Z Code

Z Code is the desktop coding agent from Z.ai. It keeps its model providers in ~/.zcode/v2/provider_config.json. Add the exchange to that file as a custom provider with an OpenAI-compatible endpoint.

Step 1 writes the provider with a script. To make the same settings in the app, see Set up in the app.

Print the setup with the Liquid CLI

Z Code has its own settings screen, so the Liquid CLI cannot start it. liquid connect zcode prints the values to paste, with your model filled in.

curl -fsSL https://inference.ai.exchange/cli/install.sh | bash
liquid login
liquid connect zcode

To enter the values yourself, follow the steps below.

Before you start

• A workspace with a balance and a spend key. See API keys.
• Z Code installed from zcode.z.ai. This setup is tested with Z Code 3.15.1.
• jq, for the script in step 1.

1. Write the provider

Quit Z Code. Then replace the placeholder with your buyer key and run this script:

export LIQUID_API_KEY=sk-liquid-...
set -e
umask 077
zcode_config="$HOME/.zcode/v2/provider_config.json"
mkdir -p "$HOME/.zcode/v2"
[ -s "$zcode_config" ] || printf '{"schemaVersion":1,"config":{}}' > "$zcode_config"
jq --arg key "$LIQUID_API_KEY" --argjson names '["liquid.auto"]' '
  .config.providerConfigRules.providerRules = [(.config.providerConfigRules.providerRules // [])[] | select(.providerId != "liquid")] + [{
    providerId: "liquid",
    providerName: "Liquid Inference",
    enabled: true,
    config: {
      group: "standard-personal",
      access: { type: "api-key", apiKey: $key },
      api: {
        type: "openai-chat-completions",
        baseUrl: "https://router.inference.ai.exchange/v1",
        headers: { "x-liquid-cap-usd": "1.00" }
      },
      personalModelIds: $names,
      modelOrder: $names
    }
  }]
  | .config.modelConfigRules.providerModelRules = [(.config.modelConfigRules.providerModelRules // [])[] | select(.providerId != "liquid")] + [$names[] | {
    providerId: "liquid",
    modelId: .,
    config: ({ optionSpecs: { maxOutputTokens: { max: 8192 }, reasoningLevel: { map: "{}" } } })
  }]
  | .config.modelConfigRules.manualProviderModelRules = [(.config.modelConfigRules.manualProviderModelRules // [])[] | select(.providerId != "liquid")]
  | if .config.providerOrder then .config.providerOrder = [.config.providerOrder[] | select(. != "liquid")] + ["liquid"] else . end
  | .config.defaultModelSelection = { providerId: "liquid", modelId: "liquid.auto" }
' "$zcode_config" > "$zcode_config.new" && mv "$zcode_config.new" "$zcode_config"

The script adds a provider with the ID liquid and keeps your other providers. It replaces a provider with the same ID. It does these things:

• It adds each model name in the list as a model of the provider.
• It sets the output limit of each model to 8,192 tokens, and it sets the reasoning mapping to {}. See Notes.
• It sets the context window of the model that you picked, when the book states it.
• It adds a header that caps each request.
• It makes the model that you picked the default model of Z Code.

Z Code keeps the key in the file. The script sets umask 077, so a new file is readable only by you.

2. Start Z Code

Start Z Code. The model selector shows the models under Liquid Inference. To use other models, run the script again with a different list of names.

Set up in the app

The app has no field for headers. The cap needs one edit of the file.

Add the provider

Open the model settings from the model selector. Click Create custom provider, and enter a name:

Liquid Inference

Do not select a vendor. Set API format to Chat completions:

Chat completions

Enter the base URL. It ends in /v1, because Z Code adds /chat/completions to it:

https://router.inference.ai.exchange/v1

Paste your key into API key:

sk-liquid-...

Add the models

Click Add model and type a model ID. Add each ID separately. For example:

liquid.auto

Z Code does not read the model list of the exchange. Use an exact model, a router model or a preset. To get the current names, see the Market page. See Market data.

Open the Advanced settings of each model. Set Max output tokens and Reasoning parameter mapping:

8192

{}

Set Context window to the real window of the model. Z Code uses it to decide when to compact a session. Turn on image input only for a model that reads images. Then enable the provider.

Set a cap on each request

Quit Z Code. Open ~/.zcode/v2/provider_config.json and find the provider in config.providerConfigRules.providerRules. Add this to the api object of the provider:

{"headers":{"x-liquid-cap-usd":"1.00"}}

The app keeps these headers when you change the provider in the app later.

Notes

• Output limit. For a model that it does not know, Z Code asks for 32,000 output tokens. The exchange sends a request only to an offer that accepts its output limit. Thus the setup sets a smaller limit.
• Reasoning effort. For a model that it does not know, Z Code also sends a high reasoning effort. The exchange sends such a request only to an offer that accepts one. When no offer accepts one, the exchange refuses the request. The mapping {} stops Z Code from sending reasoning parameters. The model then uses its default reasoning.
• The cap limits each request. It does not limit the total charge of a task. To limit total spend, set a spending limit on the key. See API keys.
• The receipt names Z Code as the client. You do not need to set a header for this.
• Use a preset for other purchasing rules. See Purchasing rules.

Troubleshooting

See Errors for the exchange's error codes and causes.

Next steps

• Cline: the VS Code agent, with the same kind of provider.
• Market data: models and live offers.
• API keys: scopes and spending limits.