natural-language-agreements

Natural Language Agreement Oracle - Create and manage blockchain escrows using natural language demands powered by AI.

Table of Contents

• Prerequisites
• Installation
• Quick Start
• CLI Commands
• LLM Providers
• Deployment
• Examples

Prerequisites

• Node.js >= 18.0.0 (or Bun)
• Foundry - Ethereum development toolkit (includes Anvil)
• API key for at least one LLM provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, or OpenRouter)

Installation

Option 1: Install from npm (Recommended)

Install the nla CLI globally:

npm install -g nla

Verify installation:

nla help

Option 2: Install from source

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/arkhai-io/natural-language-agreements.git
cd natural-language-agreements

# Install dependencies
bun install  # or: npm install

# Link the CLI globally
bun link     # or: npm link

# Verify installation
nla help

Quick Start

1. Configure API Keys

Create a .env file or export environment variables:

# Required: At least one LLM provider
export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-openai-key
# or
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-your-anthropic-key
# or
export OPENROUTER_API_KEY=sk-or-your-openrouter-key

# Optional: Private key for deploying/signing transactions
export PRIVATE_KEY=0x...

2. Start Development Environment

Run the all-in-one setup command:

nla dev

This automatically:

• ✅ Starts Anvil (local blockchain)
• ✅ Deploys all contracts
• ✅ Creates mock ERC20 tokens
• ✅ Starts the oracle listener
• ✅ Displays contract addresses

3. Create Your First Escrow

nla escrow:create \
  --demand "The sky is blue" \
  --amount 10 \
  --token 0xa513e6e4b8f2a923d98304ec87f64353c4d5c853 \
  --oracle 0xf39Fd6e51aad88F6F4ce6aB8827279cffFb92266

4. Stop Services

nla stop

CLI Commands

Core Commands

| Command | Description | |---------|-------------| | nla dev | Start complete local development environment | | nla deploy [network] [rpc] | Deploy contracts to a network | | nla start-oracle [options] | Start the oracle service | | nla stop | Stop all running services | | nla help | Display help information |

Wallet Management

| Command | Description | |---------|-------------| | nla wallet:set --private-key <key> | Save private key to config | | nla wallet:show | Show current wallet address | | nla wallet:clear | Remove private key from config |

Escrow Operations

| Command | Description | |---------|-------------| | nla escrow:create [options] | Create a new escrow | | nla escrow:fulfill [options] | Submit fulfillment for an escrow | | nla escrow:collect [options] | Collect approved escrow funds | | nla escrow:status --escrow-uid <uid> | Check escrow status |

Environment Management

| Command | Description | |---------|-------------| | nla switch <env> | Switch between environments | | nla network | Show current environment |

Available environments: anvil, sepolia, base-sepolia, mainnet

Global Options

Most commands support these options:

| Option | Description | |--------|-------------| | --private-key <key> | Private key for signing transactions | | --rpc-url <url> | Custom RPC endpoint URL | | --deployment <file> | Path to deployment JSON file | | --env <file> | Path to .env file | | --help, -h | Show command help |

Oracle-Specific Options

When starting the oracle:

nla start-oracle [options]

| Option | Description | |--------|-------------| | --rpc-url <url> | RPC URL (overrides deployment file) | | --private-key <key> | Oracle operator private key | | --deployment <file> | Deployment file path | | --polling-interval <ms> | Polling interval (default: 5000ms) | | --openai-api-key <key> | OpenAI API key | | --anthropic-api-key <key> | Anthropic API key | | --openrouter-api-key <key> | OpenRouter API key | | --perplexity-api-key <key> | Perplexity API key |

Example with custom RPC:

nla start-oracle --rpc-url https://eth-mainnet.g.alchemy.com/v2/YOUR-KEY

Escrow Creation Options

nla escrow:create \
  --demand <text> \
  --amount <number> \
  --token <address> \
  --oracle <address> \
  [--arbitration-provider <provider>] \
  [--arbitration-model <model>] \
  [--arbitration-prompt <prompt>] \
  [--private-key <key>]

| Option | Required | Description | |--------|----------|-------------| | --demand | Yes | Natural language demand | | --amount | Yes | Token amount to escrow | | --token | Yes | ERC20 token contract address | | --oracle | Yes | Oracle address | | --arbitration-provider | No | AI provider (default: OpenAI) | | --arbitration-model | No | Model name (default: gpt-4o-mini) | | --arbitration-prompt | No | Custom prompt template | | --private-key | No | Signer private key |

