How to Connect WorkBuddy to OpenCode: A 3-Step Guide to Your Local Model Supermarket

When developing with AI assistance or handling daily workflows, managing multiple models often turns into a tedious chore. You might want DeepSeek for complex algorithmic logic, Alibaba Cloud's Qwen for handling lengthy Chinese documentation, and MiniMax for lightning-fast lightweight tasks.

Under the traditional approach, you are forced to:

1. Register separate developer accounts across multiple platforms;
2. Top up individual prepaid balances and track account depletion individually;
3. Create, copy, and secure countless API keys;
4. Repeatedly look up disparate endpoints and request schemas whenever switching models.

The administrative overhead alone is enough to deter many developers.

Recently, several readers asked: Can WorkBuddy connect directly to OpenCode?

I decided to test this integration hands-on. Not only does it work reliably, but the setup is surprisingly straightforward. Once you understand the endpoint routing and naming conventions, it takes just three steps to turn WorkBuddy into a versatile local "model supermarket."

---

1. Why Pair WorkBuddy with OpenCode?

OpenCode serves as a cost-effective aggregator and router for top-tier open and commercial AI models. Its core proposition is simple: one account, one unified API key, centralized billing, and consolidated access to multiple models.

DeepSeek, Qwen, MiniMax, and Xiaomi's MIMO can all be managed through a single dashboard, eliminating the need to maintain distinct subscriptions. You can register via my OpenCode Exclusive Referral Link to claim promotional Go plan benefits.

Meanwhile, WorkBuddy, as an AI desktop assistant and coding copilot, offers native support for custom model extensions (OpenAI-compatible APIs).

Bringing them together delivers immediate benefits:

• You maintain just one active balance on OpenCode.
• WorkBuddy gains access to an extensive roster of model backends.
• You can switch foundational models on the fly directly inside your editor or chat window.

---

2. Tested Model Compatibility

To help you avoid known traps, I ran live benchmarks across major models via WorkBuddy. Here is the verified compatibility breakdown:

Model Family	Compatibility	Practical Experience & Notes
DeepSeek	✅ Fully Supported	Outstanding reasoning and code generation; highest price-to-performance ratio.
Qwen (Tongyi Qianwen)	✅ Fully Supported	Exceptional Chinese semantic grasp and strict long-context instruction adherence.
MiniMax	✅ Fully Supported	Extremely fast time-to-first-token; ideal for general queries and quick scripting.
MIMO (Xiaomi)	✅ Fully Supported	Solid balance between speed and text completion.
GLM (Zhipu)	❌ Intermittent 401	Specific authentication headers occasionally mismatch during proxy pass-through.

Note: If you primarily rely on DeepSeek, Qwen, or MiniMax, the integration works out of the box with zero latency penalty.

---

3. Step-by-Step Setup Guide

The entire configuration is managed within WorkBuddy's graphical interface without editing raw config files. It takes less than three minutes.

Step 1: Open Custom Model Configuration

Launch WorkBuddy:

1. Click the Model Selector located in the bottom action bar or sidebar;
2. Scroll to the bottom of the list and select "Configure Custom Model";
3. Click "Add New Model" to open the parameters dialog.

Step 2: Enter OpenCode Endpoint and Credentials

Fill in the three critical fields:

[Provider Type]: Custom (OpenAI Compatible)
[Base URL     ]: https://opencode.ai/zen/go/v1  (or standard Zen URL)
[API Key      ]: sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[Model ID     ]: deepseek-chat (must match OpenCode documentation)

⚠️ Critical Pitfall: OpenCode Go vs. Zen Endpoints

The most common integration mistake stems from confusing OpenCode's routing tiers:

• OpenCode Go Endpoint: https://opencode.ai/zen/go/v1 (dedicated to the OpenCode Go plan's curated open-weight models, subscribe at opencode.ai/go?ref=4S005HCG8T).
• OpenCode Zen Endpoint: https://opencode.ai/zen/v1 (standard Zen aggregate gateway).

These endpoints and their supported model identifiers are not interchangeable. Ensure your base URL corresponds directly to your active subscription.

Step 3: Select and Verify Connectivity

Save your configuration:

1. Return to the main WorkBuddy interface;
2. Select your newly added custom model from the dropdown;
3. Send a brief verification prompt: Hello, please confirm your current model identity and system status.

Once you receive a streaming response, your authentication, gateway relay, and local rendering pipeline are verified and operational.

---

4. Troubleshooting Common Errors

1. HTTP 401 Unauthorized Error

• Hidden Whitespace: Trailing spaces or newline characters often sneak into copied API keys. Clear the field and paste carefully.
• Endpoint Mismatch: Confirm whether your account plan requires /zen/go/v1 or /zen/v1. Accessing an endpoint outside your plan triggers an immediate 401 rejection.
• Account Credit: Log in to the OpenCode console to verify that your account balance is positive and the key is active.

2. Model List Appears Empty or Unselectable

• The Model ID field in WorkBuddy must match OpenCode's exact identifier string (case-sensitive). Avoid creating arbitrary nicknames.

---

5. Summary

Combining WorkBuddy with OpenCode gives you a dependable, low-friction local AI workspace. Without managing individual provider portals or configuring local reverse proxies, a simple 3-step setup grants you access to top open models with maximum flexibility.

If you have not activated a plan yet, feel free to use my OpenCode Referral Link to get started with an initial discount.