refactor!: move LLM configuration from in-app settings to CLI/env vars

- Remove `api_endpoint` from Settings model and settings UI
- Add `--llm-endpoint` / `AETHERA_LLM_ENDPOINT` and `--llm-key` /
  `AETHERA_LLM_KEY` CLI flags (endpoint is required)
- Update client constructor to accept API key parameter
- Update tests and documentation to reflect new configuration approach

BREAKING CHANGE: LLM endpoint and key must now be provided via
`AETHERA_LLM_ENDPOINT` and `AETHERA_LLM_KEY` environment variables or
CLI flags instead of the Settings page.

Dockerfile

@@ -27,4 +27,7 @@ EXPOSE 8080
 ENV AETHERA_LISTEN=0.0.0.0
 ENV AETHERA_PORT=8080
 ENV AETHERA_DATA_DIR=/app/data
+# LLM Configuration (required)
+# ENV AETHERA_LLM_ENDPOINT=https://api.example.com/v1
+# ENV AETHERA_LLM_KEY=your-api-key-here
 ENTRYPOINT ["./aethera"]

README.md

@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@ make all              # Build frontend + backend
 
 ```bash
 make docker
-docker run -p 8080:8080 -v aethera-data:/app/data aethera
+docker run -p 8080:8080 \
+  -e AETHERA_LLM_ENDPOINT=https://api.example.com/v1 \
+  -e AETHERA_LLM_KEY=your-key \
+  -v aethera-data:/app/data aethera
 ```
 
 ### Manual Build
@@ -58,7 +61,9 @@ Configuration is available via CLI flags and environment variables (prefixed `AE
 
 | Flag           | Env Var             | Default     | Description                                |
 |----------------|---------------------|-------------|--------------------------------------------|
-| `--data-dir`   | `AETHERA_DATA_DIR`  | `./data`    | Directory for chats, settings, and images  |
+| `--llm-endpoint` | `AETHERA_LLM_ENDPOINT` | *(required)* | OpenAI-compatible API endpoint URL   |
+| `--llm-key`      | `AETHERA_LLM_KEY`      |               | API key for authentication           |
+| `--data-dir`     | `AETHERA_DATA_DIR`     | `./data`      | Directory for chats, settings, and images  |
 | `--static-dir` | `AETHERA_STATIC_DIR`| *(embedded)*| Serve frontend from disk (for development) |
 | `--listen`     | `AETHERA_LISTEN`    | `localhost` | Listen address                             |
 | `--port`       | `AETHERA_PORT`      | `8080`      | Listen port                                |
@@ -66,7 +71,7 @@ Configuration is available via CLI flags and environment variables (prefixed `AE
 Example:
 
 ```bash
-./backend/dist/aethera --port 3000 --listen 0.0.0.0
+AETHERA_LLM_ENDPOINT=https://api.example.com/v1 AETHERA_LLM_KEY=your-key ./backend/dist/aethera
 ```
 
 ## Development
@@ -89,10 +94,9 @@ This starts the Go backend (serving frontend from disk) and the frontend in watc
 
 ## Getting Started
 
-1. **Configure Your API** — navigate to Settings and enter your OpenAI-compatible API endpoint URL
+1. **Configure Your API** — set `AETHERA_LLM_ENDPOINT` and optionally `AETHERA_LLM_KEY` environment variables
-2. **Start Chatting** — use the Chat interface to begin conversations
+2. **Start the Server** — run the binary and navigate to `http://localhost:8080`
-3. **Generate Images** — visit the Images page to create or edit images
+3. **Configure Model Selectors** — navigate to Settings to configure model selectors for chat and image generation
-4. **Manage Content** — view, delete, and organize conversations and images
 
 ## Supported AI Services
 

backend/cmd/config.go

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ type cliParams struct {
 	DataDir      string
 	StaticDir    string
 	SettingsFile string
+	LLMEndpoint  string
+	LLMKey       string
 }
 
 // getEnvOrDefault returns the value of an environment variable or a default value
@@ -36,6 +38,11 @@ func getEnvIntOrDefault(key string, defaultValue int) int {
 }
 
 func (p *cliParams) Validate() error {
+	// Require LLM Configuration
+	if p.LLMEndpoint == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("LLM endpoint is required (set AETHERA_LLM_ENDPOINT)")
+	}
+
 	// Ensure Generated Directories
 	imgDir := path.Join(p.DataDir, "generated/images")
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(imgDir, 0755); err != nil {

