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Overview

PraisonAI functions as a real AI code editor that can:
  • Edit files on disk
  • Run terminal commands (pytest, ruff, etc.)
  • Observe failures and fix them
  • Converge to green tests
This guide covers 10 real-world scenarios demonstrating these capabilities.

CLI Contract (January 2026)

Key Flags

Auto-Approval for Automation

Set PRAISON_APPROVAL_MODE=auto to enable non-interactive tool execution:

Windows Automation

Windows requires additional configuration for non-interactive runs. The --no-acp flag is required to prevent hangs, and UTF-8 encoding must be set for subprocess operations.

Windows PowerShell Example

Windows cmd.exe Example

Prerequisites

AI Code Editor Scenarios

1. Implement Code from Specification

Implement a function and run tests until they pass.
What happens:
  1. Agent reads the existing file
  2. Implements the function with the formula
  3. Runs pytest to verify
  4. If tests fail, fixes and reruns

2. Fix Division by Zero Bug

Fix a bug that causes test failures.
What happens:
  1. Agent reads the buggy code
  2. Adds the zero-check with proper error
  3. Runs tests to confirm the fix
  4. Iterates until tests pass

3. Implement Missing Function

Implement a function that’s currently a stub.
What happens:
  1. Agent reads the stub function
  2. Implements the logic using Counter or similar
  3. Runs targeted tests
  4. Fixes any edge cases

4. Fix Empty List Handling

Add proper error handling for edge cases.
What happens:
  1. Agent adds input validation
  2. Raises appropriate error
  3. Verifies with tests

5. Add CLI Command

Extend a CLI with a new command.
What happens:
  1. Agent reads the CLI code
  2. Adds the version subcommand
  3. Runs the command to verify output

6. Fix Lint Errors

Clean up code style issues.
What happens:
  1. Agent runs ruff check .
  2. Reads the error output
  3. Fixes each issue (unused imports, whitespace, etc.)
  4. Reruns ruff until clean

7. Implement Temperature Conversion

Implement the reverse conversion function.
What happens:
  1. Agent implements the function
  2. Runs targeted tests
  3. Fixes any precision issues

8. Fix Median Edge Case

Handle empty list in median function.
What happens:
  1. Agent adds the validation check
  2. Runs tests to verify
  3. Ensures existing tests still pass

9. Add Type Hints

Improve code with type annotations.
What happens:
  1. Agent reads the file
  2. Adds parameter and return type hints
  3. Optionally runs mypy to verify

10. Make All Tests Pass

Fix all remaining issues in a project.
What happens:
  1. Agent runs full test suite
  2. Identifies all failures
  3. Fixes each one systematically
  4. Reruns until 100% pass

Key Flags

The Closed-Loop Workflow

PraisonAI implements a closed-loop workflow similar to OpenCode:
This means:
  • The agent runs commands itself (not you)
  • The agent reads test output itself
  • The agent iterates until success

Tips for Best Results

  1. Use Workspace Flag: Always use -w . to enable file editing
  2. Be Specific: Include file paths and expected behavior
  3. Request Verification: Ask the agent to run tests after changes
  4. Use Cheap Models: Start with gpt-4o-mini for cost efficiency
  5. Continue Sessions: Use --continue for multi-step tasks

Troubleshooting

Agent Not Editing Files

Ensure you’re using the workspace flag:

Tests Not Running

Make sure pytest is installed in your environment:

API Key Issues

Set your API key:

UnicodeDecodeError on Windows

Windows subprocess operations require UTF-8 encoding:

praisonai code hangs on Windows

Add the --no-acp flag for Windows automation:

Import errors when chaining PYTHONPATH

Use the correct separator for your platform. On Windows use ;, on Unix use :, or use os.pathsep in Python scripts: