Quickstart Guide

Get started with HiveOps in under 5 minutes. Run your first AI inference request using affordable, open-source models.

What is HiveOps?

HiveOps is an affordable AI inference API that provides access to powerful open-source language models like Llama 3, Gemma 3, and Mistral. We're fully compatible with OpenAI's API, so you can switch seamlessly with minimal code changes.

Why Choose HiveOps?

• 💰 Up to 90% cheaper than proprietary AI APIs
• 🔓 Open-source models - no censorship, full transparency
• 🔌 Drop-in replacement for OpenAI - works with existing SDKs
• ⚡ Fast inference with typical 1-3 second response times

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Step 1: Create an Account

1. Visit hiveops.io and click Sign Up
2. Choose to sign up with:
   • Google account
   • GitHub account
3. After signing up, you'll be taken to your HiveOps dashboard where you can manage API keys, view usage, and add funds.
4. Bonus Credit: Receive 50% credit on your first deposit (up to $50) to get started!

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Step 2: Generate an API Key

1. Log in to your HiveOps dashboard
2. Navigate to API Keys in the sidebar
3. Click + New Key
4. Give your key a descriptive name (e.g., "Development", "Production")
5. Click Create
6. ⚠️ IMPORTANT: Copy your API key immediately - it will never be shown again!

# Your API key looks like this:
sk-...Etgg

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Step 3: Make Your First Request

Python

Install the official OpenAI SDK (yes, it works with HiveOps!):

pip install openai

from openai import OpenAI

# Initialize the client with HiveOps endpoint
client = OpenAI(
    api_key="sk-YOUR-HIVEOPS-API-KEY",
    base_url="https://ai.hiveops.io"
)

# Make your first request
response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="llama3:8b-instruct-q8_0",
    messages=[
        {"role": "system", "content": "You are a helpful assistant."},
        {"role": "user", "content": "What is the capital of France?"}
    ]
)

print(response.choices[0].message.content)

Output:

The capital of France is Paris.

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JavaScript/TypeScript

Install the official OpenAI SDK:

npm install openai
# or
yarn add openai

import OpenAI from "openai";

// Initialize the client with HiveOps endpoint
const client = new OpenAI({
  apiKey: "sk-YOUR-HIVEOPS-API-KEY",
  baseURL: "https://ai.hiveops.io",
});

async function main() {
  const response = await client.chat.completions.create({
    model: "llama3:8b-instruct-q8_0",
    messages: [
      { role: "system", content: "You are a helpful assistant." },
      { role: "user", content: "What is the capital of France?" },
    ],
  });

  console.log(response.choices[0].message.content);
}

main();

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cURL

Test directly from your terminal:

curl https://ai.hiveops.io/chat/completions \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-YOUR-HIVEOPS-API-KEY" \
  -d '{
    "model": "gemma3:4b",
    "messages": [
      {
        "role": "system",
        "content": "You are a helpful assistant."
      },
      {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "What is the capital of France?"
      }
    ]
  }'

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Step 4: Try Streaming

Streaming allows you to receive responses incrementally, perfect for chat interfaces:

Python

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="gpt-oss:120b",
    messages=[
        {"role": "user", "content": "Write a haiku about coding."}
    ],
    stream=True
)

for chunk in response:
    if chunk.choices[0].delta.content:
        print(chunk.choices[0].delta.content, end="")

JavaScript

const stream = await client.chat.completions.create({
  model: "deepseek-r1:8b",
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Write a haiku about coding." }],
  stream: true,
});

for await (const chunk of stream) {
  process.stdout.write(chunk.choices[0]?.delta?.content || "");
}

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Available Models

💡 Tip: Start with llama3:8b-instruct-q8_0 for general tasks or mistral-7b-instruct-v0.3 for the lowest cost.

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Managing Your Balance

Check Balance

View your current balance in the dashboard.

Add Funds

1. Go to Billing in your dashboard
2. Click Add Funds
3. Enter amount (minimum $10)
4. Complete payment via Stripe

Low Balance Alert

⚠️ When your balance reaches $0, API requests will be blocked. We recommend:

• Setting up auto top-up (coming soon)
• Monitoring your usage regularly
• Setting up balance alerts

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Next Steps

✅ Quickstart Complete! Here's what to explore next:

• 📚 API Reference - Complete endpoint documentation
• 🔄 Migration from OpenAI - Switch in minutes
• 💬 Build a Chatbot - Use case guide
• 🔧 Error Handling - Troubleshooting tips
• 🐍 Python SDK Guide - Advanced examples

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Support

Need help? We're here for you:

• 💬 Discord
• LinkedIn: HiveOps
• X: @HiveOpsHQ
• 📧 Email: [email protected]
• 📝 Contact Form

Happy building! 🚀