backend/cmd/main.go

@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ var (
 		ListenPort: getEnvIntOrDefault("PORT", 8080),
 		DataDir:    getEnvOrDefault("DATA_DIR", "./data"),
 		StaticDir:  getEnvOrDefault("STATIC_DIR", ""),
+		LLMEndpoint: getEnvOrDefault("LLM_ENDPOINT", ""),
+		LLMKey:     getEnvOrDefault("LLM_KEY", ""),
 	}
 	rootCmd = &cobra.Command{Use: "aethera"}
 )
@@ -26,6 +28,8 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&params.StaticDir, "static-dir", params.StaticDir, "Directory to serve static frontend files from instead of embedded assets (env: AETHERA_STATIC_DIR)")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&params.ListenAddr, "listen", params.ListenAddr, "Address to listen on (env: AETHERA_LISTEN)")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().IntVar(&params.ListenPort, "port", params.ListenPort, "Port to listen on (env: AETHERA_PORT)")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&params.LLMEndpoint, "llm-endpoint", params.LLMEndpoint, "LLM API endpoint URL (env: AETHERA_LLM_ENDPOINT)")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&params.LLMKey, "llm-key", params.LLMKey, "LLM API key (env: AETHERA_LLM_KEY)")
 }
 
 func main() {
@@ -42,7 +46,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	// Start Server
 	rootCmd.Run = func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		server.StartServer(fileStore, params.DataDir, params.StaticDir, params.ListenAddr, params.ListenPort)
+		server.StartServer(fileStore, params.DataDir, params.StaticDir, params.ListenAddr, params.ListenPort, params.LLMEndpoint, params.LLMKey)
 	}
 
 	if err := rootCmd.Execute(); err != nil {

backend/internal/api/handlers.go

@@ -28,14 +28,18 @@ type API struct {
 	store             store.Store
 	client            *client.Client
 	dataDir           string
+	llmEndpoint       string
+	llmKey            string
 	generationManager *generationManager
 }
 
-func New(s store.Store, dataDir string, logger *logrus.Logger) *API {
+func New(s store.Store, dataDir string, logger *logrus.Logger, llmEndpoint, llmKey string) *API {
 	return &API{
 		store:             s,
 		dataDir:           dataDir,
 		logger:            logger.WithField("service", "api"),
+		llmEndpoint:       llmEndpoint,
+		llmKey:            llmKey,
 		generationManager: newGenerationManager(),
 	}
 }
@@ -68,24 +72,6 @@ func (a *API) PostSettings(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if apiEndpoint := newSettings.APIEndpoint; apiEndpoint != "" {
-		baseURL, err := url.Parse(apiEndpoint)
-		if err != nil {
-			errMsg := fmt.Sprintf("Invalid API Endpoint URL: %q", baseURL)
-			log.WithError(err).Error(errMsg)
-			http.Error(w, errMsg, http.StatusBadRequest)
-			return
-		}
-
-		testClient := client.NewClient(baseURL)
-		if _, err := testClient.GetModels(r.Context()); err != nil {
-			log.WithError(err).Error("failed to access configured API endpoint")
-			http.Error(w, "API endpoint inaccessible", http.StatusBadRequest)
-			return
-		}
-		a.client = nil
-	}
-
 	if err := a.store.SaveSettings(&newSettings); err != nil {
 		log.WithError(err).Error("failed to save settings")
 		http.Error(w, "Failed to save application settings", http.StatusInternalServerError)
@@ -516,20 +502,13 @@ func (a *API) getClient() (*client.Client, error) {
 		return a.client, nil
 	}
 
-	// Get Settings & Validate Endpoint
+	// Parse LLM Endpoint from Config
-	settings, err := a.store.GetSettings()
+	baseURL, err := url.Parse(a.llmEndpoint)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to retrieve application settings: %w", err)
-	} else if settings.APIEndpoint == "" {
-		return nil, errors.New("no API endpoint configured in settings")
-	}
-
-	baseURL, err := url.Parse(settings.APIEndpoint)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid API endpoint URL: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	a.client = client.NewClient(baseURL)
+	a.client = client.NewClient(baseURL, a.llmKey)
 	return a.client, nil
 }
 

backend/internal/client/client.go

@@ -288,8 +288,12 @@ func populateUsageTimings(msgStats *types.MessageStats, usage openai.CompletionU
 	return didChange
 }
 
-func NewClient(baseURL *url.URL) *Client {
+func NewClient(baseURL *url.URL, apiKey string) *Client {
-	oaiClient := openai.NewClient(option.WithBaseURL(baseURL.String()))
+	opts := []option.RequestOption{option.WithBaseURL(baseURL.String())}
+	if apiKey != "" {
+		opts = append(opts, option.WithAPIKey(apiKey))
+	}
+	oaiClient := openai.NewClient(opts...)
 	return &Client{oaiClient: &oaiClient}
 }
 

backend/internal/client/client_test.go

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func TestSendMessage(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to parse base URL: %v", err)
 	}
-	client := NewClient(baseURL)
+	client := NewClient(baseURL, os.Getenv("AETHERA_LLM_KEY"))
 
 	// Create Context
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 120*time.Second)
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func TestSummarizeChat(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to parse base URL: %v", err)
 	}
-	client := NewClient(baseURL)
+	client := NewClient(baseURL, os.Getenv("AETHERA_LLM_KEY"))
 
