README.md

---
title: StarChat Playground
emoji: ⭐️💬
colorFrom: indigo
colorTo: indigo
sdk: gradio
sdk_version: 5.13.1
app_file: app.py
pinned: true
license: mit
---

# StarChat Playground

Welcome to **StarChat Playground**, a platform to explore, test, and deploy chat-based applications using cutting-edge AI models. This project provides an environment for rapid experimentation with conversational AI, built to foster innovation and enable developers to create interactive chatbots with ease.

## Features

- **Customizable Chatbot**: Use advanced AI models to design and customize your chatbot interactions.
- **Model Integration**: Easily integrate with popular models for intelligent responses.
- **Real-Time Interaction**: Test your chatbots with real-time input and immediate feedback.
- **Extendable**: Add your own features, customize behaviors, and experiment with different models and configurations.

## Getting Started

### Prerequisites

Before getting started, make sure you have the following installed:

- Python 3.7 or higher
- Node.js (if applicable for frontend interactions)
- `npm` or `yarn` for managing dependencies
- A virtual environment for Python dependencies (optional but recommended)

### Installation

1. **Clone the repository**:

    ```bash
    git clone https://github.com/<your-username>/starchat-playground.git
    cd starchat-playground
    ```

2. **Set up Python Environment**:

    It's recommended to use a virtual environment for Python projects.

    ```bash
    python3 -m venv env
    source env/bin/activate  # For Linux/MacOS
    env\Scripts\activate     # For Windows
    ```

3. **Install Python Dependencies**:

    ```bash
    pip install -r requirements.txt
    ```

4. **Install Frontend Dependencies** (if applicable):

    If there are frontend components in your project (e.g., React, Vue.js), run:

    ```bash
    npm install
    ```

    or

    ```bash
    yarn install
    ```

5. **Run the Application**:

    - For the backend (Python server):
    
      ```bash
      python app.py  # Or the appropriate command to start your app
      ```

    - For the frontend (if applicable):
    
      ```bash
      npm start  # Or the corresponding command to run the frontend
      ```

6. **Access the Application**:

    Navigate to `http://localhost:5000` (or the URL specified) to interact with your chatbot.

### Configuration

If you want to customize the AI models or change settings, you can modify the configuration files. These are typically found in:

- `config/`
- `models/`
- `settings.py`

Ensure that any required API keys, model configurations, or environment variables are set in `.env` or within the project configuration files.

## Usage

Once set up, you can interact with your StarChat Playground app via the web interface or API (depending on the app’s setup). Test different configurations of chat models, tune their behavior, and experiment with various user inputs.

### Example Usage

```bash
# Test a basic interaction through the API
curl -X POST http://localhost:5000/chat -d '{"message": "Hello, AI!"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json"
```

This will return a response from the AI model in the form of a chat message.

## Contributing

We welcome contributions! If you have ideas for improvements, bug fixes, or additional features, please fork the repository and create a pull request.

### How to Contribute

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a new branch (`git checkout -b feature-name`).
3. Make your changes and commit them (`git commit -am 'Add feature'`).
4. Push to your fork (`git push origin feature-name`).
5. Create a pull request with a detailed description of your changes.

## License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.