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The providers configuration format is deprecated. Use the new model_list format instead for better flexibility and zero-code provider addition.

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Overview

The legacy providers configuration was PicoClaw’s original way to configure LLM providers. It’s still supported for backward compatibility, but new configurations should use model_list.

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Legacy Configuration Format

{
  "providers": {
    "zhipu": {
      "api_key": "your-key",
      "api_base": "https://open.bigmodel.cn/api/paas/v4"
    },
    "openai": {
      "api_key": "sk-...",
      "api_base": "https://api.openai.com/v1"
    },
    "anthropic": {
      "api_key": "sk-ant-...",
      "api_base": "https://api.anthropic.com/v1"
    }
  },
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "provider": "zhipu",
      "model": "glm-4.7"
    }
  }
}

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Supported Legacy Providers

  • anthropic - Anthropic Claude
  • openai - OpenAI GPT
  • litellm - LiteLLM Proxy
  • openrouter - OpenRouter
  • groq - Groq
  • zhipu - Zhipu AI (智谱)
  • vllm - vLLM
  • gemini - Google Gemini
  • nvidia - NVIDIA
  • ollama - Ollama (local)
  • moonshot - Moonshot AI
  • shengsuanyun - ShengsuanYun
  • deepseek - DeepSeek
  • cerebras - Cerebras
  • volcengine - Volcengine (火山引擎)
  • github_copilot - GitHub Copilot
  • antigravity - Google Cloud Code Assist
  • qwen - Alibaba Qwen
  • mistral - Mistral AI

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Migration to model_list

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Example 1: Single Provider

Old format: 
{
  "providers": {
    "zhipu": {
      "api_key": "your-key",
      "api_base": "https://open.bigmodel.cn/api/paas/v4"
    }
  },
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "provider": "zhipu",
      "model": "glm-4.7"
    }
  }
}
New format: 
{
  "model_list": [
    {
      "model_name": "glm-4.7",
      "model": "zhipu/glm-4.7",
      "api_key": "your-key",
      "api_base": "https://open.bigmodel.cn/api/paas/v4"
    }
  ],
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model_name": "glm-4.7"
    }
  }
}

​
Example 2: Multiple Providers

Old format: 
{
  "providers": {
    "openai": {
      "api_key": "sk-openai-key"
    },
    "anthropic": {
      "api_key": "sk-ant-key"
    }
  },
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "provider": "anthropic",
      "model": "claude-sonnet-4.6"
    }
  }
}
New format: 
{
  "model_list": [
    {
      "model_name": "gpt-5.2",
      "model": "openai/gpt-5.2",
      "api_key": "sk-openai-key"
    },
    {
      "model_name": "claude-sonnet-4.6",
      "model": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6",
      "api_key": "sk-ant-key"
    }
  ],
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model_name": "claude-sonnet-4.6"
    }
  }
}

​
Automatic Migration

PicoClaw automatically migrates legacy configurations at runtime:
  1. If model_list is empty and providers has configuration
  2. PicoClaw converts providers to model_list internally
  3. Your config file is not modified
  4. You can manually update to the new format at any time

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Environment Variables (Legacy)

Legacy provider environment variables still work: 
# Zhipu
PICOCLAW_PROVIDERS_ZHIPU_API_KEY=your-key
PICOCLAW_PROVIDERS_ZHIPU_API_BASE=https://open.bigmodel.cn/api/paas/v4

# OpenAI
PICOCLAW_PROVIDERS_OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...
PICOCLAW_PROVIDERS_OPENAI_API_BASE=https://api.openai.com/v1

# Anthropic
PICOCLAW_PROVIDERS_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...

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Provider-Specific Options

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Request Timeout

Set custom timeout for provider requests (seconds): 
{
  "providers": {
    "openai": {
      "api_key": "sk-...",
      "request_timeout": 300
    }
  }
}

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Proxy Configuration

Configure HTTP proxy for provider: 
{
  "providers": {
    "openai": {
      "api_key": "sk-...",
      "proxy": "http://proxy.example.com:8080"
    }
  }
}
Enable web search augmentation for OpenAI: 
{
  "providers": {
    "openai": {
      "api_key": "sk-...",
      "web_search": true
    }
  }
}

​
GitHub Copilot Connect Mode

{
  "providers": {
    "github_copilot": {
      "connect_mode": "grpc",
      "api_base": "http://localhost:4321"
    }
  }
}
Values: stdio or grpc

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Why Migrate?

The new model_list format provides:
  1. Multiple models per provider - Configure GPT-5.2 and GPT-4o separately
  2. Load balancing - Multiple endpoints for the same model
  3. Better fallbacks - Explicit model fallback chains
  4. Zero-code providers - Add OpenAI-compatible APIs without code changes
  5. Cleaner configuration - Model-centric instead of provider-centric

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Next Steps

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