 	// Create Context
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func TestSendMessageWithImage(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to parse base URL: %v", err)
 	}
-	client := NewClient(baseURL)
+	client := NewClient(baseURL, os.Getenv("AETHERA_LLM_KEY"))
 
 	// Create Context
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 120*time.Second)

backend/internal/server/server.go

@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@ import (
 	"reichard.io/aethera/web"
 )
 
-func StartServer(settingsStore store.Store, dataDir, staticDir, listenAddress string, listenPort int) {
+func StartServer(settingsStore store.Store, dataDir, staticDir, listenAddress string, listenPort int, llmEndpoint, llmKey string) {
 	mux := http.NewServeMux()
 
 	// Create API Instance - use settingsStore as the unified store for both settings and chat
 	logger := logrus.New()
-	api := api.New(settingsStore, dataDir, logger)
+	api := api.New(settingsStore, dataDir, logger, llmEndpoint, llmKey)
 
 	// Serve Static Assets
 	if staticDir != "" {

backend/internal/store/memory_test.go

@@ -141,7 +141,6 @@ func TestInMemoryStore_SaveSettings(t *testing.T) {
 	store := NewInMemoryStore()
 
 	settings := &Settings{
-		APIEndpoint:             "http://example.com",
 		ImageEditSelector:       ".image-edit",
 		ImageGenerationSelector: ".image-gen",
 		TextGenerationSelector:  ".text-gen",
@@ -161,7 +160,6 @@ func TestInMemoryStore_GetSettings(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Set some settings
 	settings = &Settings{
-		APIEndpoint:             "http://example.com",
 		ImageEditSelector:       ".image-edit",
 		ImageGenerationSelector: ".image-gen",
 		TextGenerationSelector:  ".text-gen",
@@ -172,5 +170,5 @@ func TestInMemoryStore_GetSettings(t *testing.T) {
 	// Get the settings
 	settings, err = store.GetSettings()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, "http://example.com", settings.APIEndpoint)
+	assert.Equal(t, ".image-edit", settings.ImageEditSelector)
 }

backend/internal/store/storage.go

@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ var _ Store = (*FileStore)(nil)
 
 // Settings represents the application settings
 type Settings struct {
-	APIEndpoint             string `json:"api_endpoint,omitempty"`
 	ImageEditSelector       string `json:"image_edit_selector,omitempty"`
 	ImageGenerationSelector string `json:"image_generation_selector,omitempty"`
 	TextGenerationSelector  string `json:"text_generation_selector,omitempty"`

backend/internal/store/storage_test.go

@@ -209,7 +209,6 @@ func TestFileStore_SaveSettings(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	settings := &Settings{
-		APIEndpoint:             "http://example.com",
 		ImageEditSelector:       ".image-edit",
 		ImageGenerationSelector: ".image-gen",
 		TextGenerationSelector:  ".text-gen",
@@ -237,7 +236,6 @@ func TestFileStore_GetSettings(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Set some settings
 	settings = &Settings{
-		APIEndpoint:             "http://example.com",
 		ImageEditSelector:       ".image-edit",
 		ImageGenerationSelector: ".image-gen",
 		TextGenerationSelector:  ".text-gen",
@@ -248,5 +246,5 @@ func TestFileStore_GetSettings(t *testing.T) {
 	// Get the settings
 	settings, err = store.GetSettings()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, "http://example.com", settings.APIEndpoint)
+	assert.Equal(t, ".image-edit", settings.ImageEditSelector)
 }

frontend/public/pages/settings.html

@@ -3,25 +3,6 @@
   @submit.prevent="saveSettings"
   class="p-0.5 w-full flex flex-col gap-4 pt-16 mx-auto px-4 md:px-6 max-w-6xl"
 >
-  <div>
-    <label
-      for="apiEndpoint"
-      class="block text-sm font-semibold text-primary-700"
-      >API Endpoint URL</label
-    >
-    <div class="ml-1">
-      <input
-        type="url"
-        id="apiEndpoint"
-        name="apiEndpoint"
-        x-model="settings.api_endpoint"
-        class="mt-1 p-1 block w-full rounded-md border-primary-400 shadow focus:border-secondary-500 focus:ring-secondary-500 sm:text-sm text-primary-900"
-        placeholder="https://api.example.com/v1"
-        required
-      />
-      <p class="mt-2 text-xs text-primary-500">URL of your API endpoint</p>
-    </div>
-  </div>
   <div>
     <span class="text-sm font-medium font-semibold text-primary-700"
       >Selectors</span

frontend/src/types/index.ts

@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ export interface Model {
 }
 
 export interface Settings {
-  api_endpoint?: string;
   image_edit_selector?: string;
   image_generation_selector?: string;
   text_generation_selector?: string;