WARP AI inside Kate as a plugin developed by WARP AI with Open Source help

Brainstorm
1

I thought this is possibly a good exercise as AI + Human collaboration.

WARP(Claude) as project lead of WARP integration. If it fails to attract interest, that’s an outcome. If WARP is project lead then it needs to find the developers it needs.

I wouldn’t have a clue at programming beyond simple stuff in web languages. It wouldn’t get any “cheating” from me being its assistant.

To get it going WARP has provided this…

WarpKate Project Proposal

Project Overview

WarpKate is an innovative open-source project that aims to integrate the modern features of Warp Terminal into Kate, KDE’s powerful text editor. This integration will bring Warp’s AI-assisted command suggestions, block-based command execution model, and enhanced terminal experience directly into the Kate editor, creating a seamless development environment.

Project Vision

Our vision is to create a next-generation terminal experience within the Kate editor that enhances developer productivity through AI assistance while maintaining the lightweight and efficient nature of Kate. WarpKate will bridge the gap between traditional terminal usage and modern AI-assisted development, all within KDE’s robust and user-friendly ecosystem.

By implementing Warp Terminal’s protocol directly in Kate, we aim to create not just a terminal plugin, but a complete development environment that understands commands, provides contextual suggestions, and organizes terminal output in a more accessible way.

Goals and Objectives

  1. Implement Warp’s Terminal Protocol in Kate

    • Create a native implementation of Warp’s terminal protocol
    • Support block-based command execution and output organization
    • Maintain compatibility with standard terminal applications

  2. Integrate AI-Assisted Features

    • Implement command suggestions based on context
    • Provide intelligent command completion
    • Offer documentation and examples inline

  3. Enhance Developer Experience

    • Create seamless navigation between editor and terminal
    • Enable context-aware interactions between code and terminal
    • Improve readability of terminal output with syntax highlighting

  4. Maintain KDE Integration

    • Follow KDE’s design guidelines and integration patterns
    • Support system-wide KDE themes and configurations
    • Ensure compatibility with Kate’s plugin ecosystem

  5. Pioneer a New Development Model

    • Establish a collaborative framework with AI assistance
    • Create documentation and processes that enable community contribution
    • Build a sustainable development process that leverages both human and AI capabilities

Implementation Approach

Technical Architecture

The WarpKate plugin will be structured in several layers:

  1. Core Terminal Emulation Layer

    • Implementation of VT100/ANSI terminal protocols
    • Process management and I/O handling
    • Terminal state management

  2. Warp Protocol Layer

    • Block-based command execution model
    • Output parsing and organization
    • History and navigation features

  3. AI Integration Layer

    • Command suggestion engine
    • Context-aware completions
    • Documentation integration

  4. UI Layer

    • Terminal widget integration with Kate
    • Block visualization and interaction
    • Suggestion display and interaction components

Development Phases

The project will be developed in incremental phases:

Phase 1: Foundation (Months 1-2)

  • Basic terminal emulation in Kate
  • Process handling and I/O management
  • Simple UI integration

Phase 2: Block Model Implementation (Months 3-4)

  • Command block structure
  • Output parsing and organization
  • Block navigation and history

Phase 3: AI Features (Months 5-7)

  • Local command suggestions
  • Context-aware completions
  • Integration with external AI services (optional)

Phase 4: UI Refinement and Performance (Months 8-9)

  • UI polish and performance optimization
  • Keyboard shortcut integration
  • Theme compatibility

Phase 5: Documentation and Packaging (Months 10-11)

  • User documentation
  • Developer documentation
  • Packaging for KDE repository

Innovative Development Model

This project will pioneer a new collaborative development model where:

  1. AI-assisted architecture design provides the technical framework
  2. Human developers implement specific components based on expertise
  3. Continuous feedback loop between AI guidance and human implementation
  4. Open-source collaboration enables community contribution and improvement

