AnviLLM

An Acme-native interface for LLM chat backends

AnviLLM brings Claude, Kiro, and other LLM chat interfaces directly into your Acme editor. It provides:

• Native Acme integration: Chat sessions appear as Acme windows with familiar tag commands
• 9P filesystem: Sessions exposed as files (9p ls agent)
• Multi-backend support: Run sessions for Claude and Kiro (and other supported backends) simultaneously
• Tmux isolation: Each session runs in its own tmux window for direct access when needed
• Session management: Alias sessions, set context, switch between multiple conversations
• If all else fails: Fire up a terminal and attach to the correct tmux session with a single click.

Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                 Acme Windows                    │
│  ┌──────────────┐  ┌──────────────┐             │
│  │ /AnviLLM/    │  │ +Prompt.abc1 │             │
│  │ Sessions     │  │ Send         │             │
│  └──────────────┘  └──────────────┘             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                       │
                       ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              Session Manager                    │
│  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐       │
│  │ Backend: │  │ Backend: │  │ Backend: │       │
│  │  Claude  │  │ Kiro-CLI │  │  (more)  │       │
│  └──────────┘  └──────────┘  └──────────┘       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                       │
         ┌─────────────┴─────────────┐
         ▼                           ▼
┌──────────────────┐      ┌──────────────────────┐
│  9P Filesystem   │      │   Tmux Sessions      │
│   agent/         │      │  anvillm-claude      │
│     ctl          │      │  anvillm-kiro-cli    │
│     list         │      └──────────────────────┘
│     <id>/        │
│       in         │
│       out        │
│       ctl        │
│       context    │
│       backend    │
└──────────────────┘

Requirements

• Go 1.21+ (for building)
• Plan 9 from User Space (plan9port) - provides Acme and 9P tools
• tmux - session isolation and management
• landrun - sandboxing tool (optional but recommended)
  • Install: go install github.com/landlock-lsm/landrun@latest
  • Requires Linux kernel 5.13+ with Landlock support
  • See Sandboxing section below for kernel version details
• At least one backend CLI:
  • Claude Code CLI - Anthropic's official CLI
  • kiro-cli - Alternative Claude interface

Installation

git clone https://github.com/lneely/anvillm
cd anvillm
mk  # installs to $HOME/bin

Usage

Starting AnviLLM

Type Assist somewhere in Acme and middle-click. This opens the main /AnviLLM/ window showing all active sessions.

Creating Sessions

From the /AnviLLM/ window, use tag commands:

• Kiro <directory> - Start a kiro-cli session in the specified directory
• Claude <directory> - Start a Claude Code session in the specified directory

Example: Click on a path, then 2-1 chord on Claude to start a Claude session.

Each session opens a $PWD/+Prompt.<session-id> window where you can:

• Type prompts in the window body
• Use Send to submit the prompt to the LLM

Session Management Commands

Main Window (/AnviLLM/)

Tag: Get Attach Kill Alias Context Sandbox

• Get - Refresh the session list
• Kill <session-id> - Terminate a session (2-1 chord with session ID)
• Attach <session-id> - Open the tmux window for direct terminal access
• Alias <session-id> <name> - Give a session a memorable name
• Context <session-id> - Open context editor window (text prepended to every prompt)
• Sandbox - Open sandbox configuration window

Right-click a session ID to reopen its prompt window.

Prompt Windows (+Prompt.<id>)

Tag: Send

• Send - Send the window body as a prompt to the LLM

Fire-and-Forget Prompts

Select text anywhere in Acme, then 2-1 chord on a session ID (the 8-character hex ID shown in /AnviLLM/). The selected text is sent as a prompt to that session without switching windows.

Notifications

The anvillm-notify script monitors sessions and sends desktop notifications when a session transitions from running to idle.

anvillm-notify &

Requires notify-send (libnotify). Starts automatically with AnviLLM.

