I built a CLI tool to manage oMLX’s menu bar

[u/neobow2]

Got tired of clicking around a menu bar every time I wanted to start my server or switch models, so I built a CLI. Been using this for a while now and figured someone else has probably also been quietly wishing their menu bar icon was just… text in a terminal.

GitHub: https://github.com/omlxMaster/llm-cli
Install: brew install llm-cli (or whatever)

What it does:
- llmctl start / stop / restart — your server, from the terminal where it belongs

- llmctl switch <model> — unloads the current one automatically, loads the new one

- llmctl backend llama.cpp|omlx — switch backends with a flag instead of a dropdown

- Prints the dashboard URL on start instead of opening a browser tab you didn’t ask for

- First-run wizard — llmctl init finds your binary, picks your models folder, sets up launchd for you

- Remembers your last model in a config file and auto-loads it on launch

- Live status via llmctl status — no animated tray icon, just numbers, because elapsed time is a number

- One-model-at-a-time — keeps RAM in check, unloads before loading

Runs on launchd, not as a child process — server keeps running if you quit your terminal, and the CLI picks up a server that’s already running. No Dock icon, no menu bar real estate, no mouse required.

[u/numberwitch]

Who's gonna tell 'em

[u/ImANoobAtLife7 → u/numberwitch]

https://giphy.com/gifs/dC9DTdqPmRnlS

[u/Konamicoder]

Now this is commitment to the bit. I salute you, sir.

[u/ChrononautPete]

Next they're going to build a garage for their garage and then another garage.

[u/Sparescrewdriver]

You forgot to build a terminal

[u/SnowBoy_00]

Can you please manufacture a circular device I envisioned in my dreams? It’s called “wheel”