Using Venice AI With Kilo Code

Kilo Code supports Venice AI through the native Venice provider. Venice offers privacy-focused access to open and reasoning-capable models through its API.

Website: https://venice.ai/

Getting an API Key

1. Sign in to Venice AI.
2. Open your API settings.
3. Create a key for Kilo Code.
4. Copy the key immediately and store it securely.

Configuration in Kilo Code

{% tabs %} {% tab label="VSCode (Legacy)" %}

Use the OpenAI Compatible provider if the legacy provider list does not include Venice AI. Enter your Venice API base URL, API key, and model ID from the Venice dashboard.

{% /tab %} {% tab label="VSCode" %}

Open Settings (gear icon) and go to the Providers tab to add Venice AI and enter your API key.

The extension stores this in your kilo.json config file. You can also edit the config file directly — see the CLI tab for the file format.

{% /tab %} {% tab label="CLI" %}

Set the API key as an environment variable or configure it in your kilo.json config file:

Environment variable:

export VENICE_API_KEY="your-api-key"

Config file (~/.config/kilo/kilo.json or ./kilo.json):

{
  "provider": {
    "venice": {
      "env": ["VENICE_API_KEY"]
    }
  }
}

Then select a Venice model from the model picker, or set a default model after confirming the model ID in your account:

{
  "model": "venice/<model-id>"
}

{% /tab %} {% /tabs %}

Tips and Notes

• Native provider: Kilo uses the Venice AI SDK provider for built-in Venice models.
• Reasoning models: Some Venice models expose reasoning controls. Kilo maps supported reasoning effort and disable-thinking options when the selected model supports them.
• Model availability: Venice model IDs and access can vary by plan. Use the model picker or Venice dashboard for the current list.
• Pricing: Refer to Venice AI pricing and account limits for current token costs and rate limits.

Troubleshooting

• Invalid API key: Verify VENICE_API_KEY is set in the same environment that launches Kilo, or reconnect the provider in Settings.
• Model not available: Confirm your Venice account has access to the selected model and try selecting it from the model picker.