Use the ! prefix to execute bash commands directly within Ona Agent conversations. This provides immediate command execution and automatically adds the output to the conversation context, making it a powerful tool for sharing specific information with the agent.

Running bash commands with ! prefix in Ona Agent

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How bash commands work

When you type ! followed by a command in the chat interface, Ona Agent executes the command immediately and includes both the command and its output in the conversation context.

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Basic syntax

!command [arguments]
The command runs in your current environment and the results become part of the agent’s context for the entire conversation.

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Common use cases

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Quick information gathering

Get immediate context without asking the agent to run commands: 
!pwd
!ls -la
!git status
!npm list --depth=0

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Sharing specific output

Provide exact command output for the agent to analyze: 
!npm test
!docker ps
!kubectl get pods
!cat package.json

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Environment verification

Confirm your environment state before asking for help: 
!node --version
!python --version
!which docker
!env | grep NODE

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File system exploration

Share directory structure or file contents: 
!find . -name "*.js" | head -10
!tree -L 2
!cat src/config.js
!grep -r "TODO" src/

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Benefits of using ! commands

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Immediate execution

  • Commands run instantly without agent interpretation
  • No waiting for the agent to understand and execute
  • Direct access to your environment state

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Shared context

  • Command output becomes part of conversation history
  • Agent can reference the exact output in responses
  • Ensures agent and user see the same information

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Efficiency

  • Faster than asking the agent to run commands
  • Reduces back-and-forth communication
  • Provides precise, unfiltered output

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Verification

  • Confirm environment state before making changes
  • Share exact error messages for troubleshooting
  • Validate assumptions with real data

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Best practices

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Use for context sharing

Perfect for providing specific information to the agent: 
!cat error.log
!npm run test 2>&1 | tail -20
!git log --oneline -5

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Combine with questions

Share command output then ask for analysis: 
!docker logs myapp
The container keeps crashing. Can you help me understand what's wrong?

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Verify before changes

Check current state before asking for modifications: 
!git branch
!git status
Can you help me create a new feature branch?

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Share configuration

Provide exact configuration for troubleshooting: 
!cat .env.example
!npm run build 2>&1
The build is failing. What might be wrong?

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Command execution details

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Working directory

  • Commands execute in your current environment’s working directory
  • Use !pwd to confirm your location

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Environment variables

  • Commands have access to your environment variables
  • Use !env to see available variables
  • Environment-specific tools and configurations are available

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Output handling

  • Both stdout and stderr are captured
  • Long output is included in full
  • Binary output is handled appropriately

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Security considerations

  • Commands run with your user permissions
  • Be cautious with destructive commands
  • Output is visible in the conversation history

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Examples in practice

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Debugging a failing test

!npm test
!cat test/failing-test.js
The test is failing with this error. Can you help me fix it?

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Troubleshooting

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Command not found

If a command isn’t recognized:
  • Verify the command exists with !which commandname
  • Check your PATH with !echo $PATH
  • Ensure required tools are installed in your environment

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Long-running commands

For commands that take time to complete:
  • The interface will wait for completion
  • press ESC or click stop if you need to cancel

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Comparison with agent commands

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When to use ! commands

  • Quick information gathering
  • Sharing exact output for analysis
  • Verifying environment state
  • Providing specific context

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When to ask the agent

  • Complex multi-step operations
  • Code generation and modification
  • Analysis and interpretation of results
  • Planning and decision-making tasks

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Next steps

Need help with bash commands in Ona Agent? Reach out to your account manager if you’re an enterprise customer.