Claude Code

Claude Code sends Anthropic-style requests. Use this guide only when your HiLinkup account and target Chinese model support Claude Messages-compatible calls.

A working OpenAI Chat Completions request does not prove that the Anthropic Messages route is available. Confirm the model and protocol in the HiLinkup console before configuring Claude Code.

Examples use the HiLinkup platform model aliyun/kimi-k3. This is a Chinese model example, not a requirement to use an overseas Claude model. Confirm available models with /v1/models and the console.

Choose a configuration method

Method	Best for	Location
User settings	Recommended for long-term personal use	macOS/Linux: `~/.claude/settings.json`; Windows: `%USERPROFILE%\.claude\settings.json`
Project-local settings	Current project only; do not commit	`.claude/settings.local.json`
Environment variables	One-time verification	Current terminal or PowerShell window
`apiKeyHelper`	Read the key from a secret manager or script	`~/.claude/settings.json`

Option 1: user `settings.json`

Claude Code official settings use ~/.claude/settings.json for user-level settings. On Windows, ~/.claude resolves to %USERPROFILE%\.claude.

macOS
Linux
Windows PowerShell

Open the settings file:

mkdir -p ~/.claude
nano ~/.claude/settings.json

Paste:

{
  "$schema": "https://json.schemastore.org/claude-code-settings.json",
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_HILINKUP_API_KEY",
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://api.hilinkup.com",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "aliyun/kimi-k3"
  }
}

Save with Ctrl + O, press Enter, then exit with Ctrl + X.
Start Claude Code:

claude

Open the settings file:

mkdir -p ~/.claude
nano ~/.claude/settings.json

Paste:

{
  "$schema": "https://json.schemastore.org/claude-code-settings.json",
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_HILINKUP_API_KEY",
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://api.hilinkup.com",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "aliyun/kimi-k3"
  }
}

Save with Ctrl + O, press Enter, then exit with Ctrl + X.
Start Claude Code:

claude

Create the settings directory:

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude"

Open the settings file:

notepad "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude\settings.json"

Paste and save:

{
  "$schema": "https://json.schemastore.org/claude-code-settings.json",
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_HILINKUP_API_KEY",
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://api.hilinkup.com",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "aliyun/kimi-k3"
  }
}

Close and reopen PowerShell, then start:

claude

This method stores the API key in a local config file. Do not screenshot, commit, or sync settings.json.

Option 2: project-local settings

Use .claude/settings.local.json when only the current project should use HiLinkup. This file is for personal local settings and should not be committed.

macOS / Linux
Windows PowerShell

mkdir -p .claude
nano .claude/settings.local.json

Paste:

{
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_HILINKUP_API_KEY",
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://api.hilinkup.com",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "aliyun/kimi-k3"
  },
  "permissions": {
    "deny": [
      "Read(./.env)",
      "Read(./.env.*)",
      "Read(./secrets/**)"
    ]
  }
}

Add it to .gitignore:

printf '%s\n' '.claude/settings.local.json' >> .gitignore

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force ".claude"
notepad ".claude\settings.local.json"

Paste:

{
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_HILINKUP_API_KEY",
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://api.hilinkup.com",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "aliyun/kimi-k3"
  },
  "permissions": {
    "deny": [
      "Read(./.env)",
      "Read(./.env.*)",
      "Read(./secrets/**)"
    ]
  }
}

Add it to .gitignore:

Add-Content .gitignore ".claude/settings.local.json"

Option 3: temporary environment variables

Use this for first-time verification when you do not want to modify config files.

macOS / Linux
Windows PowerShell

export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="YOUR_HILINKUP_API_KEY"
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://api.hilinkup.com"
export ANTHROPIC_MODEL="aliyun/kimi-k3"
claude

$env:ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN = "YOUR_HILINKUP_API_KEY"
$env:ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL = "https://api.hilinkup.com"
$env:ANTHROPIC_MODEL = "aliyun/kimi-k3"
claude

Option 4: read the key with `apiKeyHelper`

If your team uses 1Password, Vault, pass, Keychain, or an internal secret service, use a helper script so the key is not stored directly in JSON. Claude Code runs apiKeyHelper through the system shell and uses the command output as the request credential.

