How to Set Up Ollama with OpenClaude Using OpenAI Compatibility: Complete Local LLM Guide

OpenClaude automatically detects Ollama's OpenAI-compatible endpoint at http://localhost:11434 and routes chat requests locally without requiring API keys or cloud credentials.

Setting up Ollama with OpenClaude leverages the built-in OpenAI compatibility shim to run large language models entirely on your local machine. This integration, implemented in the Gitlawb/openclaude repository, eliminates external API dependencies while maintaining full protocol compatibility with standard OpenAI chat completion workflows.

Automatic Discovery and Routing

OpenClaude implements zero-configuration provider detection to identify running Ollama instances through dedicated discovery utilities.

Endpoint Detection Logic

In src/utils/providerDiscovery.ts at line 8, the system declares DEFAULT_OLLAMA_BASE_URL = 'http://localhost:11434'. During initialization, the CLI probes this endpoint to determine if Ollama is available. If you run Ollama on a non-standard port or remote server, set the OLLAMA_BASE_URL environment variable to override this default.

Local Provider Classification

According to architecture/integrations.md at line 81, Ollama is categorized with provider kind local. This classification groups Ollama with other local inference engines like LM Studio, instructing the user interface to bypass API key validation and authentication flows required for cloud providers such as OpenAI or Azure.

OpenAI Shim Architecture

The integration translates between OpenClaude's request format and Ollama's native OpenAI-compatible layer through a specialized adapter service.

Context Length Management

The src/services/api/openaiShim/ollamaAdapter.ts file handles protocol translation at lines 59-61, extracting the desired context length and forwarding it via the standard /v1/chat/completions endpoint. By default, OpenClaude requests 32768 tokens of context, which the adapter passes to Ollama's shim layer for processing.

Request Flow Standardization

Because Ollama implements the OpenAI chat completions schema, OpenClaude sends identical JSON payloads to both cloud and local providers. The adapter ensures streaming content tokens arrive in the same format as OpenAI responses, maintaining compatibility with existing consumption logic without provider-specific branching.

Environment Configuration

Control your local LLM behavior using these environment variables:

• OLLAMA_BASE_URL – Specifies custom Ollama server location (default: http://localhost:11434)
• OPENCLAUDE_OLLAMA_NUM_CTX – Overrides the default context window size (default: 32768)

export OLLAMA_BASE_URL=http://remote-server:11434
export OPENCLAUDE_OLLAMA_NUM_CTX=65536

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Configure your local inference pipeline in under five minutes using these validated commands.

1. Install and Initialize Ollama

Install Ollama from the official distribution, then pull your desired model:

# Install Ollama (macOS/Linux/Windows)

# Reference: docs/quick-start-mac-linux.md#L55-L57

# Pull and run Llama 3.1 8B

ollama run llama3.1:8b

2. Verify Server Configuration

Confirm Ollama is listening and configured for adequate context length:

# Check running models and allocated context

ollama ps

# For larger context windows, restart with custom size

ollama serve --num-ctx 65536

3. Launch OpenClaude

Use the specialized CLI aliases for local Ollama operation:

# Standard local mode (balanced latency)

oc-local

# Optimized low-latency mode

oc-fast

Reference these launch profiles in docs/windows-aliases-and-launchers.md for additional customization options.

4. Connect to Remote Instances

To route requests to a remote Ollama server instead of localhost:

export OLLAMA_BASE_URL=http://192.168.1.100:11434
oc-local

Summary

• Zero Configuration: OpenClaude auto-detects Ollama at http://localhost:11434 via src/utils/providerDiscovery.ts without manual endpoint setup.
• No API Keys Required: Local provider classification in architecture/integrations.md skips authentication validation entirely.
• Native Compatibility: The ollamaAdapter.ts translates OpenAI-compatible requests to Ollama's shim at lines 59-61.
• Adjustable Context: Default 32768 token context adjustable via OPENCLAUDE_OLLAMA_NUM_CTX environment variable.
• Flexible Deployment: Supports both local workstations and remote Ollama instances through OLLAMA_BASE_URL.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does OpenClaude detect my Ollama installation?

OpenClaude probes the default endpoint defined in src/utils/providerDiscovery.ts at line 8, where DEFAULT_OLLAMA_BASE_URL points to http://localhost:11434. If Ollama responds at this address, the CLI automatically configures itself to use local inference mode without requiring manual provider selection.

Can I use Ollama models with different context lengths?

Yes. Set the OPENCLAUDE_OLLAMA_NUM_CTX environment variable to override the default 32768 token limit, or configure Ollama directly using ollama serve --num-ctx 65536 before launching your model. The adapter in src/services/api/openaiShim/ollamaAdapter.ts passes this parameter through the OpenAI-compatible endpoint.

Is an internet connection or API key required for local Ollama usage?

No. Because Ollama is classified with provider kind local in the architecture configuration, OpenClaude bypasses all API key validation and authentication checks. This enables fully offline operation using only your local hardware resources.

What CLI commands are available for launching OpenClaude with Ollama?

OpenClaude provides oc-local for standard local operation and oc-fast for low-latency optimization. These aliases, documented in docs/windows-aliases-and-launchers.md, automatically detect your Ollama instance and apply the appropriate connection profile without additional flags.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}