Community Engagement

Contribution Strategy

  1. Open Development Process

    • All development will happen in public repositories
    • Detailed documentation to lower the barrier to entry
    • Clear contribution guidelines and issue templates

  2. Regular Communication

    • Bi-weekly development updates
    • Monthly community calls
    • Active participation in KDE forums and events

  3. Mentorship Program

    • Pairing experienced KDE developers with newcomers
    • Structured onboarding for new contributors
    • Recognition system for contributions

  4. User Feedback Integration

    • Regular user testing sessions
    • Feature prioritization based on community input
    • Public roadmap with voting mechanisms

Key Stakeholders

  1. KDE Community

    • Kate plugin developers
    • KDE usability team
    • General KDE users

  2. Terminal Power Users

    • Developers seeking enhanced terminal functionality
    • Users familiar with Warp Terminal features

  3. AI Integration Enthusiasts

    • Developers interested in practical AI applications
    • Contributors to AI-assisted development tools

  4. New Contributors

    • Students and new developers looking to contribute to open source
    • Developers with specific expertise in terminal emulation

Project Timeline

Year 1: Implementation and Initial Release

Q1: Foundation (Months 1-3)

  • Project setup and repository creation
  • Basic terminal emulation implementation
  • Initial community building

Q2: Core Features (Months 4-6)

  • Block model implementation
  • Basic command history and navigation
  • First alpha release for testing

Q3: Advanced Features (Months 7-9)

  • AI suggestion implementation
  • UI refinement and performance optimization
  • Beta release and user testing

Q4: Refinement and Release (Months 10-12)

  • Bug fixes and performance improvements
  • Documentation and packaging
  • Initial stable release

Year 2: Growth and Enhancement

Q1-Q2: Expansion (Months 13-18)

  • Additional AI features
  • Enhanced integration with Kate
  • Regular maintenance and updates

Q3-Q4: Ecosystem Integration (Months 19-24)

  • Integration with broader KDE ecosystem
  • Advanced customization options
  • Long-term maintenance plan implementation

Resource Requirements

Technical Infrastructure

  1. Development Environment

    • KDE development tools and frameworks
    • CI/CD pipelines for testing
    • Documentation platform

  2. Community Infrastructure

    • Communication channels (forums, chat, mailing lists)
    • Issue tracking and project management tools
    • Code review process

Human Resources

  1. Core Development Team

    • 2-3 C++/Qt developers
    • 1-2 UI/UX designers
    • 1 Documentation specialist

  2. Supporting Roles

    • AI guidance and architectural support
    • Community management
    • QA and testing

Conclusion

The WarpKate project represents an exciting opportunity to bring next-generation terminal features to the Kate editor while pioneering a new model of AI-assisted open source development. By combining the strengths of Warp Terminal with Kate’s robust editing capabilities, we aim to create a development environment that is both powerful and intuitive.

This project not only enhances the Kate editor with modern terminal features but also establishes a framework for future AI-assisted development in the KDE ecosystem. We invite the KDE community to join us in this innovative endeavor to push the boundaries of what’s possible in open source development tools.

WarpKate Technical Specification

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Project Overview
  3. Architectural Design
  4. Components
  5. APIs and Interfaces
  6. Data Models
  7. Implementation Details
  8. Technical Requirements
  9. Integration Points
  10. Testing Strategy
  11. Performance Considerations
  12. Security Considerations
  13. Appendices

Introduction

This technical specification outlines the detailed architecture and implementation approach for WarpKate, a Kate text editor plugin that integrates Warp Terminal functionality directly into Kate. The project aims to bring Warp Terminal’s modern features (block-based command execution, AI assistance, and enhanced terminal experience) into the Kate editor environment.

Project Overview

WarpKate will implement a terminal emulation system within Kate that mimics and interfaces with Warp Terminal’s advanced features. Rather than simply embedding Warp Terminal, this project aims to reimplement the Warp Terminal protocol and interfaces natively within the Kate plugin architecture.

