> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://askmarvin.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Interactivity

> Enable agents to interact with users through the CLI.

Marvin allows agents to interact with users through the command line interface (CLI). This is useful for:

* Gathering user input during task execution
* Creating interactive chatbots
* Building conversational interfaces
* Getting user confirmation or choices
* Providing real-time feedback

Note that this is not a replacement for a proper user interface, and is intended primarily for local prototyping and development.

## Enabling CLI Interaction

To enable CLI interaction for a task, set the `cli` parameter to `True`:

```python theme={null}
import marvin

# Get user input
name = marvin.run(
    "Ask for the user's name",
    cli=True
)

print(f"The user's name is: {name}")
```

## Interactive Conversations

Use threads to maintain context in interactive conversations:

```python theme={null}
import marvin

with marvin.Thread() as thread:
    # Get user preferences
    preferences = marvin.run(
        "Ask about the user's movie preferences",
        cli=True
    )

    # Make a recommendation
    recommendation = marvin.run(
        "Recommend a movie based on their preferences"
    )

    # Ask for feedback
    feedback = marvin.run(
        "Ask if they'd like another recommendation",
        cli=True
    )
```

## Example: Interactive Survey

Here's a complete example of an interactive survey:

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Code theme={null}
  import marvin
  from typing import Literal
  from dataclasses import dataclass

  @dataclass
  class Survey:
      name: str
      age: int
      interests: list[str]
      experience_level: Literal["beginner", "intermediate", "advanced"]

  with marvin.Thread() as thread:
      # Create an interactive agent
      agent = marvin.Agent(
          name="Surveyor",
          cli=True,
          instructions="Conduct a friendly survey about programming experience."
      )

      # Run the survey
      result = marvin.run(
          "Conduct a programming survey",
          agents=[agent],
          result_type=Survey
      )

  print(result)
  ```

  ```text Result theme={null}
  Agent: Hi! I'd like to ask you a few questions about your programming experience.
  What's your name?

  User: Alice

  Agent: Nice to meet you, Alice! Could you tell me your age?

  User: 25

  Agent: Thanks! What programming languages or technologies are you interested in?
  Please list them separated by commas.

  User: Python, JavaScript, Machine Learning

  Agent: Great interests! How would you rate your overall programming experience level?
  Choose one: beginner, intermediate, or advanced

  User: intermediate

  Survey(
      name='Alice',
      age=25,
      interests=['Python', 'JavaScript', 'Machine Learning'],
      experience_level='intermediate'
  )
  ```
</CodeGroup>