In a world where apps are getting more feature-rich and complex, Prompt is taking a step backwards and aiming to be ‘a command line for the real world.’
Tagline aside, the application (SMS/Slack/Web) lets you text commands to a number of integrations to do things like change the temperature on a Nest thermostat, order pizza from Domino’s or find out what else that guy on Scandal was in via a quick IMDB search.
At launch, there are a number of integrations, including Google Translate, IMDB, Hacker News, Whois, Easy, Uber, Nest, Angel List, Twitter, Wikipedia, Wolfram Alpha and others. You can view the complete list of Prompt integrations and commands here.
Prompt also plans to begin work on integrations with WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber, Skype, Telegram and HipChat.
The only potential drawback to Prompt is — much like using the command line — the syntax plays a key role in determining the outcome of your request. Put simply, if it’s wrong, you’ll get nothing.
Tom Hadfield, Prompt’s creator, says his team is working on building out more natural language processing to give the commands a bit of wiggle room, but it plans to keep the app command line-like.
Prompt is also offering a Chatbot Development Kit that allows developers to build chatbots in about 30 minutes with 30 lines of code. In the future, the company plans to offer chatbot hosting, payment processing and analytics. Some of these commands could even be premium, allowing developers to create paid integrations where Prompt takes a commission of each transaction.
➤ A command line for the real world [Prompt via TechCrunch]
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