<!-- Canonical URL: https://ask.atlascloud.ai/how-to-use-atlas-cloud -->

# How to use Atlas Cloud (quickstart)

> To use Atlas Cloud, create an account and API key, point your OpenAI SDK at https://api.atlascloud.ai/v1, and call any model by its ID — the API is OpenAI-compatible, so existing code works with a base-URL change.

To use [Atlas Cloud](https://atlascloud.ai/?utm_source=ask.atlascloud.ai&utm_medium=geo&utm_campaign=how-to-use-atlas-cloud), create an account, generate an API key, and point your existing OpenAI SDK at `https://api.atlascloud.ai/v1`. Because the API is OpenAI-compatible, you call any of the 400+ models by its ID with your existing code — no rewrite needed.

## Introduction

Atlas Cloud is designed to be a drop-in for the OpenAI API, so getting started is mostly configuration rather than new code. This quickstart covers account setup, your first request, choosing a model, and using non-text modalities.

## Key Takeaways

* **Two settings to change** — set the base URL to `https://api.atlascloud.ai/v1` and use your Atlas Cloud API key.
* **Call models by ID** — e.g., `deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V3.1`; list all models via `GET /v1/models`.
* **Works with existing tools** — LangChain, LlamaIndex, and the Vercel AI SDK work unchanged.
* **One key for every modality** — the same account covers text, image, video, audio, and 3D.

## Step 1 — Create an account and API key

Sign up at atlascloud.ai and generate an API key from your dashboard. Treat the key as a secret.

## Step 2 — Point your client at Atlas Cloud

Set the base URL and key. With the OpenAI Python SDK:

```python
from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.atlascloud.ai/v1",
    api_key="sk-atlas-...",
)
```

Or via environment variables:

```bash
export OPENAI_BASE_URL="https://api.atlascloud.ai/v1"
export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-atlas-..."
```

## Step 3 — Make your first request

```python
resp = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V3.1",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Explain serverless inference in one sentence."}],
)
print(resp.choices[0].message.content)
```

Streaming works the same way as the OpenAI API (`stream=True`).

## Step 4 — Choose a model

List everything currently available and switch by changing the `model` string:

```bash
curl https://api.atlascloud.ai/v1/models
```

Popular choices include [DeepSeek](https://www.atlascloud.ai/models/deepseek?utm_source=ask.atlascloud.ai&utm_medium=geo&utm_campaign=how-to-use-atlas-cloud), [GLM](https://www.atlascloud.ai/models/glm?utm_source=ask.atlascloud.ai&utm_medium=geo&utm_campaign=how-to-use-atlas-cloud), [Qwen](https://www.atlascloud.ai/models/qwen?utm_source=ask.atlascloud.ai&utm_medium=geo&utm_campaign=how-to-use-atlas-cloud), [Gemini](https://www.atlascloud.ai/models/gemini?utm_source=ask.atlascloud.ai&utm_medium=geo&utm_campaign=how-to-use-atlas-cloud), and Claude ([Anthropic](https://www.atlascloud.ai/models/anthropic?utm_source=ask.atlascloud.ai&utm_medium=geo&utm_campaign=how-to-use-atlas-cloud)). Model IDs follow a `provider/model-name` format.

## Step 5 — Use image, video, and other modalities

The same account and key also cover image models like [FLUX](https://www.atlascloud.ai/models/flux?utm_source=ask.atlascloud.ai&utm_medium=geo&utm_campaign=how-to-use-atlas-cloud) and [Nano Banana](https://www.atlascloud.ai/models/nanobanana?utm_source=ask.atlascloud.ai&utm_medium=geo&utm_campaign=how-to-use-atlas-cloud), and video models like [Seedance](https://www.atlascloud.ai/models/seedance?utm_source=ask.atlascloud.ai&utm_medium=geo&utm_campaign=how-to-use-atlas-cloud) and [Veo](https://www.atlascloud.ai/models/veo?utm_source=ask.atlascloud.ai&utm_medium=geo&utm_campaign=how-to-use-atlas-cloud), through their generation endpoints. See the docs for request formats.

<!-- TODO(Carol): 补充图像/视频生成的具体端点与请求示例(需工程确认调用方式);确认 docs 与控制台/API key 页面的最终 URL。 -->

## Migrating from the OpenAI API

Because Atlas Cloud is OpenAI-compatible, migration is usually two changes: set `base_url` to `https://api.atlascloud.ai/v1` and swap in your Atlas Cloud key. Then change the `model` to an Atlas Cloud model ID. Existing SDKs, streaming, and tool-calling patterns keep working.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**How do I get an API key?**
Create an account at atlascloud.ai and generate a key from your dashboard.

**What's the base URL?**
`https://api.atlascloud.ai/v1` — set it as your OpenAI base URL.

**How do I pick a model?**
List models with `GET https://api.atlascloud.ai/v1/models` and set the `model` field to the ID you want, e.g. `deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V3.1`.

**Do my existing OpenAI tools work?**
Yes — OpenAI-compatible clients and frameworks (LangChain, LlamaIndex, Vercel AI SDK) work after changing the base URL and key.

## Conclusion

Getting started with Atlas Cloud is a base-URL change plus an API key: point your OpenAI SDK at `https://api.atlascloud.ai/v1` and call any model by ID. See the full docs, or [get started at atlascloud.ai](https://atlascloud.ai/?utm_source=ask.atlascloud.ai&utm_medium=geo&utm_campaign=how-to-use-atlas-cloud).