LinuxCommandLibrary

qwen

Query Qwen AI model

TLDR

Start a REPL session to chat interactively

$ qwen
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Send the output of another command to Qwen and exit immediately
$ [echo "Summarize the history of Rome"] | qwen [[-p|--prompt]]
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Override the default model (default: qwen3-coder-max)
$ qwen [[-m|--model]] [model_name]
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Run inside a sandbox container
$ qwen [[-s|--sandbox]]
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Execute a prompt then stay in interactive mode
$ qwen [[-i|--prompt-interactive]] "[Give me an example of recursion in Python]"
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Include all files in context
$ qwen [[-a|--all-files]]
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Show memory usage in status bar
$ qwen --show-memory-usage
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SYNOPSIS

qwen [OPTIONS] <PROMPT>
or
qwen [OPTIONS] --file <FILE_PATH>

PARAMETERS

--model <NAME>
    Specifies the particular Qwen model to use (e.g., qwen-turbo, qwen-plus, qwen-long).

--api-key <KEY>
    Provides the API authentication key for accessing Qwen services. Can often be set via an environment variable.

--temperature <VALUE>
    Controls the randomness of the output. A floating-point value between 0.0 (deterministic) and 1.0 (very random).

--max-tokens <N>
    Sets the maximum number of tokens (words/sub-words) the model should generate in its response.

--stream
    Enables streaming mode, displaying the model's response incrementally as it is generated.

--file <PATH>
    Reads the input prompt from the specified file instead of directly from the command line argument.

--output <FORMAT>
    Specifies the desired output format (e.g., text, json). Useful for scripting and integration.

--system <MESSAGE>
    Provides an initial system message to guide the model's overall behavior or persona for the conversation.

--help
    Displays a help message with command usage and options.

--version
    Shows the version information of the qwen CLI tool.

DESCRIPTION

The qwen command, as described here, is a hypothetical command-line interface (CLI) designed to interact with Alibaba Cloud's Qwen family of large language models. It is important to note that this is not a standard, pre-installed Linux utility. Such a tool would provide a streamlined way for users to send prompts to Qwen models, receive generated responses, and manage various interaction parameters directly from the terminal. Its primary purpose would be to facilitate rapid prototyping, integrate AI capabilities into shell scripts, and enable developers and researchers to leverage Qwen's power without extensive programming. Users could specify different Qwen model versions, adjust parameters like generation temperature or maximum output tokens, and manage authentication credentials. This conceptual command aims to simplify access to advanced AI functionalities for command-line centric workflows.

CAVEATS

It is crucial to understand that qwen is not a standard, pre-installed Linux command. This analysis describes a hypothetical utility for interacting with the Qwen LLM.
Usage would typically require an active internet connection and a valid API key from Alibaba Cloud, incurring costs based on usage.
Performance can vary significantly based on network latency, model load, and the complexity of the prompt.
As a large language model, Qwen, like others, can sometimes produce inaccurate, biased, or nonsensical outputs (hallucinations).

AUTHENTICATION & API USAGE

Interaction with the Qwen LLMs via a hypothetical qwen command would typically rely on API keys for authentication. These keys, obtained from Alibaba Cloud, grant access to the Qwen services. For security and convenience, it is highly recommended to store the API key as an environment variable (e.g., QWEN_API_KEY) rather than passing it directly on the command line, especially in scripts. Usage of the Qwen API is subject to Alibaba Cloud's pricing policies, which are usually based on token consumption (input and output tokens).

EXAMPLE USAGE

Basic Prompt:
qwen "Explain quantum computing in simple terms."

Specify Model and Temperature:
qwen --model qwen-plus --temperature 0.7 "Write a short poem about a cat."

Read from File and Stream Output:
qwen --file my_prompt.txt --stream

Get JSON Output for Scripting:
qwen --model qwen-turbo --output json "List 3 benefits of cloud computing." | jq .

HISTORY

As a hypothetical command, qwen has no direct historical development as a standard Linux utility. Its conceptualization arises from the increasing demand for accessible command-line interfaces to interact with powerful large language models. The underlying Qwen models themselves were developed by Alibaba Cloud, with significant investment and continuous iterations since their initial public announcements. These models have rapidly evolved, offering diverse capabilities from general-purpose conversation to specialized tasks. A CLI tool like qwen would represent a natural progression in making these advanced AI functionalities more directly consumable and scriptable for developers and researchers within a Linux environment.

SEE ALSO

curl(1), python(1), jq(1), bash(1), ollama(1)

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