How to run your first OpenAI-compatible API call with curl, Python, and Node.js

OriginStartAI — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 03:51:24 +0000

When you are testing an OpenAI-compatible API endpoint, the fastest path is not to wire it into a full app immediately. Start with one small request, confirm the base URL, API key, model name, and response shape, then move the working call into your product.

I put together a compact examples repo for that exact first-call workflow:

https://github.com/OriginStartAI/openai-compatible-api-examples

It includes curl, Python, Node.js, streaming responses, JSON structured output, migration notes, and a small error reference.

1. Set environment variables first

Keep credentials out of source code and use environment variables:

ORIGINSTARTAI_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
ORIGINSTARTAI_BASE_URL=https://your-api-base-url/v1
ORIGINSTARTAI_MODEL=your_enabled_model

The important parts are simple:

base_url or baseURL points to your OpenAI-compatible endpoint.
api_key or apiKey is your provider key.
model must be enabled for your account.
Streaming support should be tested separately.

2. Test with curl

Curl is useful because it removes SDK behavior from the equation:

curl "$ORIGINSTARTAI_BASE_URL/chat/completions" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ORIGINSTARTAI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "'"$ORIGINSTARTAI_MODEL"'",
    "messages": [
      {"role": "user", "content": "Say hello from OriginStartAI"}
    ]
  }'

If this works, your endpoint, key, and model are probably configured correctly.

3. Then test Python

from openai import OpenAI
import os

client = OpenAI(
    api_key=os.environ["ORIGINSTARTAI_API_KEY"],
    base_url=os.environ["ORIGINSTARTAI_BASE_URL"],
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model=os.environ["ORIGINSTARTAI_MODEL"],
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Write one friendly onboarding sentence."}],
)

print(response.choices[0].message.content)

4. Then test Node.js

import OpenAI from "openai";

const client = new OpenAI({
  apiKey: process.env.ORIGINSTARTAI_API_KEY,
  baseURL: process.env.ORIGINSTARTAI_BASE_URL,
});

const response = await client.chat.completions.create({
  model: process.env.ORIGINSTARTAI_MODEL,
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Write one friendly onboarding sentence." }],
});

console.log(response.choices[0].message.content);

5. Common first-call errors

401 Unauthorized: the key is missing, expired, or copied incorrectly.
model not found: the model name is not enabled for the account.
insufficient credits: add API balance before testing more requests.
Timeout: reduce the prompt and retry with explicit timeout/retry logic.
Invalid JSON: test structured output with a very small schema first.

Next step

Once the first call works, replace the sample prompt with one real workflow from your product: support replies, summaries, SEO outlines, structured JSON extraction, or internal automation.

Repo:
https://github.com/OriginStartAI/openai-compatible-api-examples

Start here:
https://originstartai.com?utm_source=github&utm_medium=community&utm_campaign=openai_compatible_examples

New user offer: recharge $5 and get $5 extra API credits.