AI providers and keys

Choose a provider#

Settings > Providers supports Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenAI-compatible endpoints, and the local Claude Code, Codex, and Antigravity tools. VStudy includes no AI subscription. Open Which tool should I choose? in setup to compare account needs.

Claude Code needs an Anthropic account with Claude Code access. Codex uses a ChatGPT account; free and paid plans have different limits, and API billing is separate. Antigravity uses an eligible Google account with its available free allowance or paid plan limits. Offers and eligibility can change. Check the provider before paying.

Local tools start off. Before you allow a tool, VStudy checks installed files without launching it. An executable that changes needs renewed confirmation. You can keep an existing installation or choose an app-managed copy.

Install, sign in, and test#

Open AI tools in the sidebar, or Set up AI from onboarding, the Reader, or Settings > Providers. The highlighted step shows where you are and what happens next. Allow only the tool you want to use.

Managed installation requires independent publisher proof before execution. Claude uses its signed manifest; macOS Codex 0.166.0 uses audited hashes shipped in the app. Antigravity shows Install another way with an explanation and the official command to run in your own terminal. Then select the program in Settings > Providers > Change.

The built-in terminal runs the action you reviewed. On macOS, follow the sign-in link or device code it displays, then return to VStudy. External links ask for confirmation. Where embedded sign-in is unavailable, choose Open in my own Terminal or Copy command. The external-terminal option copies the command for you to paste; it does not paste or run it automatically.

1. Install. Review the official download and private destination, then choose Run this plan. VStudy verifies the download without an administrator password or PATH changes.
2. Sign in. Review the action and choose Run this action. Follow the displayed account instructions. If you already signed in, use Review account status check.
3. Test. Choose Test it. VStudy sends a short question through the real provider and displays its answer. No document text is included; the test may count toward your usage.

Update without stopping a chat#

AI tools in the sidebar shows each version and update state. Check for updates now makes a one-time network check. Background checks and Update automatically when idle start off in Settings > Privacy. Background checks are cached and normally run at most every four hours.

New versions without independent publisher proof show New version available: install it yourself and a confirmed vendor link. Revoking provider consent or either update preference cancels a pending automatic update.

Choose the available update and review its plan. VStudy downloads and verifies a separate version. A running chat keeps its current program; new chats use the update. Update ready, applies to new chats explains that handoff. You can review a rollback to the retained previous version.

VStudy only updates its managed copy. If you prefer an existing installation, choose it in Settings > Providers > Change. Install another way shows a copy-only official command; vendor installers use their own folders. Metadata checks and downloads appear in the Privacy network inventory.

When a step needs help#

Read the recovery hint in the current step. If you are offline, reconnect and retry. If a school policy, antivirus, or permissions block installation, copy the request under Ask your teacher or IT team. The managed installer does not need administrator access.

If a browser does not open, use the displayed sign-in link and code. An expired login needs a fresh sign-in action. Review account status check checks an existing account without sending a chat. Unsupported Codex versions require the audited managed version.

Closing setup or reloading the window stops its setup action. Your reading remains available. The Advanced general shell is optional, starts off, and requires an extra confirmation because it can run programs with your account permissions. Guided setup does not need it.

Save a key or use it for this session#

API keys are encrypted through macOS Keychain access when you explicitly save or unlock them. A Keychain prompt can appear then, including after an ad-hoc rebuild. Window creation does not wait for key decryption.

After restart, unlock saved keys before model discovery can use them. If you deny access, retry or choose Use without saving keys. That option retains the key only for the current process. Never put a key in a chat, screenshot, or issue report.

Understand what a provider receives#

Enabled providers receive your question, conversation history, document metadata, and selected text. Without a selection, the prompt includes an outline and opening excerpt. Previous selections can remain in the conversation context.

CLI providers use their own login and can contact their own discovery, verification, quota, chat, or telemetry services. VStudy requests telemetry and nonessential-traffic opt-outs from Claude. That is not a promise that a CLI makes no other requests.

Codex compatibility#

This checkout pins authenticated Codex CLI 0.166.0 on macOS with /usr/bin/sandbox-exec. A cached canary verifies its tool-free chat transport. Unsupported versions and failed verification stop the transport.

The transport disables native tools and denies child-process creation. It is not a complete filesystem or endpoint-only network sandbox for a compromised CLI. Check the repository’s Codex transport document before changing the pinned version.