return over the messages size limit?

[sulph68]

May I suggest the following? - allow the message box to be highlighted - key stroke ctrl+! (Just like in VI) this brings up a command box. - enter the single line that would be run as a bash command (or what ever the default shell environment) - collect the STDIN that is generated within 30 seconds. (Kill the command otherwise) - show a size counter at the end of the message box. A simple “<1b” or the exact message size. Turn red if it exceeds. (Character count can also work?) Is it also possible to show a cursor within the message box? So that one can edit the message and shorten it if necessary. Just some thoughts. Thanks for considering.

…

On Sun, 1 Feb 2026 at 12:58 AM, pdxlocations ***@***.***> wrote: *pdxlocations* left a comment (pdxlocations/contact#243) <#243 (comment)> I like this idea. Could you provide me with some example commands you might enter? What would we do with commands that return over the messages size limit? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#243 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ACTF7LCUZ6BK3UOHWITYSYD4JTNKPAVCNFSM6AAAAACTQH4DE2VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTQMRYHAZTGNBSGE> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[phigan]

This is how 'ircii' and similar chat clients do it... /exec <command> for no redirection, /exec -m <user/channel> <command> to direct output to user/channel, or /exec -o <command> to direct output to current channel/window.

By the way from the title of this issue, I thought it meant just being able to send a message from the command line without having to open the interface. Like "contact --send-msg <channel/node> <message>" from a prompt, it sends the message, then brings you back to a prompt.