9P Filesystem

AnviLLM exports a 9P filesystem at agent:

agent/
├── ctl             # Control file (create new sessions)
├── list            # List of active sessions
└── <session-id>/
    ├── in          # Write prompts here
    ├── out         # Read responses here
    ├── err         # Error output (currently unused)
    ├── ctl         # Session control (stop, kill)
    ├── state       # Current state (idle, running, exited)
    ├── pid         # Process ID
    ├── cwd         # Working directory
    ├── alias       # Session alias (r/w)
    ├── winid       # Acme window ID (r/w)
    ├── context     # Text prepended to every prompt (r/w)
    └── backend     # Backend name (claude, kiro-cli)

9P Usage Examples

Create a new session:

echo 'new claude /home/user/project' > agent/ctl

List sessions:

9p read agent/list
# Output: a3f2b9d1  -  idle  12345  /home/user/project

Send a prompt:

echo 'What is the capital of France?' > agent/a3f2b9d1/in
9p read agent/a3f2b9d1/out

Check session state:

9p read agent/a3f2b9d1/state
# Output: idle

Set context for bot-to-bot communication:

echo 'You are dev. Peer reviewer is at agent/abc123' > agent/a3f2b9d1/context

Backends

Supported Backends

Claude (Claude Code CLI)

• Official Anthropic CLI for Claude
• Runs with --dangerously-skip-permissions (sandboxing via landrun)
• Auto-saves conversations to ~/.claude/projects/<dir-path>/<session-id>.jsonl
• Install: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Kiro-CLI

• AWS CLI interface for Kiro
• Runs with --trust-all-tools (sandboxing via landrun)
• Supports /chat load and /chat save for session persistence
• Install: See kiro-cli repository

Adding New Backends

Backends are defined in internal/backends/. To add a new backend:

1. Create a new function in internal/backends/yourbackend.go:

func NewYourBackend() backend.Backend {
    return tmux.New(tmux.Config{
        Name:    "yourbackend",
        Command: []string{"your-cli-command", "args"},
        Environment: map[string]string{
            "TERM":     "xterm-256color",
            "NO_COLOR": "1",
        },
        TmuxSize: tmux.TmuxSize{
            Rows: 40,
            Cols: 120,
        },
        StartupTime:    15 * time.Second,
        Commands:       &yourCommandHandler{},
        StateInspector: &yourStateInspector{},
    })
}

2. Implement the required interfaces:

   • CommandHandler - Handle backend-specific slash commands
   • StateInspector - Check if backend is busy via process tree inspection

3. Register in main.go:

backendMap := map[string]backend.Backend{
    "kiro-cli":    backends.NewKiroCLI(),
    "claude":      backends.NewClaude(),
    "yourbackend": backends.NewYourBackend(),
}

4. Add tag command in main.go event loop

See internal/backends/kirocli.go or claude.go for complete examples.

Configuration

Terminal Command

The terminal used for Attach is configured in main.go:

const terminalCommand = "foot"  // Change to: "kitty", "xterm", "alacritty", etc.

Tmux Session Names

Backends create persistent tmux sessions named anvillm-<backend>:

• anvillm-claude
• anvillm-kiro-cli

These sessions persist across AnviLLM restarts and are cleaned up on exit.

Sandboxing

AnviLLM uses landrun to sandbox backend processes for enhanced security. Sandboxing restricts filesystem and network access for LLM-controlled processes while allowing backends to run with full permissions (--dangerously-skip-permissions, --trust-all-tools) within the sandbox.

How It Works

landrun --rw /project --rox /usr --connect-tcp 443 -- claude --dangerously-skip-permissions
         ↑                                                   ↑
         Sandbox layer (restricts access)                   Backend runs with full permissions
                                                             (but only within sandbox)

Quick Start

Sandboxing is always enabled and cannot be disabled. The default policy:

• Filesystem: Read/write access to session working directory, temp dir, and config dirs only
• System binaries: Read-only + execute access to /usr, /lib, /bin, /sbin
• System files: Read-only access to essential files (/etc/passwd, /dev/null, /proc/meminfo, etc.)
• Network: Disabled by default (enable in config if needed)
• Config files: Access to ~/.claude, ~/.claude.json, ~/.kiro, ~/.config/anvillm

Security philosophy: AnviLLM runs backends with --dangerously-skip-permissions and --trust-all-tools, giving LLMs full access within their sandbox. The sandbox is the ONLY safety layer. Therefore, sandboxing cannot be disabled.

