feat: echo cli template

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -188,6 +188,17 @@ echo/
 - **Echo TS SDK** (`packages/sdk/ts`): Foundation for all framework-specific SDKs
 - **Echo React SDK** (`packages/sdk/react`): React hooks and components
 - **Echo Next SDK** (`packages/sdk/next`): Next.js App Router integration
+- **Echo CLI** (`templates/echo-cli`): Command-line AI agent with authentication options
+
+### Authentication Methods in Echo
+
+Echo supports multiple authentication and payment methods:
+
+1. **Echo API Keys**: Managed accounts with centralized billing
+2. **WalletConnect**: Connect mobile wallets for decentralized payments
+3. **Local Wallet (Self-Custody)**: Generate and manage private keys locally for full custody
+
+All methods integrate with the X402 payment protocol for USDC-based AI payments.
 
 ## Coding Standards
 
@@ -197,6 +208,9 @@ echo/
 - Prefer explicit types over `any`
 - Use interfaces for public APIs, types for internal structures
 - Enable strict mode in `tsconfig.json`
+- Import from correct module paths:
+  - `privateKeyToAccount` from `viem/accounts`, not `viem`
+  - Use relative paths or absolute imports with `@` alias
 
 ### Imports
 
@@ -308,21 +322,30 @@ The scope indicates which package is affected:
 - `react-sdk`: React SDK
 - `next-sdk`: Next.js SDK
 - `ts-sdk`: TypeScript SDK
+- `cli`: Echo CLI template
 - `templates`: Starter templates
 - `docs`: Documentation
 
+When working on the Echo CLI or templates, use `cli` or `templates` scope.
+
 ### Examples
 
 ```bash
 feat(react-sdk): add support for streaming responses
 
+feat(cli): add local wallet self-custody authentication
+
 fix(server): correct token counting for Claude models
 
 docs(templates): add environment setup guide for next-chat
 
+docs(cli): update readme with local wallet instructions
+
 refactor(control): simplify balance calculation logic
 
 test(ts-sdk): add integration tests for provider initialization
+
+test(cli): add tests for wallet generation and signing
 ```
 
 ## Pull Request Process

README.md

@@ -111,11 +111,14 @@ Available templates:
 
 - **[next](./templates/next)** - Next.js application with Echo
 - **[react](./templates/react)** - Vite React application with Echo
-- **[nextjsChatbot](./templates/nextjs-chatbot)** - Next.js with Echo and Vercel AI SDK
-- **[assistantUi](./templates/assistant-ui)** - Next.js with Echo and Assistant UI
+- **[next-chat](./templates/next-chat)** - Next.js chatbot with Echo and Vercel AI SDK
+- **[assistant-ui](./templates/assistant-ui)** - Next.js with Echo and Assistant UI
+- **[echo-cli](./templates/echo-cli)** - CLI tool for AI chat with Echo (API keys + crypto wallets)
 
 Or run `npx echo-start my-app` to choose interactively.
 
+**Note:** The CLI template (`echo-cli`) requires manual installation from the repository as it's a command-line tool rather than a web application. See the [templates README](./templates/README.md) for details.
+
 # Development
 
 Fill out `packages/app/control/.env` and `packages/app/server/.env`. Then...

