Roo Code
Connect Roo Code, the autonomous VS Code agent, to Cheapa API for intelligent coding assistance.
What This Does
Roo Code is an autonomous AI coding agent for VS Code. It can analyze codebases, write and modify files, run terminal commands, and iterate on complex development tasks. By connecting Roo Code to Cheapa API, you get powerful model options with unified billing through your Cheapa API account.
Setup
Step 1: Install Roo Code
- Open VS Code
- Go to the Extensions marketplace (
Cmd+Shift+XorCtrl+Shift+X) - Search for Roo Code
- Click Install
Step 2: Open Roo Code Settings
- Click the Roo Code icon in the VS Code sidebar
- Click the settings icon (gear) or the configuration button
- Navigate to Providers or API Configuration
Step 3: Configure Cheapa API
In the provider configuration:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| API Provider | OpenAI Compatible |
| Base URL | https://api.cheapaapi.com/v1 |
| API Key | Your Cheapa API API key |
| Model ID | kimi-k2.7-code or deepseek-v4-pro |
Get your API key from cheapaapi.com/keys.
Step 4: Save and Test
- Save your configuration
- Start a new Roo Code session
- Enter a simple prompt to verify connectivity
Example prompt:
Analyze the structure of this project and summarize the main components.Recommended Models for Roo Code
| Task | Model | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Code generation & refactoring | kimi-k2.7-code | Moonshot's code-tuned K2.7 — best for code generation and refactoring |
| Autonomous development | kimi-k2.6 | Best for complex reasoning and planning |
| Code generation | deepseek-v4-pro | Optimized for programming tasks |
| Large codebase analysis | minimax-m3 | Extended context for big projects |
| Quick iterations | glm-5.1 | Fast responses, cost-effective |
Troubleshooting
"Invalid API key" error
- Verify the key is correct at cheapaapi.com/keys
- Re-paste the key ensuring no extra spaces
"Model not found" error
- Ensure you selected OpenAI Compatible as the provider
- Use exact model slugs:
kimi-k2.7-code,deepseek-v4-pro,minimax-m3
Connection failures
- Verify Base URL is
https://api.cheapaapi.com/v1without trailing slash - Check your network allows HTTPS connections to
api.cheapaapi.com
Slow responses
- Use
glm-5.1for faster responses - Verify your balance at cheapaapi.com/billing
Roo Code can't modify files
- Check file permissions in your project directory
- Ensure Roo Code has the necessary VS Code permissions
Notes
- Roo Code can execute terminal commands — review actions before approving
- For long autonomous sessions, consider using
deepseek-v4-profor optimal code generation - Token usage is per-interaction at the active model's rate
- All usage appears in your Cheapa API dashboard in real-time
- Roo Code may create checkpoints — useful for reverting unwanted changes