Zero

Connect Zero, the terminal coding agent, to AI/ML API through its built-in provider preset.

About

Zero is an AI coding agent for your local terminal. It inspects a repository, edits files, and runs commands, either through its TUI or non-interactively with zero exec for scripts and CI.

AI/ML API is a built-in, recommended provider preset in Zero — it ships upstream, so there is nothing to patch or build from source. Zero also offers guided onboarding: you can create an AI/ML API account, top it up, and get a key without leaving the terminal.

Quick start

1

Install Zero

npm install -g @gitlawb/zero

2

Set your API key

export AIMLAPI_API_KEY=your_key_here

You can skip this step and let Zero's onboarding create an account and issue a key for you.

3

Select AI/ML API

zero providers setup aimlapi --set-active

4

Start Zero

zero

When to use AI/ML API with Zero

AI/ML API works well with Zero when you want:

• one key and one base URL for many model providers

• to switch models without re-configuring the agent

• to onboard from the terminal, without opening a dashboard first

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

• Zero installed (see github.com/Gitlawb/zero)

• an AI/ML API key from aimlapi.com/app/keys — or use the guided onboarding below

• a model ID from aimlapi.com/models

The base URL is:

https://api.aimlapi.com/v1

Need a key first? Use API Key Management.

Set up AI/ML API in Zero

Option 1 — Provider setup command

zero providers setup aimlapi --set-active

The preset fills in the base URL and default model. --set-active makes AI/ML API the provider Zero uses for the next session.

Option 2 — Setup wizard

Run zero and follow the setup wizard, or run it directly:

zero setup

AI/ML API is listed as aimlapi.com and sorts to the top of the picker as a recommended provider.

Option 3 — Environment variable

Export the key before running setup and Zero picks it up automatically:

# ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc
export AIMLAPI_API_KEY=your_key_here

Guided onboarding

If you have no key yet, the onboarding flow in the TUI takes an email, creates an AI/ML API account, lets you choose a top-up amount, opens checkout in the browser, and saves the issued key into your Zero provider profile.

Model selection

Use exact AI/ML API model IDs. List what is available:

zero models list

Good starting models

• anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 — the preset default, strong for coding

• openai/gpt-5-5 — strong general use

• google/gemini-3-7-flash — lower latency and lower cost

For the full catalog, use All Model IDs.

Config checklist

Make sure these values are set:

• API key variable: AIMLAPI_API_KEY

• provider ID: aimlapi (shown as aimlapi.com)

• base URL: https://api.aimlapi.com/v1 (built in, no manual config needed)

• model ID: exact AI/ML API chat model ID

Troubleshooting

Zero does not pick up AIMLAPI_API_KEY

Check that the variable is exported in the current shell:

echo $AIMLAPI_API_KEY

Then confirm what Zero resolved:

zero doctor
zero providers list

aimlapi.com is not in the provider list

Update Zero to the latest version — the preset ships upstream:

npm install -g @gitlawb/zero@latest

I get an auth error

Check that:

• AIMLAPI_API_KEY is correctly set and exported

• the key is valid at aimlapi.com/app/keys

• your balance is sufficient at aimlapi.com/app

I want to point Zero at a different endpoint

AIMLAPI_INFERENCE_URL overrides the inference base URL. Leave it unset to use the default https://api.aimlapi.com/v1.

Links

• All Model IDs

• AI/ML API keys

• AI/ML API model catalog

• Zero repository