Using BeatAPI in Cline

Cline is a VS Code extension that writes code, runs commands, and edits files across a project from inside the editor. It reaches BeatAPI through its OpenAI Compatible provider — three fields and no plugin.

Prerequisites

Visual Studio Code installed.
The Cline extension installed — search for “Cline” in the Extensions marketplace (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X).
A BeatAPI API key — create one in Dashboard → API Keys.

Step 1: Open the API configuration

On a fresh install, Cline shows a welcome panel. Click Use your own API key.

If you have configured it before, click the gear icon at the top of the Cline sidebar.

Step 2: Configure BeatAPI

Expand API Configuration and fill in:

Setting	Value
API Provider	`OpenAI Compatible`
Base URL	`https://api.beatapi.io/v1`
API Key	Your BeatAPI API key
Model ID	A model ID, for example `claude-fable-5-1`

Click Done. The configuration saves automatically and takes effect immediately — no reload.

Choose OpenAI Compatible, not OpenAI. Some Cline builds hide the Base URL field on the plain OpenAI provider, which makes a custom base URL impossible to enter. The OpenAI Compatible provider always exposes it.

The Model ID is typed by hand, so a typo surfaces as not_found rather than as a validation error. Copy it from the pricing page or from GET /v1/models. IDs are case-sensitive and carry no vendor prefix — claude-fable-5-1, not anthropic/claude-fable-5-1.

Cline has a Verify button; use it before starting a task.

Step 3: Work

Type the task in the input box at the bottom of the Cline panel:

Create a JavaScript function that validates an email address, with unit tests

Cline plans the work, writes the files, and asks before running any terminal command. Selecting code in the editor and right-clicking exposes Explain with Cline and Improve with Cline.

Switch models from the button below the input box, or by changing Model ID in settings. Changes apply immediately.

Models

Model ID	Choose it for
`claude-fable-5-1`	The newest generation — the default for agentic coding
`claude-opus-5`	Complex architecture and hard debugging
`claude-sonnet-5`	Day-to-day development at lower cost
`gpt-5.6-sol`	The strongest OpenAI-family coding tier
`kimi-k2.7-code`	A code-specialised alternative at a lower rate
`claude-haiku-4-5-20251001`	Fast, cheap steps and quick edits

Every text model on the account is reachable — see the Text API for the full catalogue.

FAQ

The API key is reported invalid

Confirm the key was copied in full, with no extra whitespace.
Confirm Base URL is exactly https://api.beatapi.io/v1, including the /v1 and with no trailing slash.
Confirm the key is active in Dashboard → API Keys.

”Model Not Found”

The Model ID is not valid for this account. Check spelling and case against the pricing page.

Responses are slow

Switch to a faster tier — claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 or claude-sonnet-5 — and keep the task narrow. Cline sends the open file and the selection as context, so a smaller selection is both faster and cheaper.

402 insufficient_credits

The balance is exhausted. Add credits from the dashboard.

429 rate_limit_exceeded

The key exceeded its request rate. Cline retries; if it keeps failing, slow down or raise the allowance. The per-minute rate rises with lifetime top-ups and is shown on the dashboard.

Controlling spend

Select only the code that needs work instead of sending a whole file.
Use a cheaper model for routine edits and switch up for hard problems.
Watch the per-key breakdown under by_api_key in GET /v1/usage, or on the dashboard.

Support

Open a support ticket from the dashboard and include the request_id from the failing response.