Configuration

The client is configured entirely through environment variables, so launchd/systemd/ container deployments behave identically. Flags to modelpilot-client override env.

Connection & auth

Variable	Default	Description
`ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`	—	Your Anthropic key. Stays on your machine; the proxy uses it to call Anthropic directly.
`MODELPILOT_API_KEY`	—	Authenticates your gateway to ModelPilot (created on the Connect page). Sent as a bearer token; recommended over a bare deployment id.
`MODELPILOT_DEPLOYMENT_ID`	—	Your deployment id (`dep_…`). Identifies which account's mode, policy & billing apply.
`MODELPILOT_BRAIN_URL`	—	The hosted routing brain. Set it to enable routing; unset = pure passthrough.
`MODELPILOT_CONSOLE_URL`	—	The console base URL — enables metering, approved-policy fetch, and proposals.
`MODELPILOT_UPSTREAM`	`https://api.anthropic.com`	Where the proxy forwards traffic.
`MODELPILOT_PORT`	`8400`	Port the proxy listens on.

Mode & refresh

Variable	Default	Description
`MODELPILOT_MODE`	`autopilot`	Local fallback mode. The account mode set in the console is authoritative when a brain is configured.
`MODELPILOT_POLICY_REFRESH`	`300`	Seconds between background refetches of admin-approved floors & rules. Newly approved tuning applies without a restart.

Metering & billing

When MODELPILOT_CONSOLE_URL + a key/deployment id are set, the client reports realized-savings deltas to the console so your bill reflects delivered savings — aggregate dollars and counts only, never prompt text.

Variable	Default	Description
`MODELPILOT_METER_INTERVAL`	`60`	Seconds between background metering reports.
`MODELPILOT_DB`	`modelpilot.db`	Local ledger path (counts/dollars; no prompt text).

Prefer a sidecar/cron? Run modelpilot meter --watch instead of the built-in reporter.

Proxy URL for your app

Variable	Default	Description
`MODELPILOT_PROXY_URL`	`http://127.0.0.1:8400`	Used by the SDK helper (SDKs) to find your local proxy.

Set a spend budget and a minimum model per deployment in Settings — those are enforced server-side, no client config needed.