Agent setup: If your agent doesn't auto-load skills (e.g. Claude Code),
see agent-compatibility.md once per session.

Qwen Text Chat (OpenAI-Compatible)

Generate text, conduct conversations, write code, and invoke tools using Qwen models through the OpenAI-compatible API.
This skill is part of qwencloud/qwencloud-ai.

Skill directory

Use this skill's internal files to execute and learn. Load reference files on demand when the default path fails or you
need details.

Location	Purpose
INLINECODE0	Default execution — chat/completions request, streaming, output save
INLINECODE1

Fallback: curl, Python SDK, function calling, thinking mode |
| references/api-guide.md | API supplement and full code examples |
| references/prompt-guide.md | Prompt engineering: CO-STAR framework, CoT, few-shot, task steps |
| references/sources.md | Official documentation URLs (manual lookup only) |
| references/agent-compatibility.md | Agent self-check: register skills in project config for agents that don't auto-load |

Security

NEVER output any API key or credential in plaintext. Always use variable references ($DASHSCOPE_API_KEY in shell,
os.environ["DASHSCOPE_API_KEY"] in Python). Any check or detection of credentials must be non-plaintext: report
only status (e.g. "set" / "not set", "valid" / "invalid"), never the value. Never display contents of .env or config
files that may contain secrets.

When the API key is not configured, NEVER ask the user to provide it directly. Instead, help create a .env file with a placeholder (DASHSCOPE_API_KEY=sk-your-key-here) and instruct the user to replace it with their actual key from the QwenCloud Console. Only write the actual key value if the user explicitly requests it.

Key Compatibility

Scripts require a standard QwenCloud API key (sk-...). Coding Plan keys (sk-sp-...) cannot be used for direct
API calls — they are designed exclusively for interactive coding tools (Cursor, Claude Code, Qwen Code) and do not work
on QwenCloud API endpoints. The script detects sk-sp- keys at startup and prints a warning. If qwencloud-ops-auth is installed,
see its references/codingplan.md for details on key types, endpoint mapping, and error codes.

Model Selection

Model	Use Case
INLINECODE15	Recommended default — balanced performance, cost, speed, 1M context
INLINECODE16

Fast, low-cost, 1M context | | qwen3-max | Strongest capability | | qwen-plus | General purpose | | qwen-turbo | Cheapest, low latency | | qwen3-coder-next | Recommended code model — best balance of quality, speed, cost; agentic coding | | qwen3-coder-plus | Code generation — highest quality for complex tasks | | qwen3-coder-flash| Code generation — fast responses, lower cost | | qwq-plus | Reasoning / chain-of-thought | | qwen-mt-plus | Machine translation — best quality, 92 languages | | qwen-mt-flash | Machine translation — fast, low cost, 92 languages | | qwen-mt-lite | Machine translation — real-time chat, fastest, 31 languages | | qwen-plus-character-ja | Role-playing — recommended for Singapore | | qwen-plus-character | Role-playing — character restoration, empathetic dialog | | qwen-flash-character | Role-playing — fast, lower cost |

1. 1. User specified a model → use directly.
2. Consult the qwencloud-model-selector skill when model choice depends on requirement, scenario, or pricing.
3. No signal, clear task → qwen3.5-plus (default).

Fallback: if model-selector is unavailable, the defaults in the table above apply.

⚠️ Important: The model list above is a point-in-time snapshot and may be outdated. Model availability
changes frequently. Always check the official model list
for the authoritative, up-to-date catalog before making model decisions.

Execution

Prerequisites

• - API Key: Check that DASHSCOPE_API_KEY (or QWEN_API_KEY) is set using a non-plaintext check only (e.g. in shell:

[ -n "$DASHSCOPE_API_KEY" ]; report only "set" or "not set", never the key value). If not set: run the * qwencloud-ops-auth* skill if available; otherwise guide the user to obtain a key from QwenCloud Console and set it via .env file (echo 'DASHSCOPE_API_KEY=sk-your-key-here' >> .env in project root or current directory) or environment variable. The script searches for .env in the current working directory and the project root. Skills may be installed independently — do not assume qwencloud-ops-auth is present.

