AI Agents & Developer Tools

1. Install Claude Code

Skip this step if claude --version already prints a version.

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

claude --version

2. Point Claude Code at Reka

Claude Code talks to Anthropic unless told otherwise. A few settings tell it where to send requests, which key to use and which model to ask for. Run these in the terminal where you’ll use Claude Code:

1. Create a key on the API keys page and copy it.

2. Save the key in your terminal. Replace paste-your-key-here with your key and keep the quotes:

   export REKA_API_KEY="paste-your-key-here"

3. Paste the Reka settings. The last line, claude, starts Claude Code:

   export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=https://api.reka.ai
   export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="$REKA_API_KEY"
   export ANTHROPIC_MODEL=glm5.3-flash
   export ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_OPUS_MODEL=glm5.3-flash
   export ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_SONNET_MODEL=glm5.3-flash
   export ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL=glm5.3-flash
   export ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_FABLE_MODEL=glm5.3-flash
   export CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC=1
   claude

4. The first time, Claude Code asks three setup questions:

   • Colour theme: press Enter to keep the default.
   • Security notes: press Enter to continue.
   • Trust this folder: press ↓ to select Yes, I trust this folder, then Enter. The default, No, exit, closes Claude Code.

5. Check the header. It shows glm5.3-flash · API Usage Billing:

   

Claude Code may note that it doesn’t recognise glm5.3-flash; that’s harmless. If the header shows a Claude model or asks you to log in, see Troubleshooting.

$env:REKA_API_KEY = "paste-your-key-here"
$env:ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL = "https://api.reka.ai"
$env:ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN = $env:REKA_API_KEY
$env:ANTHROPIC_MODEL = "glm5.3-flash"
$env:ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_OPUS_MODEL = "glm5.3-flash"
$env:ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_SONNET_MODEL = "glm5.3-flash"
$env:ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL = "glm5.3-flash"
$env:ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_FABLE_MODEL = "glm5.3-flash"
$env:CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC = "1"
claude

How to set up Claude Code to use Reka API: Tutorial Video

How the settings work

The export lines last for that terminal only. To use Reka in every new terminal, add the REKA_API_KEY line and the settings (without the final claude) to your shell profile, such as ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc, with the key line first. To undo it, see Switch back to Anthropic.

Claude Code sends its whole system prompt and tool list with every request, so each request carries a large prompt, and more with extra tools and MCP servers. Track spending on the Usage & billing page.

3. Try it

Ask for something you can see:

Build index.html: 20 numbered, colourful balls bouncing inside a spinning hexagon.
Real physics: gravity, friction, ball-to-ball and wall collisions.
Single file, canvas only, no libraries. Just write the file, don't open it.

Or have it write code, test it and fix what fails:

Create textstats.py, a CLI that prints the line, word and character counts of a file,
and test_textstats.py with pytest tests. Run the tests with python3 -m pytest -q
and fix anything that fails. Keep all files inside this folder.

Switch back to Anthropic

Open a new terminal without the Reka lines, or run this in the current one:

unset ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN ANTHROPIC_MODEL ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_OPUS_MODEL ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_SONNET_MODEL ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_FABLE_MODEL CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC

If you added the lines to ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc, delete them there too, then open a new terminal. Start claude and run /status: with no Anthropic base URL line, Claude Code is back on Anthropic and uses your saved Claude login. If you ran /logout during setup, run /login.

Troubleshooting