NPM Scripts

If installed from source, you can use npm/bun scripts:

bun run setup              # Same as: nla dev
bun run deploy             # Same as: nla deploy
bun run oracle             # Same as: nla start-oracle
bun run stop               # Same as: nla stop
bun run escrow:create      # Same as: nla escrow:create
bun run escrow:fulfill     # Same as: nla escrow:fulfill
bun run escrow:collect     # Same as: nla escrow:collect

LLM Providers

Supported LLM Providers

The oracle supports multiple AI providers for arbitration:

1. OpenAI (default)

   • Models: gpt-4o, gpt-4o-mini, gpt-4-turbo, gpt-3.5-turbo
   • API Key: Get from OpenAI Platform
   • Environment Variable: OPENAI_API_KEY

2. Anthropic (Claude)

   • Models: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022, claude-3-opus-20240229, claude-3-sonnet-20240229
   • API Key: Get from Anthropic Console
   • Environment Variable: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY

3. OpenRouter

   • Models: Any model available on OpenRouter (e.g., openai/gpt-4, anthropic/claude-3-opus)
   • API Key: Get from OpenRouter
   • Environment Variable: OPENROUTER_API_KEY

4. Perplexity (for enhanced search)

   • Optional: Enhances LLM responses with real-time search
   • API Key: Get from Perplexity
   • Environment Variable: PERPLEXITY_API_KEY

Examples

Basic Escrow Workflow

# 1. Start development environment
nla dev

# 2. Create an escrow
nla escrow:create \
  --demand "The sky is blue" \
  --amount 10 \
  --token 0xa513e6e4b8f2a923d98304ec87f64353c4d5c853 \
  --oracle 0xf39Fd6e51aad88F6F4ce6aB8827279cffFb92266

# 3. Fulfill the escrow
nla escrow:fulfill \
  --escrow-uid 0x... \
  --fulfillment "The sky appears blue today" \
  --oracle 0xf39Fd6e51aad88F6F4ce6aB8827279cffFb92266

# 4. Check status
nla escrow:status --escrow-uid 0x...

# 5. Collect funds (if approved)
nla escrow:collect \
  --escrow-uid 0x... \
  --fulfillment-uid 0x...

Using Different AI Providers

# Create escrow with Anthropic Claude
nla escrow:create \
  --demand "Deliver package by Friday" \
  --amount 100 \
  --token 0xa513e6e4b8f2a923d98304ec87f64353c4d5c853 \
  --oracle 0x70997970C51812dc3A010C7d01b50e0d17dc79C8 \
  --arbitration-provider "Anthropic" \
  --arbitration-model "claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022"

# Create escrow with OpenRouter
nla escrow:create \
  --demand "Write a 1000-word article" \
  --amount 50 \
  --token 0xa513e6e4b8f2a923d98304ec87f64353c4d5c853 \
  --oracle 0x70997970C51812dc3A010C7d01b50e0d17dc79C8 \
  --arbitration-provider "OpenRouter" \
  --arbitration-model "anthropic/claude-3-opus"

Custom RPC and Deployment

# Deploy to custom network
nla deploy \
  --network sepolia \
  --rpc-url https://sepolia.infura.io/v3/YOUR-KEY \
  --private-key 0x...

# Start oracle with custom RPC
nla start-oracle \
  --rpc-url https://eth-mainnet.g.alchemy.com/v2/YOUR-KEY \
  --private-key 0x...

# Use specific deployment file
nla start-oracle --deployment ./my-deployment.json

Wallet Management

# Save private key globally
nla wallet:set --private-key 0x...

# Check current wallet
nla wallet:show

# Clear saved key
nla wallet:clear

Deployment to Other Networks

Sepolia Testnet

# 1. Get Sepolia ETH from faucet
# 2. Set your keys
export PRIVATE_KEY=0x...
export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...