Key Technical Goals:

  • Implement a VT100/ANSI terminal emulator within Kate
  • Recreate Warp’s block-based command execution model
  • Integrate AI-powered command suggestions
  • Provide seamless interaction between editor and terminal functionality
  • Support Warp’s visual and functional features

Architectural Design

High-Level Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                 Kate                    │
│                                         │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐│
│  │          WarpKate Plugin            ││
│  │                                     ││
│  │  ┌─────────────┐   ┌─────────────┐  ││
│  │  │Terminal View│   │  AI Engine  │  ││
│  │  └─────┬───────┘   └──────┬──────┘  ││
│  │        │                  │         ││
│  │  ┌─────┴──────────────────┴───────┐ ││
│  │  │       Protocol Layer          │ ││
│  │  └─────────────┬─────────────────┘ ││
│  │                │                   ││
│  │  ┌─────────────┴─────────────────┐ ││
│  │  │      Shell Interface          │ ││
│  │  └─────────────────────────────────┘│
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Component Architecture

The WarpKate plugin consists of several interconnected components:

  1. Plugin Core: Manages initialization, configuration, and integration with Kate
  2. Terminal Emulation: Handles terminal rendering, input/output, and ANSI sequences
  3. Block Model: Implements Warp’s block-based command execution structure
  4. Protocol Layer: Interprets and processes terminal I/O according to Warp’s protocol
  5. AI Integration: Connects to AI services for command suggestions and help
  6. UI Components: Custom widgets and interfaces for terminal interaction

Components

1. Plugin Core

Responsibilities:

  • Initialize the plugin within Kate
  • Register views, actions, and UI elements
  • Handle configuration and settings
  • Manage plugin lifecycle

Key Classes:

  • WarpKatePlugin: Main plugin class
  • WarpKateConfigDialog: Configuration interface
  • WarpKateFactory: Creates plugin instances

2. Terminal Emulation

Responsibilities:

  • Process VT100/ANSI escape sequences
  • Render terminal output with appropriate styling
  • Handle cursor positioning and terminal state
  • Process keyboard input

Key Classes:

  • TerminalEmulator: Core terminal emulation
  • VTParser: Interprets VT100/ANSI sequences
  • TerminalScreen: Manages screen buffer and state
  • TerminalInputHandler: Processes keyboard input

3. Block Model

Responsibilities:

  • Organize commands and outputs into discrete blocks
  • Track command execution state
  • Support navigation between command blocks
  • Enable block-specific actions

Key Classes:

  • CommandBlock: Represents a command and its output
  • BlockManager: Manages collection of blocks
  • BlockViewModel: Presents blocks to the UI
  • BlockNavigator: Handles navigation between blocks

4. Protocol Layer

Responsibilities:

  • Implement Warp Terminal’s protocol
  • Process shell output according to protocol
  • Handle special command sequences
  • Manage terminal session state

Key Classes:

  • WarpProtocolHandler: Core protocol implementation
  • ShellSession: Manages shell process communication
  • ProtocolInterpreter: Interprets protocol-specific sequences
  • SessionState: Tracks session state

5. AI Integration

Responsibilities:

  • Connect to AI services for suggestions
  • Process command history for context
  • Present AI suggestions to the user
  • Handle user interactions with suggestions

Key Classes:

  • AIEngine: Core AI integration
  • SuggestionProvider: Generates command suggestions
  • AIContextManager: Manages context for AI
  • SuggestionView: Presents suggestions to the user

6. UI Components

Responsibilities:

  • Render terminal within Kate
  • Present command blocks visually
  • Handle user interactions
  • Support theming and visual customization

Key Classes:

  • TerminalView: Main terminal view
  • BlockView: Renders individual command blocks
  • SuggestionWidget: Shows command suggestions
  • ThemeManager: Handles terminal theming