macOS / Linux
Windows PowerShell

Create the helper script:

mkdir -p ~/.claude/bin
nano ~/.claude/bin/hilinkup-key

Paste:

#!/usr/bin/env bash
printf '%s' "$HILINKUP_API_KEY"

Make it executable:

chmod +x ~/.claude/bin/hilinkup-key

Edit ~/.claude/settings.json:

nano ~/.claude/settings.json

Paste:

{
  "$schema": "https://json.schemastore.org/claude-code-settings.json",
  "apiKeyHelper": "~/.claude/bin/hilinkup-key",
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://api.hilinkup.com",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "aliyun/kimi-k3"
  }
}

Set the key before starting Claude Code:

export HILINKUP_API_KEY="YOUR_HILINKUP_API_KEY"
claude

Create the helper script:

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude\bin"
notepad "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude\bin\hilinkup-key.cmd"

Paste and save:

@echo off
<nul set /p=%HILINKUP_API_KEY%

Edit settings.json:

notepad "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude\settings.json"

Paste:

{
  "$schema": "https://json.schemastore.org/claude-code-settings.json",
  "apiKeyHelper": "%USERPROFILE%\\.claude\\bin\\hilinkup-key.cmd",
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://api.hilinkup.com",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "aliyun/kimi-k3"
  }
}

Set the key before starting Claude Code:

$env:HILINKUP_API_KEY = "YOUR_HILINKUP_API_KEY"
claude

Verify

1. Verify the HiLinkup Claude Messages route

macOS / Linux
Windows PowerShell

curl https://api.hilinkup.com/v1/messages \
  -H "content-type: application/json" \
  -H "x-api-key: $HILINKUP_API_KEY" \
  -H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
  -d '{
    "model": "aliyun/kimi-k3",
    "max_tokens": 256,
    "messages": [
      {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "Reply with: HiLinkup Claude route is working."
      }
    ]
  }'

curl.exe https://api.hilinkup.com/v1/messages `
  -H "content-type: application/json" `
  -H "x-api-key: $env:HILINKUP_API_KEY" `
  -H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" `
  -d '{
    "model": "aliyun/kimi-k3",
    "max_tokens": 256,
    "messages": [
      {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "Reply with: HiLinkup Claude route is working."
      }
    ]
  }'

2. Verify Claude Code

claude

Send:

Reply only with: HiLinkup Claude Code is configured

3. Verify the full agent path

Test in this order:

Plain question without tools.
Read the current directory structure.
Read one non-sensitive file.
Make one small change in a temporary branch or temporary directory.

Common issues

Claude Code still uses the official Claude account

Check that ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL is available in the same terminal that starts claude. If a login session is still active but the custom gateway credential is missing, requests may not use the expected route.

401 or 403

Confirm that you are using a HiLinkup API key and that the selected model supports Claude Messages-compatible calls. Do not mix an OpenAI key or Anthropic key with the HiLinkup base URL.

cURL works but Claude Code fails

Claude Code agent requests include more context, tool definitions, and system fields. First verify a plain prompt, then gradually test file reads and shell commands.

Settings file does not apply

User settings live in ~/.claude/settings.json; project settings live in .claude/settings.json; personal local project settings live in .claude/settings.local.json. On Windows, ~/.claude resolves to %USERPROFILE%\.claude. Restart Claude Code after model or base URL changes.

Overview

Developer tools

Chat clients

Application frameworks

Choose a configuration method

Option 1: user `settings.json`

Option 2: project-local settings

Option 3: temporary environment variables

Option 4: read the key with `apiKeyHelper`

Verify

1. Verify the HiLinkup Claude Messages route

2. Verify Claude Code

3. Verify the full agent path

Common issues

​Choose a configuration method

​Option 1: user settings.json

​Option 2: project-local settings

​Option 3: temporary environment variables

​Option 4: read the key with apiKeyHelper

​Verify

​1. Verify the HiLinkup Claude Messages route

​2. Verify Claude Code

​3. Verify the full agent path

​Common issues

Choose a configuration method

Option 1: user `settings.json`

Option 2: project-local settings

Option 3: temporary environment variables

Option 4: read the key with `apiKeyHelper`

Verify

1. Verify the HiLinkup Claude Messages route

2. Verify Claude Code

3. Verify the full agent path

Common issues