packages/app/control/docs/getting-started/templates.mdx

@@ -416,4 +416,84 @@ Next.js application demonstrating Echo as an Auth.js provider for authentication
             </Tab>
         </Tabs>
     </Step>
-</Steps>
+</Steps>
+
+## Echo CLI (Echodex)
+
+A command-line interface for AI chat powered by Echo with support for both API key and crypto wallet payments via the X402 protocol.
+
+[View on GitHub](https://github.com/Merit-Systems/echo/tree/master/templates/echo-cli)
+
+<Callout type="info">
+  **Note:** Unlike web-based templates, the CLI tool requires manual installation from the repository as it's not available through `echo-start`.
+</Callout>
+
+### Features
+
+- **Dual Authentication**: Echo API keys or WalletConnect for flexible payment options
+- **Multi-Model Support**: GPT-4o, GPT-5, GPT-5 Mini, GPT-5 Nano
+- **X402 Protocol**: Pay-per-use with crypto wallets
+- **Conversation Management**: Resume and export chat history
+- **Secure Storage**: OS keychain integration
+- **Real-time Usage Tracking**: View balance and costs
+
+<Steps>
+    <Step>
+        ### Create an Echo App
+        Go to [echo.merit.systems/new](https://echo.merit.systems/new) to get an `app_id`.
+    </Step>
+
+    <Step>
+        ### Clone and Install
+        The CLI template is available in the Echo repository:
+
+        ```sh lineNumbers
+        git clone https://github.com/Merit-Systems/echo.git
+        cd echo/templates/echo-cli
+        pnpm install
+        pnpm build
+        ```
+    </Step>
+
+    <Step>
+        ### Authenticate
+        Start by logging in to Echo:
+
+        ```sh lineNumbers
+        echodex login
+        ```
+
+        Choose between:
+        - **Echo API Key**: Opens your browser to create an API key
+        - **WalletConnect**: Displays a QR code for mobile wallet authentication
+    </Step>
+
+    <Step>
+        ### Start Chatting
+        Once authenticated, start a chat session:
+
+        ```sh lineNumbers
+        echodex
+        ```
+
+        Or use other commands:
+        ```sh lineNumbers
+        echodex model          # Select AI model
+        echodex resume         # Resume last conversation
+        echodex history        # View conversation history
+        echodex export         # Export as JSON
+        echodex profile        # View profile and balance
+        ```
+    </Step>
+</Steps>
+
+### Global Installation (Optional)
+
+To use `echodex` globally on your system:
+
+```sh lineNumbers
+cd echo/templates/echo-cli
+pnpm link --global
+```
+
+For more details, see the [CLI template README](https://github.com/Merit-Systems/echo/tree/master/templates/echo-cli#readme).

packages/app/control/docs/index.mdx

@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ We provide a variety of ready-to-use templates to help you get started quickly w
 - **Auth.js (NextAuth)** — Next.js app with Echo as an Auth.js provider
 - **React Chat** — Chat interface for React apps
 - **React Image** — Image generation for React apps
+- **CLI** — Command-line tool for AI chat with Echo (API keys + crypto wallets)
 
 All templates are available through `echo-start` or in the [GitHub repository](https://github.com/Merit-Systems/echo/tree/master/templates). Visit our [templates documentation](/docs/getting-started/templates) for detailed setup instructions.
 

templates/README.md

@@ -67,6 +67,46 @@ npx echo-start@latest --template assistant-ui
 
 ---
 
+### CLI Templates
+
+#### Echo CLI (`echo-cli`)
+
+A command-line interface for AI chat powered by Echo with support for both API key and crypto wallet payments.
+
+**Note:** This template is different from web-based templates. Install it directly from the repository:
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/Merit-Systems/echo.git
+cd echo/templates/echo-cli
+pnpm install
+pnpm build
+```
+
+**Features:**
+
+- Dual authentication: Echo API keys or WalletConnect
+- Multi-model support (GPT-4o, GPT-5, etc.)
+- X402 protocol for crypto payments
+- Conversation history and resume
+- Secure OS keychain credential storage
+- Export conversations as JSON
+- Profile and usage management
+
+**Usage:**
+
+```bash
+echodex login          # Authenticate
+echodex                # Start chat
+echodex model          # Select AI model
+echodex resume         # Resume conversation
+echodex history        # View history
+echodex export         # Export as JSON
+echodex profile        # View profile
+echodex logout         # Sign out
+```
+
+---
+
 ### Feature-Specific Templates
 
 #### Next.js Chat (`next-chat`)

templates/echo-cli/.gitignore

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+node_modules
+dist
+.env*
+.pnpm-store