Setup Documentation · v0.8.4

AI coding tool setup

Point any Claude-capable tool at The Distillery on http://localhost:3080 to cut token costs without changing your workflow.

Tools: 11
Proxy port: 3080
Protocol: HTTP
Auth: Bearer
Scope: local-only

§0Install & start

One-time install. This boots the proxy on port 3080.

bash

npm install -g thedistillery
thedistillery auth login       # stores an API key locally
thedistillery start             # listens on http://localhost:3080

Then follow the section for your tool below.

Comparing approaches first? The Distillery vs Claude Code Router breaks down compression vs model-routing for cost reduction.

§1Claude Codeagentverified

Anthropic's official CLI. Auto-configured — thedistillery start injects ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL into Claude Code's settings. No shell export needed.

Vendor: Anthropic
Auth: OAuth
Config: auto-configured
OpenAI-compat: no
Verified: yes

bash

thedistillery start
claude

§2Clineagentverified

VS Code extension. Uses cline.anthropicBaseUrl in user settings.json.

Vendor: saoudrizwan
Auth: API key
Config: settings.json
OpenAI-compat: no
Verified: yes

settings.json

{
  "cline.anthropicBaseUrl": "http://localhost:3080"
}

§3Gooseagentverified

Block's open-source agent. Uses ANTHROPIC_HOST (not ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL).

Vendor: Block
Auth: API key
Config: env var
OpenAI-compat: no
Verified: yes

bash

export ANTHROPIC_HOST=http://localhost:3080
goose session

windows

set ANTHROPIC_HOST=http://localhost:3080
goose session

Note:Goose uses ANTHROPIC_HOST specifically. Setting ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL silently routes to the default endpoint.

§4Hermes-AgentagentOAI-compat

Goes through the OpenAI-compat adapter at /v1. Set OPENAI_BASE_URL.

Vendor: Hermes
Auth: API key
Config: env var
OpenAI-compat: yes
Verified: yes

bash

export OPENAI_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3080/v1
hermes start

windows

set OPENAI_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3080/v1
hermes start

§5Roo Codeagentverified

VS Code fork of Cline. Uses roo-cline.anthropicBaseUrl.

Vendor: RooVetGit
Auth: API key
Config: settings.json
OpenAI-compat: no
Verified: yes

settings.json

{
  "roo-cline.anthropicBaseUrl": "http://localhost:3080"
}

§6Continue.devOAI-compatverified

Open-source assistant for VS Code / JetBrains. Set apiBase on the Anthropic model entry.

Vendor: Continue
Auth: API key
Config: config.json
OpenAI-compat: yes
Verified: yes

~/.continue/config.json

{
  "models": [{
    "provider": "anthropic",
    "model": "claude-sonnet-4-5",
    "apiBase": "http://localhost:3080/v1/"
  }]
}

Note:apiBase MUST end in /v1/ — trailing slash required. Without it, Continue builds /messages instead of /v1/messages and the request fails.

§7Zedunverified

Collaborative editor with built-in AI. Uses language_models.anthropic.api_url.

Vendor: Zed Industries
Auth: API key
Config: settings.json
OpenAI-compat: no
Verified: no

~/.config/zed/settings.json

{
  "language_models": {
    "anthropic": {
      "api_url": "http://localhost:3080",
      "version": "1"
    }
  }
}

§8AiderOAI-compatverified

CLI pair-programmer. Uses its OpenAI-compatible client to reach the proxy's /v1.

Vendor: Paul Gauthier
Auth: API key
Config: CLI flags
OpenAI-compat: yes
Verified: yes

bash

aider --openai-api-base http://localhost:3080/v1 --model openai/claude-sonnet-4-5

Or persist the config in ~/.aider.conf.yml:

~/.aider.conf.yml (unix)

openai-api-base: http://localhost:3080/v1
model: openai/claude-sonnet-4-5

# Then set the required env var:
export OPENAI_API_KEY=unused

~/.aider.conf.yml (windows)

# File location: %USERPROFILE%\.aider.conf.yml
openai-api-base: http://localhost:3080/v1
model: openai/claude-sonnet-4-5

# Then set the required env var:
set OPENAI_API_KEY=unused

§9OpenCodeverified

Terminal AI assistant. Set provider.anthropic.options.baseURL in ~/.opencode/opencode.json.

Vendor: OpenCode
Auth: API key
Config: opencode.json
OpenAI-compat: no
Verified: yes

~/.opencode/opencode.json

{
  "provider": {
    "anthropic": {
      "options": {
        "baseURL": "http://localhost:3080"
      }
    }
  }
}

§10OpenClawframeworkverified

Messaging-channel AI (WhatsApp / Telegram / Discord). Set models.providers.anthropic.baseUrl.

Vendor: OpenClaw
Auth: API key
Config: openclaw.json
OpenAI-compat: no
Verified: yes

~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

{
  "models": {
    "providers": {
      "anthropic": {
        "baseUrl": "http://localhost:3080"
      }
    }
  }
}

§11Not yet supported

These tools lack a user-configurable endpoint override or require an adapter wehaven't shipped yet.

Plandex

Requires an OpenAI-compatible adapter pattern we haven't shipped yet.

Cursor

Closed-source model routing; no user-configurable Anthropic base URL.

GitHub Copilot

Uses GitHub's backend; cannot be pointed at a local proxy.

Looking at cloud-managed alternatives instead? See how The Distillery compares to Edgee — local proxy vs cloud-managed framing.

Install guide How it works Pricing vs Claude Code Router All clients