a simple and blazing fast LiteLLM-compatible ai gateway for coding agents (Claude Code, Codex, Hermes, etc.)

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LLM Gateway Proxy Overhead

lite claude

The first run prompts for your LiteLLM URL and API key, saves them to ~/.config/lite/claude.env, and starts Claude Code with:

ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://your-litellm-rust-server.com"
ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="$LITELLM_API_KEY"

Arguments after lite claude are forwarded to Claude Code:

lite claude --help
lite claude --model claude-sonnet-4-5

Run lite claude --reset to ignore saved settings and enter them again.

lite codex

The first run prompts for your LiteLLM URL and API key, saves them to ~/.config/lite/codex.env, and starts Codex pointed at the gateway. Codex uses the OpenAI Responses API (SSE over HTTP — no WebSocket), so requests land on POST /v1/responses. The wizard injects the gateway via -c config overrides and never edits your ~/.codex/config.toml:

codex \
 -c model_provider="litellm" \
 -c model_providers.litellm.base_url="https://your-litellm-rust-server.com/v1" \
 -c model_providers.litellm.wire_api="responses" \
 -c model_providers.litellm.env_key="LITELLM_API_KEY"
# LITELLM_API_KEY is exported from your saved key

Arguments after lite codex are forwarded to Codex:

lite codex exec "fix the failing test"
lite codex -m gpt-5.5

Run lite codex --reset to ignore saved settings and enter them again.

The gateway needs an OpenAI model route in its config:

model_list:
 - model_name: openai/*
 litellm_params:
 model: openai/*
 api_key: os.environ/OPENAI_API_KEY
 api_base: https://api.openai.com

Codex Mac app: the desktop app reads ~/.codex/config.toml, so route it by adding a provider block there (same fields the wizard passes), then select it in the app:

model_provider = "litellm"
[model_providers.litellm]
name = "LiteLLM"
base_url = "https://your-litellm-rust-server.com/v1"
wire_api = "responses"
env_key = "LITELLM_API_KEY"

Installing/updating the CLI: cargo install --path . --force so the lite on your PATH includes the codex subcommand (a stale install errors with unrecognized subcommand 'codex').

litellm-rust is compatible with your existing litellm config.yaml and DB.

model_list:
- model_name: anthropic/*
litellm_params:
model: anthropic/*
api_key: os.environ/ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
general_settings:
master_key: os.environ/MASTER_KEY
sandbox_choice: "e2b" # can be either "e2b" or "daytona" 
e2b_sandbox_params:
e2b_api_key: os.environ/E2B_API_KEY
e2b_template: "litellm-4gb"

$ litellm-rust --config /app/config.yaml

POST /messages
POST /responses
POST /realtime
POST /audio

• OpenAI
• Azure OpenAI
• VertexAI
• Bedrock

Entry points and what runs at startup:

• src/main.rs — binary entry point. Parses CLI args, loads config.yaml, builds the HTTP client, calls model_prices::load(), then wires everything into AppState and starts the server.
• src/model_prices.rs — fetches the LiteLLM model cost/capability map from upstream at startup; falls back to the embedded model_prices_backup.json snapshot if the network is unavailable. Returns a ModelCostMap; main.rs stores it on AppState. Override the URL with LITELLM_MODEL_COST_MAP_URL.
• src/errors.rs — typed error enum. All error variants map to HTTP status + JSON body in one place.

Subsystems:

• src/http/ — HTTP layer only. Route registration, auth, body extraction, response shaping. No business logic.
• src/providers/ — provider registry, per-provider request/response transformation, model router (maps model name → deployment + handler).
• src/proxy/ — config loading, master-key auth, AppState.
• src/cli/ — lite claude wizard: credential storage, model selector, Claude Code launcher.

See CODING_STANDARDS.md.