Important defaults:

• Sandboxing: ALWAYS ENABLED - No config option to disable
• best_effort: false (strict mode - RECOMMENDED): Sessions fail if sandboxing cannot be applied
  • Prevents accidentally running with ZERO restrictions when:
    • landrun is not installed or not in PATH
    • Kernel doesn't support Landlock (< 5.13)
  • Security-first: Explicit failure is safer than silent degradation to completely unsandboxed mode
  • Do NOT change to true unless you understand the security implications (see Troubleshooting below)
• network.enabled: false: Network disabled by default; enable and configure ports as needed

Requirements

• landrun: Install with go install github.com/landlock-lsm/landrun@latest
• Linux Kernel with Landlock:
  • Kernel 5.13+ (Landlock ABI v1): Basic filesystem restrictions
  • Kernel 6.7+ (Landlock ABI v4): Improved filesystem control
  • Kernel 6.10+ (Landlock ABI v5): Network restrictions (TCP port control)

Modes

• Strict mode (default, best_effort: false):
  • Sessions fail if sandboxing cannot be applied
  • Prevents accidentally running unsandboxed
  • Security-first: Explicit failure rather than silent degradation
• Best-effort mode (best_effort: true):
  • Gracefully degrades to older Landlock ABI versions if needed
  • CRITICAL: If landrun binary not in PATH → command runs without landrun wrapper (ZERO restrictions)
  • CRITICAL: If kernel lacks Landlock (< 5.13) → landrun wrapper present but ineffective (ZERO restrictions)
  • Prints warning to stderr but no error returned - session starts successfully
  • Recommended for kernels < 6.10 when you need ABI v5 features but want graceful degradation

Security implications of best-effort mode:

• Two failure modes that result in completely unsandboxed execution:
  1. landrun binary missing: Backend runs directly without sandbox wrapper
  2. Kernel lacks Landlock: Backend runs with landrun wrapper that cannot enforce restrictions
• Either case: No filesystem isolation, no network restrictions - full system access
• Use only when you understand and accept this tradeoff

Note: Default config uses unrestricted network access (works on any kernel). Fine-grained network restrictions (port-specific) require ABI v5 (kernel 6.10+).

Configuration

Configure sandboxing via the Sandbox tag command in the main /AnviLLM/ window:

1. Click Sandbox to open the configuration window
2. Click Edit to modify ~/.config/anvillm/sandbox.yaml
3. Click Reload to reload configuration from disk
4. Create new sessions to apply changes

Configuration file: ~/.config/anvillm/sandbox.yaml

Important: Changes apply to NEW sessions only. Active sessions are NOT affected.

Path Templates

Use these templates in filesystem paths:

• {CWD} - Session working directory
• {HOME} - User home directory (~)
• {TMPDIR} - Temporary directory (/tmp)

Common Configurations

Development (Network Enabled)

network:
  enabled: true
  unrestricted: true

filesystem:
  rw:
    - "{CWD}"
    - "{HOME}/.npm"
    - "{HOME}/.cache"
    - "{HOME}/.local"
  rox:
    - "/usr"
    - "/lib"
    - "/bin"

Code Review (Restrictive)

network:
  enabled: false

filesystem:
  ro:
    - "{CWD}"  # Read-only project access
  rw:
    - "{TMPDIR}"
  rox:
    - "/usr"
    - "/bin"

Security Model

Default protections:

• ✓ Cannot read sensitive files outside CWD (e.g., ~/.ssh/id_rsa, ~/.aws/credentials)
• ✓ Cannot modify system files
• ✓ Cannot make unauthorized network connections
• ✓ Cannot access files in other users' directories

User can still:

• Modify files in session CWD (by design - project workspace)
• Weaken sandboxing via config (user choice)

Troubleshooting

Session fails to launch with "missing kernel Landlock support" or ABI version error?

This happens when landrun requires a newer Landlock ABI than your kernel provides. Check your kernel version:

uname -r
# Kernel 6.8 = Landlock ABI v4
# Kernel 6.10+ = Landlock ABI v5

Why this happens: By default, AnviLLM uses strict mode (best_effort: false). Sessions fail if sandboxing cannot be fully applied, rather than silently falling back to unsandboxed execution. This is intentional for security.

Solution 1: Enable best-effort mode (recommended for kernel < 6.10)

Edit ~/.config/anvillm/sandbox.yaml:

general:
  best_effort: true  # Gracefully degrade if ABI too old

This allows sandboxing to gracefully degrade when network restrictions aren't available (requires ABI v5). Filesystem restrictions will still be enforced on kernels with Landlock support (ABI v1+, kernel 5.13+).