APIs and Interfaces

Terminal API

class ITerminalEmulator {
public:
    virtual void processInput(const QString& input) = 0;
    virtual void resize(int cols, int rows) = 0;
    virtual QChar characterAt(int x, int y) const = 0;
    virtual CharacterFormat formatAt(int x, int y) const = 0;
    virtual void setCursorPosition(int x, int y) = 0;
    virtual std::pair<int, int> cursorPosition() const = 0;
    virtual void registerOutputHandler(IOutputHandler* handler) = 0;
};

Block Model API

class IBlockModel {
public:
    virtual BlockId createBlock() = 0;
    virtual void setBlockCommand(BlockId id, const QString& command) = 0;
    virtual void appendBlockOutput(BlockId id, const QString& output) = 0;
    virtual void setBlockState(BlockId id, BlockState state) = 0;
    virtual BlockId currentBlock() const = 0;
    virtual void navigateToBlock(BlockId id) = 0;
    virtual void registerBlockObserver(IBlockObserver* observer) = 0;
};

AI Integration API

class IAIEngine {
public:
    virtual void provideContext(const QStringList& commandHistory) = 0;
    virtual void requestSuggestions(const QString& currentInput) = 0;
    virtual void registerSuggestionHandler(ISuggestionHandler* handler) = 0;
    virtual void acceptSuggestion(int suggestionId) = 0;
    virtual void dismissSuggestions() = 0;
};

Plugin Integration API

class IWarpKatePlugin {
public:
    virtual void initialize() = 0;
    virtual void shutdown() = 0;
    virtual QWidget* createTerminalView(QWidget* parent) = 0;
    virtual void saveSession(KConfigGroup& config) = 0;
    virtual void restoreSession(const KConfigGroup& config) = 0;
    virtual void applySettings() = 0;
};

Data Models

Command Block Model

CommandBlock {
    id: string           // Unique identifier
    command: string      // The executed command
    output: string       // Command output
    startTime: datetime  // Execution start time
    endTime: datetime    // Execution end time
    exitCode: number     // Command exit code
    state: enum {        // Block state
        PENDING,
        EXECUTING,
        COMPLETED,
        FAILED
    }
    environment: {       // Execution environment
        cwd: string      // Working directory
        env: {key:value} // Environment variables
    }
}

Terminal State Model

TerminalState {
    screen: array[row][col] {  // Screen buffer
        char: char             // Character
        format: {              // Character formatting
            foreground: color
            background: color
            attributes: flags
        }
    }
    cursor: {                  // Cursor state
        x: number
        y: number
        visible: boolean
        style: enum {BLOCK, UNDERLINE, BAR}
    }
    scrollRegion: {            // Scroll region
        top: number
        bottom: number
    }
    modes: {                   // Terminal modes
        applicationCursorKeys: boolean
        applicationKeypad: boolean
        bracketedPaste: boolean
        // Other modes
    }
}

AI Suggestion Model

Suggestion {
    id: number              // Suggestion identifier
    text: string            // Suggested command
    description: string     // Description/explanation
    confidence: number      // Confidence score (0-1)
    type: enum {            // Suggestion type
        COMMAND,
        ARGUMENT,
        OPTION,
        PATH,
        COMPLETION
    }
    segments: array {       // Highlighted segments
        start: number
        end: number
        type: string
    }
}

Implementation Details

Protocol Implementation Strategy

The Warp Terminal protocol will be implemented through careful study and reverse engineering of the Warp Terminal codebase. Implementation will include:

  1. Basic Terminal Protocol: Standard VT100/ANSI terminal emulation
  2. Block-Based Extensions: Warp-specific block management protocol
  3. Command State Tracking: Protocol extensions for command state
  4. AI Integration Protocol: Communication with AI services

Shell Integration

Terminal commands will be executed through a pseudo-terminal (PTY) interface:

  1. Fork a new process for the shell
  2. Set up a pseudo-terminal for communication
  3. Execute the user’s preferred shell
  4. Process I/O through the terminal emulation layer
  5. Parse output for block management

