Python Helpers

A collection of helper utils for my personal projects.

Installation

PyPI:

pip install tyler-python-helpers

Working from a git checkout (so scripts can use plain from tyler_python_helpers import ChatGPT with no sys.path hacks): install in editable mode once per environment:

pip install -e /path/to/python-helpers
# e.g. pip install -e ~/git/python-helpers

That registers the package with the interpreter the same way a normal install does. Layout under tyler_python_helpers/ (including the ai/ subpackage) is already standard; Python does not auto-import sibling folders next to your tools/ repo.

Alternatively, set PYTHONPATH to the checkout root if you prefer not to install.

If ImportError: cannot import name 'local_ai' while the repo already defines it, check for a stale user install that only had the old flat package (e.g. ~/.local/lib/python3.12/site-packages/tyler_python_helpers/). Remove it and point the interpreter at this repo, for example:

python3 -m pip uninstall tyler-python-helpers -y --break-system-packages
python3 -m pip install --user -e /path/to/python-helpers --break-system-packages

Or set PYTHONPATH to the checkout root.

AI (tyler_python_helpers.ai)

All AI-related code lives under tyler_python_helpers.ai. The top-level package re-exports the same names for convenience:

from tyler_python_helpers import ChatGPT, LocalAI, local_ai

ChatGPT

from tyler_python_helpers import ChatGPT

chat = ChatGPT()
val = chat.query("What is the capital of the moon?")
print(val)

ChatGPT chooses its backend from Cabinet at ai -> chatgpt -> backend:

• "openai": uses the OpenAI Responses API
• "local": uses LocalAI / Open WebUI

LocalAI

from tyler_python_helpers import LocalAI, local_ai

assert local_ai is LocalAI
print(local_ai().query("Summarize: ..."))

Cabinet layout

Cloud OpenAI (ChatGPT with ai -> chatgpt -> backend = "openai"):

In cloud mode, ChatGPT currently uses the fixed model gpt-4o.

Local Open WebUI — same usage shape as ChatGPT: LocalAI().query(...) or local_ai().query(...) (local_ai is an alias for LocalAI). Advanced: local_ai_messages([...]).

ChatGPT backend:

Legacy API key keys → openai is still read in cloud mode for ChatGPT only.

Library calls

from tyler_python_helpers import ChatGPT, LocalAI, local_ai, local_ai_messages, LocalOpenWebUIError

text = ChatGPT().query("Hello")
text = LocalAI().query("Hello")
text = local_ai().query("Hello")
text = local_ai_messages([{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}])

Errors

Cloud and local requests may raise provider-specific errors: OpenAIError for cloud and LocalOpenWebUIError for local. Both modes may also raise ValueError when required Cabinet settings are missing or invalid.

Reference

• OpenAI API documentation