Connect a model
Agents need a model to run. You give guilds.run an API key from a model provider. This page shows how.
The welcome dialog does it in four steps. You paste a key, you tick the models your agents may use, and you pick one as the default.
Pick a provider
You need one key from one provider. Any provider in this table works for the rest of the tutorial.
| Provider | What you get | Where to get a key |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | GPT models | platform.openai.com/api-keys |
| Anthropic | Claude models | platform.claude.com/settings/keys |
| OpenRouter | Hundreds of models behind one key, Claude and Gemini included | openrouter.ai/settings/keys |
| xAI | Grok models | console.x.ai |
| DeepInfra | Open-weight models at a low price | deepinfra.com/dash/api_keys |
| Local endpoint | A model server you run yourself, such as Ollama, LM Studio, or vLLM | No key needed |
Your key goes to that provider and nowhere else.
The provider bills you for what your agents use. guilds.run sets no spending limit. Set one on the provider's side if you want one.
The dialog also lists Kimi Code under For coding agents only. Skip it for now. It serves coding agents only, and it cannot be the default. Model keys explains it.
If you run a local model server
Pick Local endpoint. Type the server's address into Base URL. Include /v1 when your server uses it. Leave API key empty when your server needs none.
guilds.run runs inside Docker. So 127.0.0.1 names the container. Use http://host.docker.internal:<port>/v1 to reach your machine. On Linux, make the model server listen on an address Docker can reach, such as 0.0.0.0. Model keys has the details.
The welcome dialog
- Pick a provider. Click the provider's tile.
- Connect. Paste your key into API key. Click Connect. guilds.run checks the key with the provider before it saves it. A bad key is not saved, and the dialog says why.
- Choose models. Tick at least one model. These are the models your agents can use. Click Continue.
- Pick a default. Pick one of the models you ticked. New agents start on it. Click Finish.
The dialog closes. You should see a page that says No guilds yet.
Later
You can add more providers, replace a key, or change the default under Settings, Model keys. Model keys describes that page.
Next: Your first guild.