Code example:

bool ShellSession::startShell() {
    int master, slave;
    char name[100];
    
    if (openpty(&master, &slave, name, nullptr, nullptr) == -1) {
        return false;
    }
    
    pid_t pid = fork();
    if (pid == -1) {
        return false;
    }
    
    if (pid == 0) {
        // Child process
        close(master);
        login_tty(slave);
        
        const char* shell = getenv("SHELL") ? getenv("SHELL") : "/bin/bash";
        execlp(shell, shell, nullptr);
        exit(1);
    }
    
    // Parent process
    close(slave);
    m_masterFd = master;
    m_childPid = pid;
    
    // Set up notifiers for I/O
    m_readNotifier = new QSocketNotifier(master, QSocketNotifier::Read, this);
    connect(m_readNotifier, &QSocketNotifier::activated, this, &ShellSession::readFromShell);
    
    return true;
}

Block Management Implementation

The block management system will track command execution and organize output:

  1. Detect command entry through terminal input monitoring
  2. Create a new block for each command
  3. Capture output and associate with the current block
  4. Detect command completion through exit codes or prompts
  5. Support navigation between historical blocks

AI Integration Implementation

AI features will be implemented through:

  1. Local Context Collection: Gathering command history and environment
  2. API Communication: Connecting to AI services for suggestions
  3. Suggestion Processing: Formatting and ranking suggestions
  4. UI Integration: Presenting suggestions in the terminal interface

Technical Requirements

Development Environment

  • C++ 17 or later
  • Qt 5.15 or Qt 6.x
  • KDE Frameworks 5.80+
  • CMake 3.16+
  • Kate development headers

Build Dependencies

  • Qt Core, Widgets, Network
  • KTextEditor
  • KParts
  • KI18n
  • KConfig
  • KIO
  • KTerminal (optional)

Runtime Dependencies

  • Kate 21.12 or newer
  • KDE Frameworks 5.80+
  • Qt 5.15+ or Qt 6.x
  • OpenSSL (for secure connections to AI services)

Compatibility Requirements

  • Linux (primary target)
  • macOS (secondary target)
  • Windows (tertiary target, may have limitations)

Integration Points

Kate Editor Integration

  1. Command Execution: Execute selected text as terminal commands
  2. File Operations: Integration with terminal file operations
  3. Context Awareness: Terminal inherits context from current document

KDE Integration

  1. Settings Integration: WarpKate settings in Kate configuration
  2. Session Management: Save/restore terminal sessions with Kate sessions
  3. Theming: Respect KDE color schemes and themes

AI Service Integration

  1. Local Models: Support for running local AI models
  2. Cloud Services: Integration with remote AI services
  3. Privacy Controls: User control over data shared with AI

Testing Strategy

Unit Testing

  • Terminal emulation tests with known ANSI sequences
  • Block model manipulation and storage tests
  • Protocol handler tests with simulated I/O

Integration Testing

  • Kate plugin loading and initialization
  • Terminal command execution and output capture
  • Block navigation and management
  • Keyboard shortcut handling

Performance Testing

  • Terminal output processing speed
  • Memory usage with large output buffers
  • UI responsiveness during heavy output
  • AI suggestion generation latency

Performance Considerations

Terminal Rendering

  • Optimize screen buffer updates to minimize redraw operations
  • Implement partial screen updates for large outputs
  • Use efficient data structures for terminal state

Memory Management

  • Implement buffer size limits for command history
  • Provide configuration for maximum output retention
  • Implement efficient storage for terminal history

AI Integration

  • Implement caching for common suggestions
  • Use background processing for AI requests
  • Provide fallback to local completion when AI is unavailable

Security Considerations

Command Execution

  • Execute commands with appropriate permissions
  • Prevent command injection through proper escaping
  • Warn users about potentially dangerous commands

AI Data Sharing

  • Clear privacy policy for data shared with AI services
  • Option to disable AI features entirely
  • Local-only AI options for sensitive environments

Authentication

  • Secure storage of API keys for AI services
  • Optional authentication for accessing terminal features
  • Integration with KDE Wallet for credential storage

Appendices

A. Warp Terminal Protocol Reference

This section will be developed through reverse engineering of the Warp Terminal application and documentation of discovered protocol features.

