# Dependencies for Running FreeLLM API: A Complete Package Guide

> Discover the essential Node.js dependencies like express, zod, axios, react, vite, tailwindcss, electron, and typescript needed to run the FreeLLM API. Your complete package guide.

- Repository: [Tashfeen/freellmapi](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi)
- Tags: getting-started
- Published: 2026-07-02

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**TLDR:** FreeLLM API requires separate Node.js dependencies for its four monorepo components—**express**, **zod**, and **axios** for the server; **react**, **vite**, and **tailwindcss** for the client; **electron** and **electron-builder** for the desktop wrapper; and **typescript** and **lodash** for the shared utilities—all defined in individual [`package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/package.json) files within each workspace.

FreeLLM API is a multi-package monorepo developed by `tashfeenahmed/freellmapi` that ships four distinct runnable components. Understanding the **dependencies for running FreeLLM API** is essential before deploying the HTTP gateway, web interface, or desktop application. Each component maintains its own dependency manifest in the repository root, enabling modular installation and targeted updates.

## FreeLLM API Monorepo Architecture

The repository organizes code into four dedicated workspaces. Each workspace declares its own runtime and development dependencies, allowing you to install only what you need for your specific use case.

The four components are:

- **Server:** HTTP gateway handling authentication, request forwarding, and LLM provider integration
- **Client:** React-based web UI for testing and exploring API endpoints
- **Desktop:** Electron wrapper that packages the web UI as a native desktop application
- **Shared:** TypeScript types and utility functions used across all three runtimes

## Server Dependencies

The server component, located in [`server/package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/server/package.json), powers the HTTP API gateway that authenticates requests and forwards them to LLM providers. According to the `tashfeenahmed/freellmapi` source code, the server relies on **express** for the web framework, **zod** for schema validation, and **axios** for HTTP client operations.

Key runtime dependencies in [`server/package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/server/package.json) include:

- **express** – Web server framework
- **dotenv** – Environment variable management
- **cors** – Cross-origin resource sharing middleware
- **zod** – TypeScript-first schema validation
- **@fastify/rate-limit** and **@fastify/helmet** – Security and rate-limiting middleware
- **axios** – HTTP client for provider communication
- **ts-node** – TypeScript execution environment
- **pino** – Logging library
- **node-cache** – In-memory caching
- **@vercel/kv** – Vercel KV storage integration

The server entry point at [`server/src/index.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/server/src/index.ts) initializes these dependencies, while [`server/src/services/router.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/server/src/services/router.ts) implements the core request-routing logic including rate-limiting and provider selection.

## Client Dependencies

The web UI client, defined in [`client/package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/client/package.json), provides a React-based interface for testing the API. This component uses **vite** for the build tooling and **tailwindcss** for styling.

Key dependencies include:

- **react** and **react-dom** – UI library and DOM renderer
- **vite** and **@vitejs/plugin-react** – Build tooling and React plugin
- **typescript** – Type safety
- **classnames** – Conditional CSS class utilities
- **axios** – HTTP client for API calls
- **zod** – Runtime validation
- **tailwindcss**, **postcss**, and **autoprefixer** – CSS processing pipeline
- **eslint** and **prettier** – Code quality tools

The main React component resides in [`client/src/App.tsx`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/client/src/App.tsx), importing types from the shared workspace.

## Desktop Dependencies

The desktop application, configured in [`desktop/package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/desktop/package.json), wraps the client UI in an Electron shell. This component combines the client's React dependencies with Electron-specific tooling.

Key dependencies include:

- **electron** and **electron-builder** – Desktop application framework and packaging
- **dotenv** – Environment configuration
- **node-fetch** – HTTP client for the main process
- **cross-env** – Cross-platform environment variables
- **concurrently** – Running multiple commands simultaneously
- **ts-node** and **typescript** – TypeScript support
- **react**, **react-dom**, **vite**, and **@vitejs/plugin-react** – Shared with the client for UI rendering

The Electron main process is defined in [`desktop/src/main.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/desktop/src/main.ts), which creates the application window and loads the Vite-built UI.

