Inventory Management App for Electronics Hobbyists

Keeping track of electronic components and parts can be a challenge for hobbyists and makers. The Inventory Management App is a command-line tool designed to make this process simple, flexible, and efficient—without the need for a full database setup or complex configuration.

Overview

This Python-based application lets you add, search, and edit product information for your electronics inventory. It supports both manual entry and AI-assisted product creation using OpenAI’s ChatGPT, with all data stored in a single JSON file for easy management.

Features

• Search Products:
  • Quickly find products by name or attribute.
  • View detailed information for each item.
• Add New Product (Manual):
  • Enter product details manually and edit all fields after creation.
• Add Product with AI:
  • Enter a product name or title and let the app use ChatGPT to auto-populate all product fields.
  • Review and edit the generated details.
• Edit Product Details:
  • Update any field, including location, quantity, and custom attributes.
  • Soft-delete products if needed.
• Persistent Storage:
  • All products are stored in products.json (excluded from version control).
  • Example data is provided in products.json.example.

Installation & Setup

Prerequisites

• Python 3.x
• Internet connection (for AI integration)
• An OpenAI API key (for AI product entry)

Steps

1. Clone the repository:

     git clone https://github.com/makerforgetech/inventory.git
     cd inventory
   

2. Install dependencies:

     pip install requests
   

3. Set your OpenAI API key (optional, for AI features):

     export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...yourkey...
   

Usage

Run the app with:

python3 cli.py

Or use the provided script:

./run.sh

You can also create a shell alias for quick access. See the README for details.

Main Menu Options

1. Search for product — Find and view/edit products.
2. Add new product — Manually add a new item.
3. Add product with AI — Use ChatGPT to auto-fill product details.
4. Exit

Product Details Menu

• Edit any field
• Adjust quantity
• Add/edit location
• Delete (soft delete)
• Return to main menu

OpenAI Integration

The “Add product with AI” feature uses the OpenAI ChatGPT API to generate product details from a product name or URL. Set your OPENAI_API_KEY environment variable to enable this feature.

Troubleshooting

• Ensure your OpenAI API key is set and valid for AI features.
• If the AI-generated product is not valid JSON, try again or edit manually.

Repository

Find the source code and more details on GitHub: makerforgetech/inventory

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This tool is open source and designed for makers who want a simple, scriptable way to manage their electronics inventory. Contributions and feedback are welcome!