Roo Code setup with Thalam
Install Roo Code, paste your Thalam API key into the OpenAI-Compatible provider, and ship in under a minute. Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen, Kimi and more — all in the same VS Code sidebar, all from one API key.
Setup in three steps
Roo Code uses the same provider picker as Cline — pick "OpenAI Compatible" and fill in three fields.
Sign up
Create a THALAM account and copy your API key from the dashboard. No credit card required.
Open Roo Code settings
In your editor open the Roo Code sidebar and click the gear icon at the top of the panel.
Choose "OpenAI Compatible"
Pick "OpenAI Compatible" from the API Provider dropdown, then fill in the three fields below.
API Provider
OpenAI Compatible
Pick this from the dropdown.
Base URL
https://api.thalam.ai/v1
Copy verbatim — must include /v1.
API Key
tl-live-...
Paste the key from your THALAM dashboard.
Model ID
anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6
Any model id from the THALAM catalog. The model must support tool calling for Roo Code's agent loop to work — flagship Claude / GPT / Gemini / DeepSeek-V3 / Qwen3 all do.
Browse every available model id on the (format is <provider>/<model>).
Verify it works
Open a new Roo Code task and ask:
Common gotchas
Three issues that account for almost every "it didn't work" report.
Model can't call tools
Per Roo Code's docs, the agent loop requires OpenAI-compatible tool calling. If you pick a smaller open-weight model that doesn't expose tools, Roo will refuse it. Use a flagship (Claude / GPT / Gemini) or a tool-calling-capable open-weight model (DeepSeek V3.2, Qwen3 series).
404 model not found
The Model ID field expects the full id <provider>/<model> — for example anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6, not claude-sonnet-4.6 alone.
Connection error
The Base URL must include the /v1 suffix and use https. Paste it as-is: https://api.thalam.ai/v1.
Why use THALAM with Roo Code
Roo Code is built around an autonomous agent loop — model choice and per-call cost matter more than in any other tool.
Every leading model, one key
Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen, Kimi, Llama, Mistral, GLM. Switch the Model ID field and the next agent step routes to a different upstream — no extra setup.
Routine work on cheap models
Use DeepSeek V3.2 or Qwen3 for repetitive multi-step refactors, and reserve Claude or GPT flagships for the steps that actually need deep reasoning.
No lock-in, pay per token
No subscription, no minimums. To swap THALAM for a provider-direct setup, change Base URL and API Key — Roo Code's UX stays identical.
OpenAI-compatible end to end
Streaming, tool calling, structured outputs, vision — every Roo Code feature works through Thalam's /v1 endpoint without custom adapters.
Frequently asked questions
What developers ask before wiring Thalam into Roo Code.
Do I need an API key to use Roo Code with Thalam?
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Yes. Roo Code calls models through whichever provider you select in its settings. To route Roo Code through Thalam, create a free Thalam account, copy your API key from the dashboard, and paste it into Roo Code's API Key field after picking "OpenAI Compatible". No credit card required to create the key — you only pay when you make requests.
How do I install Roo Code and connect it to Thalam?
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Three steps. (1) Install the Roo Code extension from the VS Code Marketplace. (2) Sign up at thalam.ai and copy your tl-live-... key. (3) Open the Roo Code sidebar, click the gear icon, pick "OpenAI Compatible" from the API Provider dropdown, set Base URL to https://api.thalam.ai/v1, paste your key, and choose a tool-calling-capable model id like anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6.
Is Thalam OpenAI-compatible?
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Yes. Thalam exposes an OpenAI-compatible base URL at https://api.thalam.ai/v1, so Roo Code's "OpenAI Compatible" provider treats it the same way it would treat OpenAI direct — just with a different Base URL and API Key. Every model Thalam routes to (Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen and more) is reachable through the same OpenAI Chat Completions interface.
Can I use Thalam with Roo Code on Mac and Windows?
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Both, plus Linux. Roo Code runs as a VS Code extension, and VS Code is available on macOS, Windows and Linux. The Thalam setup (Base URL + API Key + Model ID) is identical on every platform.
Can I switch models without changing my code?
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Yes. Change the Model ID field in Roo Code's settings to any other Thalam model id (provided it supports tool calling — Roo's agent loop requires it) and the next task routes to that model. Switching between Claude, GPT, DeepSeek-V3 or any other tool-calling Thalam-routed model is a config change, not a code change.
Plug in. Pick a model. Ship.
Get an API key in under a minute. No credit card required.