# Introducing reAPI

Claude Desktop and the Claude for Microsoft 365 add-in are excellent clients. They're polished, they stream, they handle long context well. The one constraint: they only accept model names that start with `claude-`. Point them at a non-Anthropic provider and they refuse to connect.

reAPI removes that constraint.

<DocSection heading="What it does">
  reAPI is a proxy that sits between your client and your upstream AI provider. Your client sends a request with `model: claude-opus-4-5`. reAPI looks up your mapping for that name, rewrites the model field to whatever your upstream expects, and forwards the request. The upstream responds; reAPI streams the response back unchanged. Your client never knows the model name was rewritten.

  The gateway speaks the Anthropic API protocol to your client. On the upstream side it speaks whichever protocol your provider uses — reAPI's compatibility layer translates between them. Any Anthropic client can use it; any OpenAI- or Anthropic-compatible provider can be the upstream.
</DocSection>

<DocSection heading="Two modes">
  <ModeCallout mode="byok">
    **Your key mode** — you supply the upstream API key. reAPI charges a flat monthly subscription for proxy access. You keep full control of your provider account and billing. Works with any OpenAI- or Anthropic-compatible API.
  </ModeCallout>

  <ModeCallout mode="hosted">
    **Hosted mode** — reAPI manages the upstream keys. You top up a wallet and spend per token. No provider account needed. Mappings are pre-configured at code creation so your first request works immediately.
  </ModeCallout>

  Mode is locked at code creation. If you want to try both, create a separate code for each.
</DocSection>

<DocSection heading="Short codes as identity">
  There is no account, no username, no password. Your short code is your identity — an 8-character string issued when you create a code. It appears in your Your key base URL and is used as the API key in Hosted mode. The dashboard lives at your short code's URL. Save it.
</DocSection>

<DocSection heading="Get started">
  Create a code at [reapi.net/new](/new). Pick Your key or Hosted. Follow the setup guide for your client. Your first request should work in under five minutes.

  Questions? [support@reapi.net](mailto:support@reapi.net).
</DocSection>