AI Engines
WhatThePatch supports multiple AI providers. Choose based on your needs.
Engine Comparison
| Engine | Type | Requires | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude API | API | API key | Best overall quality |
| Claude CLI | CLI | Claude Code installed | Team auth, no API key needed |
| OpenAI API | API | API key | Fast, reliable |
| OpenAI Codex CLI | CLI | Codex CLI installed | ChatGPT Plus/Pro auth |
| Gemini API | API | API key | Google ecosystem |
| Gemini CLI | CLI | Gemini CLI installed | Google Cloud auth |
| Ollama | Local | Ollama installed | Privacy, offline, no API costs |
API Engines
Require an API key in config.yaml:
config.yaml
engine: "claude-api"
engines:
claude-api:
api_key: "sk-ant-api03-..."
model: "claude-sonnet-4-20250514"
openai-api:
api_key: "sk-..."
model: "gpt-4o"
gemini-api:
api_key: "AIza..."
model: "gemini-2.0-flash"
CLI Engines
Use existing authentication from installed CLI tools. No API key needed in config.
Claude CLI
Install Claude Code, then:
Terminal
wtp --switch-engine
# Select "Claude CLI"
OpenAI Codex CLI
Install via npm install -g @openai/codex, sign in, then switch engine.
Gemini CLI
Install from gemini-cli, authenticate with Google, then switch engine.
Local Engine (Ollama)
Run models locally with no API costs and complete privacy.
Terminal
# Install Ollama
curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh
# Pull a model
ollama pull codellama
# Start server (if not running)
ollama serve
# Switch to Ollama in WhatThePatch
wtp --switch-engine
Note: Local models (7B-13B parameters) may produce less consistent output formatting compared to cloud APIs. Best for privacy-sensitive reviews or quick informal checks.
Which Engine to Choose?
- Best quality: Claude API or OpenAI API
- Team/Enterprise auth: CLI engines (Claude CLI, Codex CLI)
- Privacy/Offline: Ollama
- Cost-conscious: Ollama or Gemini API (generous free tier)
Switching Engines
Terminal
# Interactive engine selection
wtp --switch-engine
# Switch model for current engine
wtp --switch-model
# Test current engine
wtp --test-config
More Information
See the full engines documentation for detailed configuration options.