Tool Setup Guides

Step-by-step instructions for connecting Lava to popular AI tools. In every case, the pattern is the same: set the API key to your lava_sk_* key, and point the base URL to Lava.

Which API format? Tools that use the OpenAI SDK or OpenAI-compatible APIs need the OpenAI format. Tools that use the Anthropic SDK (like Claude Code) need the Anthropic format. When in doubt, start with OpenAI.

Vercel AI SDK

Use Lava as your OpenAI-compatible backend in any Vercel AI SDK app.

Create a Spend Key

Go to Dashboard > AI Spend and click Create Spend Key. Set the API format to OpenAI (/v1/chat/completions), choose the model(s) you want, and copy the key.

Install dependencies

npm install ai @ai-sdk/openai

Configure Lava in your app

Add your spend key as an environment variable:

export LAVA_SPEND_KEY="lava_sk_your_key_here"

Then create an OpenAI client pointed at Lava:

import { streamText } from 'ai';
import { createOpenAI } from '@ai-sdk/openai';

const lava = createOpenAI({
  apiKey: process.env.LAVA_SPEND_KEY,
  baseURL: 'https://api.lava.so/v1',
});

const result = await streamText({
  model: lava('claude-opus-4-6'),
  messages: [{ role: 'user', content: 'Write a one-line release note.' }],
});

for await (const textPart of result.textStream) {
  process.stdout.write(textPart);
}

Run and verify usage

Send a test prompt from your app. You’ll see spend and usage on your AI Spend dashboard for that key.

Claude Code

Route Claude Code requests through Lava using Anthropic-format spend keys.

Create a Spend Key in Anthropic format

Go to Dashboard > AI Spend, click Create Spend Key, and set the API format to Anthropic (/v1/messages).

Point Claude Code to Lava

Set these environment variables before launching Claude Code:

export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="lava_sk_your_key_here"
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://api.lava.so"

Run Claude Code

Start Claude Code as normal. Requests now go through Lava’s /v1/messages path and usage is tracked in AI Spend.

Anthropic SDK

Use a Lava spend key with any Anthropic-style client or agent runtime.

Create a Spend Key for Anthropic format

Go to Dashboard > AI Spend, click Create Spend Key, and set the API format to Anthropic (/v1/messages).

Set Anthropic environment variables

export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="lava_sk_your_key_here"
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://api.lava.so"

Keep the base URL at https://api.lava.so (without /v1). Anthropic clients automatically append /v1/messages.

Use the Anthropic client as usual

import Anthropic from '@anthropic-ai/sdk';

const client = new Anthropic({
  apiKey: process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY,
  baseURL: process.env.ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL,
});

const response = await client.messages.create({
  model: 'claude-opus-4-6',
  max_tokens: 512,
  messages: [{ role: 'user', content: 'Summarize this in one paragraph.' }],
});

console.log(response.content);

Most Anthropic-based agent SDKs use the same ANTHROPIC_API_KEY and base URL settings, so once those are set, requests route through Lava automatically.

Cursor

Create a Spend Key

Go to Dashboard > AI Spend and create a key with OpenAI (/v1/chat/completions) format.

Configure Cursor

In Cursor, go to Settings > Models > OpenAI API Key. Paste your lava_sk_* key and set the base URL to https://api.lava.so/v1.

Start coding

Select a model and start coding. Usage appears in your AI Spend dashboard.

Raycast

Create a Spend Key

Go to Dashboard > AI Spend and create a key with OpenAI (/v1/chat/completions) format.

Configure Raycast

Open Raycast > Settings > Extensions > AI. Under provider settings, add a custom OpenAI-compatible provider:

API Key: your lava_sk_* key
Base URL: https://api.lava.so/v1

Start chatting

Pick a model and start chatting. Usage is tracked in AI Spend.

OpenClaw

Use Lava as a custom OpenAI-compatible provider in OpenClaw.

Create a Spend Key

Go to Dashboard > AI Spend and create a key with OpenAI (/v1/chat/completions) format.

Add Lava to your agent's model config

In your agent’s model config (e.g. ~/.openclaw/agents/<agentId>/agent/models.json):

{
  models: {
    mode: "merge",
    providers: {
      lava: {
        baseUrl: "https://api.lava.so/v1",
        apiKey: "lava_sk_your_key_here",
        api: "openai-completions",
        models: [
          { id: "claude-opus-4-6", name: "Claude Opus 4.6" },
          { id: "gpt-4o", name: "GPT-4o" }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
}

Select a Lava model

Choose one of the model IDs you configured. OpenClaw will route calls through Lava with spend controls and usage tracking.

LangChain

Connect LangChain to Lava using ChatOpenAI custom base URL support.

Create a Spend Key

Go to Dashboard > AI Spend and create a key with OpenAI (/v1/chat/completions) format.

Install LangChain OpenAI package

npm install @langchain/openai @langchain/core

Use ChatOpenAI with Lava base URL

import { ChatOpenAI } from "@langchain/openai";

const llm = new ChatOpenAI({
  model: "claude-opus-4-6",
  apiKey: process.env.LAVA_SPEND_KEY,
  configuration: {
    baseURL: "https://api.lava.so/v1",
  },
});

const response = await llm.invoke("Give me 3 bullet points about this repo.");
console.log(response.content);

Verify in AI Spend

Run a request and confirm usage appears on your AI Spend dashboard.

Cline

Create a Spend Key

Go to Dashboard > AI Spend and create a key with OpenAI (/v1/chat/completions) format.

Authenticate Cline against Lava

cline auth -p openai -k lava_sk_your_key_here -b https://api.lava.so/v1 -m claude-opus-4-6

Run Cline normally

Start Cline and run a prompt. Calls route through Lava with your key limits and usage tracking.

Codex CLI

Use Lava as a custom model provider in OpenAI Codex CLI.

Create a Spend Key

Go to Dashboard > AI Spend and create a key with OpenAI (/v1/chat/completions) format.

Set the environment variable

export LAVA_SPEND_KEY="lava_sk_your_key_here"

Add Lava to Codex config

In ~/.codex/config.toml:

model = "claude-opus-4-6"
model_provider = "lava"

[model_providers.lava]
name = "Lava"
base_url = "https://api.lava.so/v1"
env_key = "LAVA_SPEND_KEY"
wire_api = "chat"

Start Codex

Run codex as normal. Requests route through Lava, and usage appears in AI Spend.

Get Started

AI Gateway

AI Spend

Monetize

Integration

SDK

Cookbook

Comparisons

Vercel AI SDK

Claude Code

Anthropic SDK

Cursor

Raycast

OpenClaw

LangChain

Cline

Codex CLI

​Vercel AI SDK

​Claude Code

​Anthropic SDK

​Cursor

​Raycast

​OpenClaw

​LangChain

​Cline

​Codex CLI

Vercel AI SDK

Claude Code

Anthropic SDK

Cursor

Raycast

OpenClaw

LangChain

Cline

Codex CLI