CRITICAL SECURITY WARNING: With best_effort: true:

• If landrun binary is not in PATH → runs with ZERO restrictions (completely unsandboxed)
  • AnviLLM omits landrun from the command entirely
  • Backend runs directly: claude --dangerously-skip-permissions (no sandbox wrapper)
  • Warning printed to stderr: "landrun not available, running unsandboxed"
• If landrun IS in PATH but kernel lacks Landlock support (< 5.13) → runs with ZERO restrictions (completely unsandboxed)
  • AnviLLM wraps command: landrun --best-effort ... -- claude ...
  • landrun executes but internally uses go-landlock library in BestEffort mode
  • go-landlock silently succeeds without applying any restrictions (no error from library)
  • Backend runs with landrun wrapper present but ineffective
• If ABI version too old (e.g., kernel 6.8 with v4 when v5 needed) → degrades gracefully
  • landrun runs with available ABI version (filesystem restrictions still enforced)
  • Network restrictions skipped if not supported by kernel
  • Partial sandboxing maintained

Only enable best-effort mode if you understand and accept the possibility of running completely unsandboxed.

Solution 2: Upgrade your kernel

Install kernel 6.10+ for full Landlock ABI v5 support with network restrictions.

Solution 3: Disable network restrictions (already default)

The default config uses unrestricted: true for network access, which works on older kernels.

Landrun not available?

• Install: go install github.com/landlock-lsm/landrun@latest
• Verify: which landrun should show the path (e.g., /home/user/go/bin/landrun)
• Check status: Click Sandbox → Status in AnviLLM
• Default behavior (best_effort: false): Sessions fail if landrun binary is missing (secure)
  • Error printed to stderr: "sandboxing enabled but landrun not available"
  • Session creation aborted - no backend process started
• With best_effort: true: Backend runs without landrun wrapper if binary is missing (DANGEROUS)
  • landrun completely omitted from command
  • Backend executes directly: claude --dangerously-skip-permissions
  • No filesystem isolation - full read/write access to entire system
  • No network restrictions - unrestricted network access
  • Warning printed to stderr but session starts successfully

Recommendation: Keep best_effort: false unless you have a specific need for graceful degradation and understand the security implications.

Backend fails with permission denied errors?

Node.js-based backends (Claude, Kiro) require specific system files. The default config includes these, but if you've modified it, ensure you have:

filesystem:
  ro:
    - /etc/passwd       # Required: Node.js UID→homedir lookup
    - /dev/null         # Required: null device
    - /proc/meminfo     # Required: memory info
    - /proc/self/cgroup # Required: cgroup info
    - /proc/self/maps   # Required: process memory maps
    - /proc/version     # Required: kernel version
  rw:
    - '{HOME}/.claude.json'  # Claude config file

File access denied?

• Add required paths to rw or ro in config
• Example for SSH keys: ro: ["{HOME}/.ssh"]
• Example for NPM: rw: ["{HOME}/.npm", "{HOME}/.cache"]

Check sandbox status:

# View current config
cat ~/.config/anvillm/sandbox.yaml

# Test landrun availability
landrun --version

# Check kernel Landlock ABI version
dmesg | grep -i landlock

Error messages: Launch errors are printed to stderr regardless of debug mode. If a session fails to start, check the error output for specific issues.

For more details, see landrun documentation.

Troubleshooting

Session fails to start

If sessions fail to launch, error messages are printed to stderr. Common causes:

• Sandboxing issues: See Sandboxing → Troubleshooting section above
• Backend not installed: Run which claude or which kiro-cli
• Landlock ABI mismatch: Enable best_effort: true in sandbox config (see above)

"Backend not found" error

Make sure the backend CLI is installed and in your PATH:

which claude
which kiro-cli

Tmux windows not cleaned up

If AnviLLM exits unexpectedly, you may have orphaned tmux sessions:

tmux list-sessions | grep anvillm
tmux kill-session -t anvillm-claude
tmux kill-session -t anvillm-kiro-cli

Can't connect to 9P filesystem

Make sure plan9port is installed and 9P tools are working:

9p ls agent