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Overview

The CLI Proxy API server is the backend service that powers ZeroLimit. It handles OAuth authentication, provider management, and API routing. This guide covers installation, configuration, updates, and version management.

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Server Configuration

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Executable Path

Specify the location of your CLI Proxy API executable. Setting Path:
  1. Go to Settings → CLI Proxy
  2. Click Browse button
  3. Navigate to cli-proxy-api.exe or cli-proxy-api-plus.exe
  4. Select the executable
The executable path is persisted locally. Once configured, ZeroLimit remembers the location across restarts.

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Auto Start

Default: false When enabled, CLI Proxy API server starts automatically when ZeroLimit launches. To Enable:
  1. Navigate to Settings → CLI Proxy
  2. Toggle Auto Start switch
Auto start requires a valid executable path to be configured first.

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Run in Background

Default: false When enabled, the CLI Proxy API server continues running even when ZeroLimit is closed. To Enable:
  1. Go to Settings → CLI Proxy
  2. Toggle Run in Background switch
When running in background, the server process remains active after closing ZeroLimit. You must manually stop the server from Settings or terminate the process.

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Server Control

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Starting the Server

Prerequisites:
  • Valid executable path configured
  • Server not already running
Steps:
  1. Navigate to Settings → CLI Proxy
  2. Click Start button
  3. Server status changes to “Running”

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Stopping the Server

  1. Go to Settings → CLI Proxy
  2. Click Stop button
  3. Server status changes to “Stopped”

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Server Status

The CLI Proxy section displays real-time server status:
StatusIndicatorDescription
Running🟢 Green checkmarkServer is active and accepting connections
Stopped⚪ Gray textServer is not running

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Version Management

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Current Version Info

ZeroLimit displays the following version details:
  • Version number (e.g., v1.2.3)
  • Build date (e.g., Mar 3, 2026)
  • Latest available version (after update check)

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Checking for Updates

Manual Update Check:
  1. Navigate to Settings → CLI Proxy
  2. Click Check for Update
  3. ZeroLimit queries GitHub releases for the latest version
  4. If update available, version arrow appears: v1.2.3 → v1.3.0
Update checks require:
  • Active internet connection
  • Valid API base and management key
  • Connected to CLI Proxy server

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Updating the Server

When an update is available:
  1. Click Update Now button
  2. ZeroLimit performs the following automatically:
    • Stops the running server
    • Downloads latest release from GitHub
    • Extracts to the same directory as current executable
    • Updates the executable path
    • Restarts the server
Update Process: 
1. Stop server
2. Download release from GitHub
3. Extract to current directory
4. Update executable path
5. Start server with new version
The server is briefly unavailable during updates. Active connections are terminated.

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Version Detection

ZeroLimit automatically detects which version you’re running:
  • Standard: cli-proxy-api.exe
  • Plus: cli-proxy-api-plus.exe
Detection is based on:
  1. Executable filename (highest priority)
  2. Version string from server API
  3. Stored cliProxyVersion preference

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Switching Between Standard and Plus

ZeroLimit supports switching between Standard and Plus versions.

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Version Differences

FeatureStandardPlus
Core Providers✅ Antigravity, Codex, Gemini, Anthropic✅ All Standard providers
GitHub Copilot❌ Not available✅ Available
Kiro (CodeWhisperer)❌ Not available✅ Available
UpdatesStandard repoPlus repo

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Switching Process

To Switch Versions:
  1. Go to Settings → CLI Proxy
  2. Locate Switch Version section
  3. Current version is displayed (Standard or Plus)
  4. Click Switch to Plus or Switch to Standard
Automated Steps: 
1. Stop running server
2. Kill any remaining processes
3. Check for existing alternate version in same directory
4. If not found, download from GitHub:
   - Standard: github.com/router-for-me/CLIProxyAPI
   - Plus: github.com/router-for-me/CLIProxyAPIPlus
5. Extract to current directory
6. Update executable path
7. Restart server
If you already have both versions in the same directory, switching is instant without downloading.

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GitHub Release Repositories

ZeroLimit downloads updates and versions from official GitHub repositories:
VersionRepository
Standardgithub.com/router-for-me/CLIProxyAPI
Plusgithub.com/router-for-me/CLIProxyAPIPlus

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Platform Detection

ZeroLimit automatically detects your operating system and downloads the correct binary:
OSAsset Name Pattern
Windowswindows_*.zip
macOSdarwin_*.zip / darwin_*.tar.gz
Linuxlinux_*.zip / linux_*.tar.gz

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Server Health Check

ZeroLimit performs health checks to verify the CLI Proxy API is responding: Health Check Endpoint:
GET {apiBase}/ Expected Response: 
{
  "message": "CLI Proxy API Server",
  "endpoints": [...]
}
Health Check Timeout: 5 seconds
If health checks fail repeatedly, verify:
  • Server is running
  • Port 8317 is not blocked by firewall
  • No other application is using the same port

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Server Process Management

ZeroLimit uses Tauri commands to manage the server process:
CommandDescription
start_cli_proxyStarts server and returns process ID
stop_cli_proxyStops server gracefully
is_cli_proxy_runningChecks if server is currently running
check_proxy_versionQueries server version and build date
download_and_extract_proxyDownloads and extracts new version
find_alternate_proxy_exeLocates alternate version in same directory
set_run_in_backgroundConfigures background running behavior

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Persistent Storage

CLI Proxy settings are stored locally: Storage Key: zerolimit-cli-proxy Persisted Settings: 
{
  exePath: string | null,
  autoStart: boolean,
  runInBackground: boolean,
  hasCompletedOnboarding: boolean,
  cliProxyMode: 'auto_download' | 'manual' | null,
  cliProxyVersion: 'standard' | 'plus' | null,
  cliProxyLatestVersion: string | null,
  currentInstalledVersion: string | null,
  serverBuildDate: string | null,
  latestRemoteVersion: string | null
}

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Troubleshooting

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Server Won’t Start

Possible Causes:
  • Executable path incorrect or file missing
  • Port 8317 already in use
  • Firewall blocking the executable
  • Insufficient permissions
Solutions:
  1. Verify executable exists at configured path
  2. Check if another instance is running: tasklist | findstr cli-proxy-api
  3. Run ZeroLimit as administrator
  4. Configure firewall to allow cli-proxy-api.exe

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Update Fails

Possible Causes:
  • No internet connection
  • GitHub rate limiting
  • Insufficient disk space
  • Server process locked
Solutions:
  1. Check internet connectivity
  2. Wait a few minutes and retry
  3. Manually stop server before updating
  4. Free up disk space
  5. Download manually from GitHub releases

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Version Switch Fails

Possible Causes:
  • Download interrupted
  • Process still running
  • Permission denied
Solutions:
  1. Manually stop server first
  2. Kill process via Task Manager
  3. Check antivirus isn’t blocking download
  4. Download manually and use Browse to select executable

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Server Status Shows “Running” But Connection Fails

Possible Causes:
  • Server crashed after starting
  • Port conflict
  • API health check failing
Solutions:
  1. Stop and restart server
  2. Check logs (enable logging in Settings)
  3. Verify management key is correct
  4. Test manual connection: curl http://localhost:8317

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