# 3. Deploy
nla deploy sepolia https://sepolia.infura.io/v3/YOUR-KEY

# 4. Start oracle
nla start-oracle sepolia

Mainnet

# ⚠️ PRODUCTION - Be careful!
export PRIVATE_KEY=0x...
export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...

# Deploy contracts
nla deploy mainnet https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-KEY

# Start oracle (consider running as a service)
nla start-oracle --rpc-url https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-KEY

Environment Configuration

The CLI uses environment files and a config directory for storing settings:

Environment Variables

Create a .env file in your project root:

# Private Keys
PRIVATE_KEY=0x...                    # For signing transactions

# RPC URLs
RPC_URL=http://localhost:8545        # Default RPC endpoint

# LLM Provider API Keys (at least one required)
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
OPENROUTER_API_KEY=sk-or-...
PERPLEXITY_API_KEY=pplx-...          # Optional for search

Config Directory

The CLI stores configuration in ~/.nla/:

• ~/.nla/config.json - Saved wallet private key (via nla wallet:set)
• ~/.nla/environment - Current active environment

Advanced Usage

Using Custom Deployment Files

Create a custom deployment file:

{
  "network": "custom",
  "chainId": 1,
  "rpcUrl": "https://your-rpc.example.com",
  "addresses": {
    "eas": "0x...",
    "trustedOracleArbiter": "0x...",
    "erc20EscrowObligation": "0x..."
  }
}

Use it with commands:

nla start-oracle --deployment ./my-deployment.json
nla escrow:create --deployment ./my-deployment.json ...

Running Oracle as a Service

For production deployments, run the oracle as a systemd service:

[Unit]
Description=NLA Oracle Service
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=nla
WorkingDirectory=/home/nla
ExecStart=/usr/bin/nla start-oracle --rpc-url https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-KEY
Restart=always
RestartSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Multiple Environments

Switch between different networks:

# Switch to sepolia
nla switch sepolia

# Check current environment
nla network

# Switch to mainnet
nla switch mainnet

# Back to local development
nla switch anvil

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Private key is required" error:

# Option 1: Set globally
nla wallet:set --private-key 0x...

# Option 2: Export environment variable
export PRIVATE_KEY=0x...

# Option 3: Pass with command
nla deploy --private-key 0x...

"RPC URL not found" error:

# Option 1: Pass RPC URL
nla start-oracle --rpc-url https://...

# Option 2: Set in environment
export RPC_URL=https://...

# Option 3: Use deployment file with rpcUrl
nla start-oracle --deployment ./deployment.json

"No LLM provider API key" error:

# Set at least one provider key
export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...
# or
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...

Documentation

For more detailed documentation:

• CLI Documentation - Complete CLI reference
• API Documentation - GitHub repository
• Alkahest SDK - Underlying SDK

Project Structure

natural-language-agreements/
├── cli/                          # CLI tools and server components
│   ├── index.ts                  # Main CLI entry point (nla command)
│   ├── README.md                 # CLI documentation
│   ├── client/                   # User-facing escrow tools
│   │   ├── create-escrow.ts      # Create escrow CLI with arbitration config
│   │   ├── fulfill-escrow.ts     # Fulfill escrow CLI
│   │   └── collect-escrow.ts     # Collect escrow CLI
│   ├── server/                   # Server-side components
│   │   ├── deploy.ts             # Contract deployment script
│   │   └── oracle.ts             # Multi-provider oracle service
│   ├── commands/                 # CLI command implementations
│   │   ├── dev.ts                # Development environment setup
│   │   ├── stop.ts               # Stop services
│   │   ├── switch.ts             # Switch environments
│   │   └── wallet.ts             # Wallet management
│   └── deployments/              # Deployment addresses (generated)
│       ├── anvil.json
│       ├── sepolia.json
│       ├── base-sepolia.json
│       └── mainnet.json
├── nla.ts                        # Natural Language Agreement client library
├── tests/                        # Test files
│   ├── nla.test.ts
│   └── nlaOracle.test.ts
├── index.ts                      # Main exports
└── package.json                  # Package configuration

Security Notes

⚠️ Important Security Considerations:

• Never commit real private keys to version control
• Use environment variables or secure secret management for production
• The .env file is gitignored by default
• Example keys in .env.example are from Anvil - NEVER use in production
• Keep API keys secure (OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter)
• For production deployments:
  • Use hardware wallets or secure key management services
  • Implement rate limiting on the oracle
  • Monitor arbitration decisions for anomalies
  • Consider multi-signature setups for critical operations

License

MIT

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

Support

For issues and questions:

• GitHub Issues: https://github.com/arkhai-io/natural-language-agreements/issues
• Documentation: CLI README