## Shared Dependencies

The [`shared/package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/shared/package.json) contains utilities used across all three runtime components. This workspace minimizes code duplication by providing common types and helper functions.

Key dependencies include:

- **zod** – Shared schema definitions
- **typescript** – Type definitions
- **lodash** – Utility functions
- **axios** – Shared HTTP client configurations

The [`shared/types.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/shared/types.ts) file contains TypeScript type definitions imported by [`server/src/index.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/server/src/index.ts), [`client/src/App.tsx`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/client/src/App.tsx), and [`desktop/src/main.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/desktop/src/main.ts).

## Installation and Setup Commands

To install the **dependencies for running FreeLLM API**, use the workspace-aware installation at the repository root. The monorepo structure allows you to install all dependencies across all four components simultaneously.

Install everything from the repository root:

```bash
npm install

```

This command installs dependencies for the `shared` workspace plus all three runnable components. After installation, start each component using the npm scripts defined in their respective [`package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/package.json) files.

Start the API server (exposes `/v1/*` endpoints):

```bash
npm run start:server

```

Launch the web UI development server:

```bash
npm run dev:client

```

Run the desktop Electron application:

```bash
npm run start:desktop

```

## Key Source Files and Entry Points

Understanding the entry points helps troubleshoot dependency-related issues. The `tashfeenahmed/freellmapi` repository structures its source code with clear separation between components:

- [`server/src/index.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/server/src/index.ts) – Entry point for the HTTP API server
- [`server/src/services/router.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/server/src/services/router.ts) – Core request-routing logic including rate-limiting and provider selection
- [`client/src/App.tsx`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/client/src/App.tsx) – Main React component for the web UI
- [`desktop/src/main.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/desktop/src/main.ts) – Electron main process that creates the application window
- [`shared/types.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/shared/types.ts) – Shared TypeScript type definitions used across server, client, and desktop

These files import from their respective [`package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/package.json) dependencies, ensuring type safety and runtime functionality.

## Summary

FreeLLM API distributes its dependencies across four distinct workspaces within a single monorepo. Key takeaways include:

- The **server** requires **express**, **zod**, and **@fastify/rate-limit** for API gateway functionality
- The **client** depends on **react**, **vite**, and **tailwindcss** for the web interface
- The **desktop** adds **electron** and **electron-builder** to the client stack
- The **shared** workspace provides **typescript**, **zod**, and **lodash** for cross-cutting concerns
- Each component maintains its own [`package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/package.json) in [`server/package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/server/package.json), [`client/package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/client/package.json), [`desktop/package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/desktop/package.json), and [`shared/package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/shared/package.json)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Do I need to install all dependencies to run just the server?

No, you can install only the server dependencies if you only need the HTTP API gateway. Run `npm install` in the `server/` directory after installing the `shared/` workspace dependencies, or use the root installation and run only `npm run start:server`. The `shared` package must be built first since [`server/src/index.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/server/src/index.ts) imports types from [`shared/types.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/shared/types.ts).

### What package manager does FreeLLM API use?

The repository supports both `npm` and `pnpm` based on the workspace configuration. The root [`package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/package.json) defines workspaces for the four components, allowing `npm install` at the root to install all dependencies across the monorepo. Individual components can also be installed separately using their respective [`package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/package.json) files.

### Can I run the client without the desktop Electron wrapper?

Yes, the client is a standalone React application that runs independently in the browser. Use `npm run dev:client` to start the Vite development server on `http://localhost:5173`. The desktop version simply wraps this same client in an Electron shell for native application behavior, but the web UI functions identically in both contexts.

### Where are the provider API keys configured?

Provider API keys are managed through **dotenv** environment variables. The server component uses `dotenv` (listed in [`server/package.json`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/server/package.json)) to load configuration from environment files. The [`server/src/services/router.ts`](https://github.com/tashfeenahmed/freellmapi/blob/main/server/src/services/router.ts) file accesses these variables when authenticating requests and forwarding them to LLM providers like OpenAI or Anthropic.