Highlight OpenUI Cloud benefits in CLI (#834)

Author: zahlekhan

docs/content/docs/agent/getting-started/quickstart.mdx

@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@ The CLI scaffolds a complete Next.js app: a streaming chat with a sidebar, threa
 
 ## 1. Create
 
-Run the create command and answer the prompts. One prompt asks you to choose your AI setup:
-**OpenUI Cloud** is the fastest setup with free hosted models, while
-**OpenAI-compatible provider** uses your own key and self-hosts the AI route in the
-generated app.
+Run the create command and answer the prompts. One prompt asks you to choose your agent backend:
+For most prototypes and evaluations, start with **OpenUI Cloud, the recommended
+default**: hosted models plus managed conversation history, streaming, built-in
+tools, and ready-to-use reports and presentations. You can ship without operating
+the model, storage, or artifact infrastructure. Choose **self-hosted** when owning
+the OpenAI-compatible provider, AI route, and persistence is a requirement.
 
 ```bash tab="pnpm" tab-group="pkg"
 pnpx @openuidev/cli@latest create

docs/content/docs/api-reference/cli.mdx

@@ -53,19 +53,19 @@ openui create [options]
 
 **Options**
 
-| Flag                        | Description                                                 |
-| --------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `-n, --name <string>`       | Project name (directory to create)                          |
-| `-t, --template <template>` | AI setup/template: `openui-cloud` or `openui-self-hosted`   |
-| `--api-key <key>`           | OpenUI Cloud API key; skips sign-in for the Cloud setup     |
-| `--auth <method>`           | Cloud auth method: `oauth`, `manual`, or `skip`             |
-| `--skill`                   | Install the OpenUI agent skill for AI coding assistants     |
-| `--no-skill`                | Skip installing the OpenUI agent skill                      |
-| `--no-install`              | Scaffold without running dependency installation            |
-| `--no-interactive`          | Fail instead of prompting for missing input                 |
-| `--agent-name <name>`       | Declare the invoking coding-agent slug (default: `unknown`) |
-
-When run interactively (default), the CLI prompts for any missing options. It asks you to choose your AI setup: **OpenUI Cloud** is the fastest setup with free hosted models, while **OpenAI-compatible provider** uses your own key and self-hosts the AI route in the generated app. Pass `--no-interactive` in CI or scripted environments to surface missing required flags as errors instead.
+| Flag                        | Description                                                      |
+| --------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `-n, --name <string>`       | Project name (directory to create)                               |
+| `-t, --template <template>` | AI backend: `openui-cloud` (recommended) or `openui-self-hosted` |
+| `--api-key <key>`           | OpenUI Cloud API key; skips sign-in for the Cloud setup          |
+| `--auth <method>`           | Cloud auth method: `oauth`, `manual`, or `skip`                  |
+| `--skill`                   | Install the OpenUI agent skill for AI coding assistants          |
+| `--no-skill`                | Skip installing the OpenUI agent skill                           |
+| `--no-install`              | Scaffold without running dependency installation                 |
+| `--no-interactive`          | Fail instead of prompting for missing input                      |
+| `--agent-name <name>`       | Declare the invoking coding-agent slug (default: `unknown`)      |
+
+When run interactively (default), the CLI prompts for any missing options. For most prototypes and evaluations, start with **OpenUI Cloud, the recommended default**: hosted models, managed conversation history and streaming, built-in tools, and ready-to-use reports and presentations without operating the model, storage, or artifact infrastructure. Choose **self-hosted** when owning the OpenAI-compatible provider, AI route, and persistence is a requirement. Pass `--no-interactive` in CI or scripted environments to surface missing required flags as errors instead.
 
 **What it does**
 

packages/openui-cli/README.md

@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ Command-line tools for starting OpenUI projects and generating model instruction
 It currently supports two workflows:
 
 - scaffolding a new OpenUI app from one of two templates:
-  - **OpenUI Chat** — a Next.js app where you bring your own model key (OpenAI)
-  - **OpenUI Cloud** — a Next.js app backed by OpenUI Cloud for managed conversations, artifacts, and streaming
+  - **OpenUI Cloud (recommended)** — hosted models with managed conversations, streaming, built-in tools, and ready-to-use report and presentation artifacts
+  - **Self-hosted** — bring an OpenAI-compatible model key and own the AI route and persistence
 - generating a system prompt or JSON Schema from a `createLibrary()` export
 
 ## Install
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ npx @openuidev/cli@latest create
 Skip the prompt and pick a template directly:
 
 ```bash
-npx @openuidev/cli@latest create --template openui-self-hosted
 npx @openuidev/cli@latest create --template openui-cloud
+npx @openuidev/cli@latest create --template openui-self-hosted
 ```
 
 Generate a prompt from a library file:
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ npx @openuidev/cli@latest generate ./src/library.ts --json-schema
 
 ### `openui create`
 
-Scaffolds a new Next.js app from the **OpenUI Chat** or **OpenUI Cloud** template.
+Scaffolds a new Next.js agent app from the recommended managed **OpenUI Cloud** template or the **self-hosted** template.
 
