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Get Fabric "Open Source Framework for Augmenting Humans with AI" Client Up And Running on a Mac

What's this talk about "hack your life to get superpowers"?

Feb 19, 2024 update:

Original Feb 14, 2024 video, recorded before the Feb 16 GitHub project announcement:

Table of Contents

Views expressed are my own.

Intended Audience

This step-by-step procedure is intended for novice/aspirational coders like myself who have heard of the excitement around “Fabric” but have not yet been successful in getting it off the ground. That was me until this morning.

Never heard of Fabric? Spend 15 seconds here:

Then check out:

Pretty inspiring, eh?!

Prerequisites

Imagine The Possibilities

“That's what it looks like: I mean, what you're doing is insane. Normal productivity is this level and you've gone like crazy with AI.”

David Bombal

Learn What, Why and How in the GitHub Project

Install Visual Studio Code

Get an Open AI Key

Minimal hands on keyboard experience required

  • I have very little coding experience:

    • Excel macros in Visual Basic

    • IT audit of Financial system SaaS

  • Never used Visual Studio Code before

  • Took the Augmented course

  • Got a crash course from awesome developer friends

  • If I can do it you can do it!

“Quickstart”

Following the instructions in the GitLab package wasn’t very “quick” for a rookie like me, but I got to the endzone with the following steps:

Setting up the fabric client

1. Download Code ZIP file

2. Extract the ZIP file, and add fabric-main to your new VSCode project folder

3. Open the fabric-main folder in Visual Studio Code

4. Open a new terminal

5. Navigate to the client’s directory

cd client

This just means to navigate to this subfolder in your directory

6. Install poetry “if you don’t have it already” LOL yeah I definitely didn’t have it!

pip3 install poetry

7.1 Install the required packages

poetry install

7.2 Install the required packages option 2 (if 7.1 fails)

python3.12 -m poetry install
  • I needed step 7.2 for a second install on a different Mac

8. Add the path to the fabric client to your shell

echo 'alias fabric="python3 /Users/cpatocybersecurity/VSCode/fabric-main/client/fabric/fabric.py"' >> ~/.zshrc
alias fabric="python3 /Users/cpatocybersecurity/VSCode/fabric-main/client/fabric/fabric.py"

9.1 Activate the virtual environment

poetry shell

9.2. Activate the virtual environment option 2 (if 9.1 fails)

python3.12 -m poetry shell
  • Right click/New File named “.env”

Check if it’s working

10. Make sure you can access the help description via the shell

fabric -h

11. It worked!

  1. Fabric Setup

fabric --setup

Note I grabbed these screenshots from the Mac2 install, the prior screenshots were from Mac1

Start Exploring Patterns

Go where your curiosity takes you. And the question is: how do I become curious? Well, you’ve got to expose yourself to a lot of things and you have to have something that you want to do in the world, right? And once you have those things and you start exposing yourself, ideas pop up.

You have curiosities, you start chasing them. And then pretty soon you're hacking because hacking is like answering questions.

And it's the same with AI. The most important thing is not that you have that tooling. The most important thing is that you know what you want to do.

Daniel Miessler

12. Trying out the write_essay pattern

  • I input the following text into fabric, the way you would into the Chat GPT web interface:

echo "write a 3 paragraph essay on why cybersecurity GRC is awesome and underrated. Provide tips for people with diverse backgrounds such as accounting to break in" | fabric --stream --pattern write_essay

13. Review output

Cybersecurity Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC) is a field that, despite its critical importance in the digital age, often flies under the radar. At its core, GRC is about establishing and maintaining a framework to ensure that an organization's information technology systems are secure, compliant with regulations, and operating within acceptable risk levels. This might sound like a niche concern, but in an era where data breaches can cost companies millions and severely damage their reputation, the role of GRC is anything but peripheral. It's the unsung hero of the tech world, ensuring that businesses can operate smoothly and securely. What makes GRC truly awesome is its ability to blend technical acumen with strategic oversight, making it a unique bridge between the IT department and the boardroom.

For individuals from diverse backgrounds such as accounting, breaking into cybersecurity GRC might seem daunting at first glance. However, the skills and perspectives they bring can be incredibly valuable. Accountants, for example, are already well-versed in compliance and risk management in financial terms, which is a solid foundation to build upon. To transition into cybersecurity GRC, they should start by familiarizing themselves with the basics of information security principles and technology. Online courses and certifications such as Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) or Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) can be excellent starting points. Networking with professionals in the field through industry events or online platforms can also provide invaluable insights and opportunities.

Moreover, leveraging their background in accounting, individuals can highlight their understanding of regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and internal controls when applying for roles in cybersecurity GRC. These are areas where their expertise can shine and make a significant impact. It's also beneficial to develop a mindset that is curious about technology and its implications for security and compliance. Cybersecurity GRC is a dynamic field that requires continuous learning and adaptation. By embracing this challenge and leveraging their unique skills, individuals from accounting or similar backgrounds can not only break into cybersecurity GRC but also thrive and drive innovation within it.

In conclusion, cybersecurity GRC is an awesome and underrated field that plays a crucial role in safeguarding our digital world. For those looking to break into this field from diverse backgrounds such as accounting, the journey involves building upon existing skills, embracing continuous learning, and connecting with the cybersecurity community. With the right approach, they can make a seamless transition and contribute significantly to the evolving landscape of cybersecurity governance, risk management, and compliance.

Open AI via Fabric

This component of the Fabric ecosystem has worked! Much more now to explore.