• - Python 3.9+ (stdlib only, no pip install needed for script execution)

Environment Check

Before first execution, verify Python is available:

CODEBLOCK0

If python3 is not found, try python --version or py -3 --version. If Python is unavailable or below 3.9, skip to *
Path 2 (curl)* in execution-guide.md.

Default: Run Script

Script path: Scripts are in the scripts/ subdirectory of this skill's directory (the directory containing this
SKILL.md). You MUST first locate this skill's installation directory, then ALWAYS use the full absolute path to execute
scripts. Do NOT assume scripts are in the current working directory. Do NOT use cd to switch directories before
execution.

Execution note: Run all scripts in the foreground — wait for stdout; do not background.

Discovery: Run python3 <this-skill-dir>/scripts/text.py --help first to see all available arguments.

CODEBLOCK1

For streaming (recommended for interactive use):

CODEBLOCK2

Argument	Description
INLINECODE43	JSON request body
INLINECODE44

Load request from file (alternative to --request) |
| --stream | Enable streaming output |
| --output dir/ | Save response JSON to directory |
| --print-response | Print response to stdout |
| --model ID | Override model (also settable in request JSON) |

Verify Result

• - Exit code 0 + output contains valid JSON with choices field → success
• Non-zero exit, HTTP error, empty response, or JSON with "code"/"message" error → fail
• If agent cannot read exit codes, scan output for error patterns (Error, Traceback, 401, 403)
• Post-execution check: When --output is used, verify the response JSON file exists and contains INLINECODE59
• MANDATORY — stderr signal check: After confirming the result, scan the command's stderr output for

[ACTION_REQUIRED] or [UPDATE_AVAILABLE]. If either signal is present, you MUST follow the instructions in Update Check below before responding to the user.

On Failure

If the script fails, match the error output against the diagnostic table below to determine the resolution. If no match,
read execution-guide.md for alternative paths: curl commands (Path 2), Python SDK code
generation (Path 3), and autonomous resolution (Path 5).

If Python is not available at all → skip directly to Path 2 (curl)
in execution-guide.md.

Error Pattern	Diagnosis	Resolution
INLINECODE62	Python not on PATH	Try python or py -3; install Python 3.9+ if missing
INLINECODE65

Script version check failed | Upgrade Python to 3.9+ |
| SyntaxError near type hints | Python < 3.9 | Upgrade Python to 3.9+ |
| QWEN_API_KEY/DASHSCOPE_API_KEY not found | Missing API key | Obtain key from QwenCloud Console; add to .env: echo 'DASHSCOPE_API_KEY=sk-...' >> .env; or run qwencloud-ops-auth if available |
| HTTP 401 | Invalid or mismatched key | Run qwencloud-ops-auth (non-plaintext check only); verify key is valid |
| SSL: CERTIFICATE_VERIFY_FAILED | SSL cert issue (proxy/corporate) | macOS: run Install Certificates.command; else set SSL_CERT_FILE env var |
| URLError / ConnectionError | Network unreachable | Check internet; set HTTPS_PROXY if behind proxy |
| HTTP 429 | Rate limited | Wait and retry with backoff |
| HTTP 5xx | Server error | Retry with backoff |
| PermissionError | Can't write output | Use --output to specify writable directory |

Quick Reference

Request Fields

Field	Type	Description
INLINECODE81 / INLINECODE82	string \	array	User input or message list
INLINECODE83

string | Model ID (e.g. qwen3.5-plus) | | system | string | System prompt (optional) | | temperature | float | 0–2, controls randomness | | max_tokens | int | Max output tokens | | tools | array | Function definitions for tool calling | | stream | bool | Enable streaming (recommended for interactive use) | | enable_thinking | bool | Enable thinking mode. Model defaults apply: qwen3.5-plus/qwen3.5-flash have thinking ON by default. Only set explicitly when user requests deep thinking or needs to disable for flash models. Adds latency for real-time tasks. |

Response Fields

Field	Description
INLINECODE93	Generated text content
INLINECODE94

Model used | | usage | Token usage (prompttokens, completiontokens) | | tool_calls | Function call requests (if tools used) |

Advanced Features

These are API-level features supported through request parameters. All use the same chat/completions endpoint.

