GhostShell AI: A Forgotten Computer That Talks Back 👻

Titly Dhara — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 16:21:03 +0000

This is a submission for the Hacktoberfest Open-Source AI Challenge Week 4: Ghost in the Machine

What I Built

What if an abandoned computer could talk to you?

I built GhostShell AI, a spooky, interactive terminal experience featuring a fictional ghost named Wisp, who lives inside an old computer system called OLD-MAINFRAME.

Wisp responds to visitors, explains commands in simple language, and gives spooky but clear warnings about potentially dangerous commands. The goal was to turn a familiar programming interface into something creative, interactive, and educational.

I interpreted the “Ghost in the Machine” theme as bringing a personality to a forgotten computer system using open-source AI.

Demo

GhostShell AI runs locally on my computer using Streamlit and Ollama.

The application uses Gemma 3 1B to generate Wisp's responses. A screenshot of the interface is included as the cover image. I recommend adding a screenshot or short screen recording showing Wisp responding to a prompt as well.

Code

👩‍💻 GitHub Repository: https://github.com/titlydhara12-spec/GhostShell--AI

The repository contains the application, AI response logic, safety-classification rules, tests, and setup requirements.

Feel free to explore the code and share suggestions!

How I Built It

I used Python, Streamlit, Ollama, and Gemma 3 1B to build the experience.

Here is how the main components work:

Streamlit: Provides the interactive web interface.

Ollama: Runs the language model locally.

Gemma 3 1B: Generates Wisp's character-driven responses.

Safety.py: Checks user input against predefined command patterns and classifications.

Testsafety.py: Tests selected safety-classification cases.

The application classifies user input before deciding how to present it to the model. Commands are simulated and explained rather than executed by the application.

This is a learning prototype, not a complete security system. Its command detection uses predefined patterns and cannot identify every potentially dangerous command.

Why Does Open Innovation Matter?

Open innovation made this project possible for me as a student and beginner developer.

Using an open-weight model through Ollama gave me a way to experiment with AI locally instead of depending entirely on a hosted AI API. It also helped me understand how a language model, a user interface, and a basic safety layer can work together.

Open-source tools make experimentation more accessible, encourage developers to learn from one another, and give projects room to grow through community feedback.

I hope others can explore GhostShell AI, suggest improvements, and help make it better.

My Agent Session

The idea behind GhostShell AI is simple: a forgotten machine still has a story to tell.

The Spirit of It

The idea behind GhostShell AI is simple: a forgotten machine still has a story to tell.

Wisp is not just there to answer questions. The character turns ordinary terminal interactions into a small fictional experience, where curiosity meets a little mystery.

Building this project reminded me that AI projects don't always need to solve a huge problem to be interesting. Sometimes, combining a simple idea with the right tools is enough to create something worth exploring.

Prize Categories

Best Use of Gemma

GhostShell AI uses Gemma 3 1B through Ollama to generate Wisp's responses, making Gemma a core part of the experience.

Built with curiosity, Python, and a little bit of digital mystery. 👻

devchallenge #hf26challenge

DEV Community: Titly Dhara