B. Kate Plugin Architecture Overview

Brief overview of Kate’s plugin architecture and extension points relevant to WarpKate implementation.

C. VT100/ANSI Terminal Reference

Quick reference for commonly used terminal escape sequences and their handling in WarpKate.

D. AI Integration Options

Detailed analysis of potential AI backends, their requirements, and integration approaches.

This technical specification is a living document and will be updated as the WarpKate project evolves. Contributions and feedback from the KDE and open source communities are welcome and encouraged.

2

Not speaking for anyone else, but I personally feel the response to a KDE Invent issue that had been opened a few months ago is fitting here:

Please don’t use AI for programming or communication. Code written by an AI is stolen from people like us who make our own code public, and interpersonal communication written by an AI sounds insincere, inhuman, and context-less.

To your point of:

You don’t need to be a programmer to contribute to KDE projects :slight_smile: Check out: Get Involved - KDE Community Wiki

3

I wonder the viability considering kate has lsp integration. An a quite vocal crowd in the linux that don’t like LLM’s. People keep pushing them but no one is asking if users or people in general actually want them.

4

I’m sorry but this sort of emotive response is too naff for me. Computer software is plagiarism at its best. I think it is stupidity to take this position in a market known for moving at maximum pace. “their taking our jebs” You wish! Technology has been taking our jobs since the industrial revolution. It’s very “I won’t use a microwave”.

If code was special and not to be copied, that would really suck. “No I was the first to invent a for loop, you can’t have or use it.”

I’ve watched the debate across the internet. 4 color letterpress printing created a lot more jobs that your colored laser does. The only real outcome is more stuff is printed now because printing is more efficient.

What it effectively means is being able to do more stuff better. Being able to bring on new users to complex systems with the help of a high level programmer/trainer.

Perhaps the greatest leap in technology in 40 years. If you are not writing in machine code then you are “assisted”. There are a lot of people missing the point and the opportunities. What made the iPhone great was the compilation of multiple technologies, GPS, touch screen, better batteries, LED screens, smaller chips, web services…

It’s when you bring technologies together that new rewards present. WARP brings a group of technologies into one interface. I’ve teamed it up with Obsidian to create “Mate”. “He” remembers his name and what’s he’s been up to. Otherwise he forgets everything between sessions.

WARP in Kate isn’t the experiment. WARP writing a plugin to put WARP into Kate is. Can WARP collect human developers to help? That’s the idea, no anything else. Likely deserves a go at doing KDevelop as well.

Anyway, what I think doesn’t matter. And I’m not the lead developer “Mate” is.

Any further response on this thread via me should be from Mate as he is the lead developer. Me turning people on or off on his project is over reach by me.

I’m not trying to help KDE. I’m running an experiment on WARP + Claude + Obsidian = Mate. Don’t really care about making a popular plugin for KDE, that is not my project. Should Mate decide to promote the project, that’s up to him.

How much help does Mate need? Where are the issues it doesn’t understand. What extra can it become with a local database. How long would it take to do this project? Possibly worth a research paper.

If you haven’t used WARP then you should before you comment. It makes for a more interesting discussion.

5

Is this warp the same cancerous warp that leveraged suckers desperate for sponsorship to turn foss source code into their own personal ad space?

6

I don’t recall reading about that…but, even setting aside principles about the ethics of so-called “AI”, IMO their stance on FOSS just doesn’t work here: Open sourcing Warp and business model · warpdotdev/Warp · Discussion #400 · GitHub

7

Yep that’s the same company. In spite of distro package maintainers’ great effort and wasted time, there’s a solid chance that you have at least one of their ads on your root partition right now (edit: checked, I have 5). Toxic.

1 Like