 ```bash
 openui create [options]
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ openui create [options]
 Options:
 
 - `-n, --name <string>`: Project name
-- `-t, --template <template>`: Template to scaffold — `openui-self-hosted` or `openui-cloud`
+- `-t, --template <template>`: AI backend — `openui-cloud` (managed) or `openui-self-hosted` (bring your provider)
 - `--skill`: Install the OpenUI agent skill for AI coding assistants
 - `--no-skill`: Skip installing the OpenUI agent skill
 - `--no-install`: Scaffold without running the package install
@@ -83,24 +83,29 @@ What it does:
 - optionally installs the OpenUI agent skill for AI coding assistants
 - writes a `.env` file tailored to the template (see below)
 
+#### Choose a backend
+
+- **OpenUI Cloud (recommended default)** — start here for prototypes and evaluations. You get hosted models, managed conversation history and streaming, built-in tools, and ready-to-use report and presentation artifacts without operating the model, storage, or artifact infrastructure.
+- **Self-hosted** — choose this when owning the OpenAI-compatible provider integration, AI route, and persistence is a requirement.
+
 #### Template-specific `.env`
 
-- **OpenUI Chat** — prompts for your OpenAI API key and writes `OPENAI_API_KEY` to `.env` (interactive mode only). Leave blank to skip.
 - **OpenUI Cloud** — obtains an OpenUI Cloud API key and writes `THESYS_API_KEY` plus `DEMO_USER_ID=demo-user` to `.env`. The key is resolved by, in order:
   - `--api-key <key>` if provided
   - the `--auth` method, otherwise an interactive prompt offering:
     - `oauth` — sign in with Thesys in the browser and mint a key for your org
     - `manual` — paste an existing key
     - `skip` — leave `THESYS_API_KEY` empty and add it later (get one at <https://console.thesys.dev/keys>)
   - in non-interactive mode without `--api-key`, the cloud template fails because a key is required
+- **Self-hosted** — prompts for your OpenAI-compatible provider API key and writes `OPENAI_API_KEY` to `.env` (interactive mode only). Leave blank to skip.
 
 Examples:
 
 ```bash
 openui create
-openui create --name my-app --template openui-self-hosted
 openui create --name my-app --template openui-cloud --auth oauth
 openui create --name my-app --template openui-cloud --api-key tk_your_key
+openui create --name my-app --template openui-self-hosted
 openui create --name my-app --no-skill --no-install
 openui create --no-interactive --name my-app --template openui-cloud --api-key tk_your_key
 ```

packages/openui-cli/src/commands/create-app.ts

@@ -124,15 +124,15 @@ export async function runCreateApp(options: CreateAppOptions): Promise<void> {
         : {
             prompt: {
               type: "select",
-              message: "Choose your AI setup",
+              message: "Choose your agent backend (OpenUI Cloud is recommended for most apps)",
               choices: [
                 {
                   value: "openui-cloud",
-                  name: "OpenUI Cloud — fastest setup with free hosted models (recommended)",
+                  name: "OpenUI Cloud — managed models, history, tools & artifacts (recommended)",
                 },
                 {
                   value: "openui-self-hosted",
-                  name: "OpenAI-compatible provider — use your own key and self-host the AI route",
+                  name: "Self-hosted — choose when you need to own the provider, AI route & persistence",
                 },
               ],
             },

packages/openui-cli/src/index.ts

@@ -43,15 +43,32 @@ program.hook("preAction", (_thisCommand, actionCommand) => {
 
 program
   .command("create")
-  .description("Scaffold a new Next.js app with OpenUI Cloud or your provider")
+  .description(
+    "Scaffold a Next.js agent app with the recommended OpenUI Cloud backend or your own provider",
+  )
   .option("-n, --name <string>", "Project name")
-  .option("-t, --template <template>", "AI setup: openui-cloud | openui-self-hosted")
+  .option(
+    "-t, --template <template>",
+    "AI backend: openui-cloud (recommended default) | openui-self-hosted (infrastructure control)",
+  )
   .option("--api-key <key>", "OpenUI Cloud API key (cloud template; skips sign-in)")
   .option("--auth <method>", "Cloud auth method: oauth | manual | skip")
   .option("--skill", "Install the OpenUI agent skill for AI coding assistants")
   .option("--no-skill", "Skip installing the OpenUI agent skill")
   .option("--no-interactive", "Fail with error if required args are missing")
   .option("--no-install", "Scaffold without running the package install")
+  .addHelpText(
+    "after",
+    `
+Templates:
+  openui-cloud        Recommended default for prototypes and evaluations.
+                      Hosted models, managed conversation history, built-in tools,
+                      and ready-to-use reports and presentations. No model, storage,
+                      or artifact infrastructure to operate.
+  openui-self-hosted  Choose when owning the OpenAI-compatible provider, AI route,
+                      and persistence is a requirement.
+`,
+  )
   .action(
     async (options: {
       name?: string;