Building a Cassandra To-Do List ChatGPT Plugin

ChatGPT plugins offer a way to extend the capabilities of OpenAI's ChatGPT by integrating custom functionalities directly into the conversational AI interface. These plugins enable users to interact with specialized features, transforming ChatGPT into a versatile tool for various tasks. Think of a ChatGPT plugin as a handy tool belt that equips OpenAI's ChatGPT with specialized superpowers. Just like adding a new gadget to your arsenal, a plugin empowers ChatGPT to perform specific tasks seamlessly within the conversation. 

In this blog, we'll dive into implementing the Cassandra to-do list ChatGPT plugin, which acts as a virtual personal assistant for managing your to-do list. It's like having a dedicated task organizer right beside you during your AI-powered conversations. With this plugin, you can effortlessly create, view, and delete tasks, bringing a new level of productivity and organization to your chat-based interactions with ChatGPT.

Introduction

The Cassandra to-do list ChatGPT plugin offers seamless integration of a to-do list functionality within the ChatGPT interface. If you want to add items to a to-do list stored in DataStax Astra using your ChatGPT interface or use the CassioML repo as a starting point for another project, then this blog is a great place to start. 

The plugin is designed to work hand-in-hand with the ChatGPT Plugins and DataStax Astra Documentation, enabling users to enhance their conversational AI experience and get introduced to the world of ChatGPT plugins. In this blog, we will walk you through the process of setting up and utilizing the Cassandra to-do list ChatGPT plugin.

While this particular blog is just providing a demo for basic functionality, with the Astra — GPT Plugin, you could use Astra as a knowledge base, adding links, concepts, and ideas to an Astra Database. You could also create a list of articles to read or videos to watch; you could create a modern Rolodex on Astra, having GPT store contact information, notes, and instruction, or have GPT store its output in an Astra database for later reference. With a little imagination, you can extend this service to many use cases.   

Prerequisites for ChatGPT Plugins With Astra

To get started, you'll need plugin developer access from OpenAI. If you haven't already joined the waitlist, you can do so here. You’ll also need an Astra Account from DataStax or to be familiar enough with Cassandra to use an alternative Cassandra database. Sign up for a Free Tier Astra account here. For an effortless setup, we have provided a Gitpod quickstart option– though you’ll still need to fill in your own credentials before it will run seamlessly. Simply click on the "Open in Gitpod" button found in our GitHub repository to get started.

Getting Started With the Repo

Cloning the Repository

Begin by cloning the Cassandra to-do list ChatGPT plugin repository to your local machine. Open your terminal and execute the following command:

git clone https://github.com/CassioML/cassandra-todolist-chatgpt-plugin

Once the repository is cloned, navigate into the directory using the command:

cd cassandra-todolist-chatgpt-plugin

Installing Prerequisites

Install the necessary packages for the plugin by running the following command:

pip install -r requirements.txt

This will ensure that all the required dependencies are installed and ready for use.

Note that if you use the Gitpod deployment method, you’ll deploy a cloud coding environment with all of these steps completed already.

Database and API Setup

To use the Cassandra to-do list ChatGPT plugin, you need to set up the database and configure the API spec. Please refer to our comprehensive documentation on database setup and API configuration for detailed instructions. Note that having a Cassandra server or DataStax Astra DB is essential for the plugin to function properly. Instructions for how to create an AstraDB are included in detail below, with an alternate method in the CassioML documentation.

Running the API

To start the Cassandra to-do list ChatGPT plugin, execute the following command in your terminal:

python main.py

This will initialize the plugin with a connection to your localhost machine as the server server and prepare it for interaction with the ChatGPT interface.

Plugin Installation and Usage

Open your web browser and navigate here.

In the Model dropdown, select "Plugins" (if it's not visible, you might need plugin developer access).

Choose "Plugin store" from the menu.

Select "Develop your own plugin" and enter localhost:5003 as the URL for the locally running server. Note that this method works for a deployment generated with a git clone command running on your local machine. If you want to use a deployment from Gitpod, you’ll need to copy the port information from your Gitpod > Ports tab and then change the values of your server and API URLs in your Plugin Manifest and in your OpenAPI specification file. 

Click "Find manifest file" to discover the plugin. Chat GPT will try to detect it. If it isn’t able to do so, you may not have made the port public.

Congratulations! The Cassandra to-do list ChatGPT plugin is now installed and enabled. Start exploring its capabilities by asking questions like "What is on my to-do list?" and adding new tasks with commands like "Add 'Buy groceries' to my to-do list."

Note that there is a significantly more detailed discussion of how to enable the plugin in the Setup > Enabling your plugin section of the STACK knowledge base below.

Getting Help

If you encounter any issues or have questions during the process of building or troubleshooting the plugin, we encourage you to join our Developer community forum. Participate in discussions, ask questions, and get valuable insights from the community. Click here to join the forum. You can also reach out to the Cassandra Community at planetcassandra.org.

Conclusion

In this blog, we have provided you with a step-by-step guide to build and utilize the Cassandra to-do list ChatGPT plugin. By following these instructions, you can seamlessly integrate a powerful to-do list functionality into your ChatGPT experience. We encourage you to explore the endless possibilities of ChatGPT plugins and create your own custom plugins tailored to your unique needs. Enhance your conversational AI capabilities with ChatGPT plugins and unlock a whole new level of productivity and engagement. Happy coding!