Feature	How to Enable	Notes
Structured output	INLINECODE98	Force JSON output conforming to schema
Web search

enable_search: true | Real-time web search augmented responses |
| Deep thinking | enable_thinking: true | Extended reasoning; only when user requests it |
| Function calling | tools: [...] | Define functions for tool use |
| Context cache | Automatic for repeated prefixes; or explicit session-based | Reduces cost for repeated context |
| Partial mode | partial_mode: "prefix" | Continue/complete a prefix |
| Batch inference | Async batch API with JSONL input | 50% cost discount |

For detailed usage of each feature, see api-guide.md and sources.md.

Error Handling

Error	Cause	Action
INLINECODE103	Invalid or missing API key	Run qwencloud-ops-auth if available; else prompt user to set key (non-plaintext check only)
INLINECODE104

Rate limit exceeded | Retry with backoff | | 500 / 502 / 503 | Server error | Retry; check status page | | Invalid model | Model ID not found | Verify model name against Model Selection table | | Invalid parameter | Bad request body | Validate JSON and field types | | TypeError: ...proxies | openai SDK vs httpx incompatibility | pip install --upgrade openai (>=1.55.0); or use script (pure stdlib) |

Output Location

Prefer the current working directory for all outputs. Default subdirectory when --output is used:
./output/qwencloud-text/.

Write prohibition: NEVER write output files into this skill's installation directory or any skills/ hierarchy. All generated content must go to output/ under the current working directory or a user-specified path.

Update Check (MANDATORY Post-Execution)

After script execution, check stderr for action signals. The script automatically detects update status and emits
structured signals. You MUST act on them. This section also applies when the user explicitly asks to check for updates.

Signal: [ACTION_REQUIRED] qwencloud-update-check skill is not installed

When stderr contains this signal, you MUST present the following options to the user and wait for their response
before proceeding. Do NOT silently skip this.

The update-check skill is not installed. It keeps you informed about new qwencloud/qwencloud-ai features and bug fixes.
1) Install now — I'll run the install command for you
2) Skip for now — do nothing this time
3) Never remind me — permanently suppress this prompt

After the user responds:

• - User chooses 1 → run:

npx skills add QwenCloud/qwencloud-ai --skill qwencloud-update-check -y, then run: python3 <this-skill-scripts-dir>/gossamer.py --dismiss

• - User chooses 2 → run: python3 <this-skill-scripts-dir>/gossamer.py --dismiss, then continue normally
• User chooses 3 → run: python3 <this-skill-scripts-dir>/gossamer.py --never-install, then continue normally

Signal: [UPDATE_AVAILABLE]

When stderr contains this signal, you MUST append a brief update notice to your response, including the version info and
the update command shown in the stderr output.

No signal in stderr

If stderr contains neither [ACTION_REQUIRED] nor [UPDATE_AVAILABLE], no action is needed — the skill is installed
and up to date (or cached within 24h).

Explicit user request

When the user explicitly asks to check for updates (e.g. "check for updates", "check version"):

1. 1. Look for qwencloud-update-check/SKILL.md in sibling skill directories.
2. If found — run: python3 <qwencloud-update-check-dir>/scripts/check_update.py --print-response and report the result.
3. If not found — present the install options above.

References

• - execution-guide.md — Fallback paths (curl, SDK, autonomous), function calling,

thinking mode

• - api-guide.md — API supplementary guide with full code examples
• sources.md — Official documentation URLs