BillyGPT

BillyGPT

Maintenance-mode project from March 2023. BillyGPT is kept public as an early ChatGPT API desktop client with reproducible setup, safer local key handling, and a small smoke-check path for future maintenance.

BillyGPT was a free, open-source, cross-platform ChatGPT desktop client built around prompt optimization, local chat history, editable conversations, and bring-your-own API key usage.

Status

• Maintenance-mode legacy project.
• Built for the early ChatGPT API era in 2023.
• Uses the OpenAI Python SDK version pinned in requirements.txt.
• Kept as a stable historical desktop-client implementation.

Features

• Local chat history storage.
• Prompt-optimization mode for more structured answers.
• Long conversation summarization.
• Import and export of chat history.
• Editable message role and content.
• Custom font selection.
• Bring-your-own OpenAI API key.

Usage

Python 3.10 is the verified runtime for this legacy dependency set.

Install dependencies and run:

pip install -r requirements.txt
python main.py

For a fully pinned environment, use:

pip install -r requirements-lock.txt

For safer local usage, prefer setting your key through the environment:

export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key-here"
python main.py

The settings dialog keeps an entered key for the current process only. For repeat use, set OPENAI_API_KEY in your shell or local environment manager.

Smoke Check

Run this after installing dependencies:

python scripts/smoke_check.py

The smoke check verifies imports, API key loading, and chat persistence helpers without opening the UI.

To check that the repository's tracked files are sufficient for a fresh clone, run:

python scripts/check_release_files.py

For a browser-rendered startup check, run this with Chrome or Chromium installed:

python scripts/check_frontend_startup.py

The startup check runs a local Flet web server and a headless browser. It does not open the desktop app window or a visible browser window.

Troubleshooting

Install dependencies before running the checks:

pip install -r requirements.txt

If the front-end startup check cannot find Chrome, set CHROME_BIN to a local Chrome or Chromium executable. The script intentionally fails in environments without a headless browser instead of opening the desktop UI.

Security Note

Never commit API keys or local chat logs.

This repository ignores legacy APIKEY.txt files and chat logs, but if you fork or copy the project, check your changes before pushing:

git status --short
git diff --cached

If a key was ever committed, delete the key in the provider dashboard and create a new one. Removing it from Git history is not enough.

Framework

Built with Flet, targeting desktop and cross-platform experiments.

License

MIT.

Historical Context

BillyGPT was made during the first public ChatGPT API wave. Its value today is mostly historical: it captured early product ideas around prompt optimization, local control, editable conversations, and personal AI clients.