API key setup
Ironspire needs access to an AI model to power your agents. You have two options: use the Claude CLI with a subscription, or connect directly with an Anthropic API key.
Option 1: Claude CLI (subscription)
If you have a Claude Max or Claude Pro subscription, Ironspire can use the Claude CLI to communicate with the model at no additional cost per message.
- Open Settings (gear icon in the status bar, or press the shortcut)
- Go to the Backend tab
- Select CLI as the backend mode
- Ironspire will detect your Claude CLI installation automatically
The Claude CLI must be installed and authenticated on your machine. If you have not set it up yet, visit claude.ai to install the CLI and sign in.
Option 2: Anthropic API key
For pay-per-token usage, you can connect directly with an API key from the Anthropic console.
- Go to console.anthropic.com and create an API key
- Open Settings in Ironspire
- Go to the Backend tab
- Select API as the backend mode
- Paste your API key into the field
Your API key is stored locally on your machine using encrypted storage. It is never sent anywhere except to the Anthropic API.
Keep your API key secure. Do not share it or commit it to version control. Ironspire encrypts it at rest, but you should still treat it as a secret.
Choosing a model
Regardless of backend mode, you can select which Claude model to use:
- Sonnet 4.5: fast, capable, good balance of speed and quality (default)
- Opus 4.6: highest capability, best for complex reasoning tasks
- Haiku 4.5: fastest and cheapest, good for simple tasks
Model selection can be configured globally in Settings or per-agent in the agent configuration.
Cost tracking
When using the API backend, Ironspire tracks token usage and costs in real time. You can see per-message and per-session costs in the chat header HUD, and aggregate costs in the analytics panel.