[Github](https://github.com/pinecone-io/sample-apps/tree/main/pinecone-assistant)
[Open in a new window](https://pinecone-assistant.showcase.pinecone.io/)

***

## Built with

- Pinecone Assistant API
- Next.js + tailwind
- Node version 20 or higher

***

## Run the sample app

The fastest way to get started is to use the `create-pinecone-app` CLI tool to get up and running:

```bash theme={null}
npx -y create-pinecone-app@latest --template pinecone-assistant
```

### Get your API key

You need an API key to make API calls to your Pinecone project:

Then copy your generated key:

```
PINECONE_API_KEY="{{YOUR_API_KEY}}"
```

Alternatively, follow these steps:

1. Open the Pinecone console.
2. Select your project.
3. Go to **[API Keys](https://app.pinecone.io/organizations/-/projects/-/keys)**.
4. Copy your API key.

### Create a Pinecone Assistant

You can create a Pinecone Assistant [in the console](https://app.pinecone.io/organizations/-/projects/-/assistant), or by following the instructions [here](/guides/build-an-assistant-create-assistant).

### Start the project

**Requires Node version 20+**

#### Dependency installation

From the project root directory, run the following command:

```bash theme={null}
cd pinecone-assistant && npm install
```

Make sure you have populated the `.env` file with relevant keys:

```bash theme={null}
PINECONE_API_KEY="your-pinecone-api-key-here"
PINECONE_ASSISTANT_NAME="your-pinecone-assistant-name-here"
# Set this if you want users chatting with your assistant to be able to see
# and click into the files used as references in answers
SHOW_ASSISTANT_FILES=true
```

Start the app:

```bash theme={null}
npm run dev
```

## Project structure

This project uses a standard Next.js application structure with API routes for backend functionality.

**Frontend client**

The frontend uses Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and custom React components to power the chat interface.

**Backend server**

This project uses Next.js API routes to proxy requests to the Pinecone Assistant API.

![Pinecone Assistant](../img/site-assets/mintcdn.com/pinecone/r0TaYXrfSrAYZYUj/images/pinecone-assistant-architecture-150bm06.png)

***

### Key features

1. **Connect to existing Pinecone Assistant**: Connect to an existing Pinecone Assistant to provide a chat experience that can be hosted privately or publicly.

2. **Streaming responses**: Ask questions of the assistant and get responses streamed to the frontend in real-time.

3. **Reference highlighting**: Documents that were used in answering user questions are highlighted as references.

### Implementation details

**Server action for chat**

The server action creates a stream with Pinecone Assistants:

```typescript theme={null}
'use server'

import { createStreamableValue } from 'ai/rsc'
import { EventSource } from 'extended-eventsource';

type Message = {
  role: string;
  content: string;
}

export async function chat(messages: Message[]) {

  // Create an initial stream, which we'll populate with events from the Pinecone Assistants API
  const stream = createStreamableValue()

  // Construct the full URL to the Pinecone Assistant API for the specific assistant
  // indicated by the user
  const url = `${process.env.PINECONE_ASSISTANT_URL}/${process.env.PINECONE_ASSISTANT_NAME}/chat/completions`

  const eventSource = new EventSource(url, {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify({
      stream: true,
      messages,
    }),
    headers: {
      Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PINECONE_API_KEY}`,
      'X-Project-Id': process.env.PINECONE_ASSISTANT_ID!,
    },
    disableRetry: true,
  });

  // When we receive a new message from the Pinecone Assistant API, we update the stream
  // unless the Assistant is done, in which case we close the stream
  eventSource.onmessage = (event: MessageEvent) => {
    const message = JSON.parse(event.data)
    if (message?.choices[0]?.finish_reason) {
      eventSource.close();
      stream.done();
    } else {
      stream.update(event.data)
    }
  };

  eventSource.onerror = (error) => {
    console.error('EventSource error:', error);
    eventSource.close();
  };

  return { object: stream.value }
}
```

**Chat functionality**

The chat functionality in the Home component consumes the stream from the server action and updates the UI in real-time:

```typescript theme={null}
const handleChat = async () => {
    if (!input.trim()) return;

    const newUserMessage: Message = {
      id: uuidv4(), // Generate a unique ID
      role: 'user',
      content: input,
      timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
    };

    setMessages(prevMessages => [...prevMessages, newUserMessage]);
    setInput('');
    setIsStreaming(true);

    try {
      const { object } = await chat([newUserMessage]);
      let accumulatedContent = '';
      const newAssistantMessage: Message = {
        id: uuidv4(),
        role: 'assistant',
        content: '',
        timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
        references: []
      };

      setMessages(prevMessages => [...prevMessages, newAssistantMessage]);

      // Process the response stream from the Assistant that is created in the ./actions.ts Server action
      for await (const chunk of readStreamableValue(object)) {
        try {
          const data = JSON.parse(chunk);
          const content = data.choices[0]?.delta?.content;

          if (content) {
            accumulatedContent += content;
          }

          setMessages(prevMessages => {
            const updatedMessages = [...prevMessages];
            const lastMessage = updatedMessages[updatedMessages.length - 1];
            lastMessage.content = accumulatedContent;
            return updatedMessages;
          });

        } catch (error) {
          console.error('Error parsing chunk:', error);
        }
      }

      // Extract references after the full message is received
      const extractedReferences = extractReferences(accumulatedContent);
      setReferencedFiles(extractedReferences);

    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Error in chat:', error);
      setError('An error occurred while chatting.');
    } finally {
      setIsStreaming(false);
    }
  };
```

***

## Troubleshooting

Experiencing any issues with the sample app?
[Submit an issue, create a PR](https://github.com/pinecone-io/sample-apps/), or post in our [community forum](https://community.pinecone.io)!

## Related pages

- [Account management](./account-management-index.md)
- [Admin](./admin-2-index.md)
- [Admin](./admin-index.md)
- [APIs](./apis-index.md)
- [Architecture](./architecture-index.md)
- [Assistants](./assistants-index.md)
- [Bring Your Own Cloud](./bring-your-own-cloud-index.md)
- [Build an assistant](./build-an-assistant-index.md)
- [Build an integration](./build-an-integration-index.md)
- [Changelog](./changelog-index.md)

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