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Using OpenAI Models with Claude Code: A Simple Integration Guide ​

Published on July 14, 2025

Claude Code is a powerful AI assistant tool, but what if you want to use it with different AI models like OpenAI's latest offerings? This scenario is common among professionals who want to leverage different AI capabilities for different tasks.

Today, we'll explore how CCProxy enables this integration by acting as a simple API proxy that translates between different AI provider formats, allowing you to use OpenAI models seamlessly with Claude Code. Whether you're building applications with modern development tools or simply want more flexibility in your AI workflow, this guide will show you how to bridge these powerful systems.

The Integration Challenge ​

Different API Formats ​

Claude Code is designed to work with Anthropic's API format, while OpenAI uses a different API structure. This creates a compatibility issue when you want to use OpenAI models with Claude Code.

The Problem:

  • Claude Code expects Anthropic's message format
  • OpenAI uses a different request/response structure
  • Tool calling (function calling) works differently between providers
  • Manual integration requires significant development work

The Solution: API Translation ​

CCProxy solves this by acting as a simple translation layer:

What CCProxy Does:

  • API Translation: Converts between Anthropic and OpenAI API formats
  • Tool Support: Translates tool calling between different formats
  • Request Routing: Routes requests to different AI providers
  • Response Formatting: Ensures responses match what Claude Code expects

What CCProxy Doesn't Do:

  • No automatic failover or smart routing
  • No cost optimization or analytics
  • No complex orchestration features
  • No caching or performance optimization

CCProxy is intentionally simple - it's just a proxy that translates API calls.

Why OpenAI + Claude Code Makes Sense for Professionals ​

OpenAI's Strengths Across Professional Fields ​

OpenAI's models excel in several areas crucial for professional work:

For Healthcare Professionals:

  • Medical documentation and template creation
  • Research literature summarization
  • Patient education material development
  • Clinical protocol explanations

For Legal Professionals:

  • Contract analysis and drafting
  • Legal research and case summarization
  • Document review and editing
  • Regulatory compliance guidance

For Researchers and Academics:

  • Data analysis and interpretation
  • Literature review assistance
  • Grant proposal drafting
  • Statistical analysis explanations

For Business Professionals:

  • Report writing and analysis
  • Strategic planning documents
  • Client communications
  • Process documentation

General Professional Strengths:

  • Excellent natural language processing
  • Consistent performance across tasks
  • Broad knowledge base spanning multiple domains
  • Strong analytical and reasoning capabilities

The Integration Challenge ​

However, using OpenAI models with Claude Code traditionally required:

  • Complex API wrappers to match Claude's interface
  • Prompt engineering to adapt to different model behaviors
  • Manual request/response translation
  • Separate tool calling implementations

CCProxy: The Simple Solution ​

Seamless OpenAI Integration ​

Developed by Orchestre, CCProxy transforms OpenAI models into Claude Code-compatible endpoints:

bash
# Traditional setup: Complex API integration required
# (Multiple files, custom code, ongoing maintenance)

# CCProxy setup: Simple proxy configuration
export PROVIDER=openai
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key
ccproxy &

# Claude Code connects seamlessly
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3456
claude "Help me debug this function"

Single Provider Configuration ​

CCProxy focuses on simple, single-provider configuration:

bash
# Configure for OpenAI
export PROVIDER=openai
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key

# Or configure for Groq
export PROVIDER=groq
export GROQ_API_KEY=your_groq_key

# Start the proxy
ccproxy

Note: CCProxy handles one provider at a time - you can switch providers by changing the configuration and restarting the proxy.

Real-World Integration Scenarios ​

Scenario 1: Medical Professional Using OpenAI for Documentation ​

The Situation: Dr. Sarah, an emergency room physician, wants to use OpenAI's GPT-4 for creating patient discharge summaries while keeping her familiar Claude Code interface.

The Challenge:

  • Claude Code doesn't natively support OpenAI models
  • Different API formats require custom integration
  • Tool calling works differently between providers
  • Time-sensitive medical documentation needs reliable access

CCProxy Solution:

bash
# Simple OpenAI configuration
export PROVIDER=openai
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key
export OPENAI_MODEL=gpt-4

# Start CCProxy
ccproxy

# Configure Claude Code to use the proxy
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3456

The Result:

  • Familiar interface: Dr. Sarah continues using Claude Code as usual
  • OpenAI power: Access to OpenAI's advanced capabilities for medical documentation
  • Simple setup: No complex code changes required
  • Reliable operation: Straightforward proxy translation

The Challenge: Attorney Michael wants to use different AI models for different legal tasks - OpenAI for contract analysis and Groq for fast document processing.

The Solution:

bash
# For contract analysis (OpenAI)
export PROVIDER=openai
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key
ccproxy

# Switch to Groq for speed-critical tasks
# (Restart proxy with new configuration)
export PROVIDER=groq
export GROQ_API_KEY=your_groq_key
ccproxy

The Outcome:

  • Task-specific optimization: Different models for different legal tasks
  • Consistent interface: Same Claude Code workflow regardless of provider
  • Easy switching: Change providers by updating configuration
  • Professional efficiency: Right tool for each job

Scenario 3: Development Team Integration ​

The Reality: A development team using Claude Code for code assistance wants to experiment with different AI models for various development tasks.

The Approach:

bash
# Team configuration for different use cases
# Documentation: OpenAI GPT-4
export PROVIDER=openai
export OPENAI_MODEL=gpt-4

# Code completion: Groq for speed
export PROVIDER=groq
export GROQ_MODEL=llama3-8b-8192

# Code review: Anthropic Claude
export PROVIDER=anthropic
export ANTHROPIC_MODEL=claude-3-sonnet-20240229

Benefits:

  • Experimentation: Easy to test different models
  • Team consistency: Everyone uses the same Claude Code interface
  • Flexible deployment: Can be deployed with different configurations
  • Cost awareness: Choose models based on budget and requirements

Technical Deep Dive: OpenAI Integration ​

API Compatibility Layer ​

CCProxy's OpenAI integration handles the essential translation between API formats:

go
// Example: Converting Anthropic messages to OpenAI chat format
func ConvertAnthropicToOpenAI(req *models.MessagesRequest) (*models.ChatCompletionRequest, error) {
    chatReq := &models.ChatCompletionRequest{
        Model:       req.Model,
        MaxTokens:   req.MaxTokens,
        Temperature: req.Temperature,
    }
    
    // Convert messages from Anthropic format to OpenAI format
    messages, err := convertMessages(req.Messages)
    if err != nil {
        return nil, err
    }
    chatReq.Messages = messages
    
    // Convert tools if present
    if req.Tools != nil {
        tools, err := convertTools(req.Tools)
        if err != nil {
            return nil, err
        }
        chatReq.Tools = tools
    }
    
    return chatReq, nil
}

Simple Model Configuration ​

CCProxy uses straightforward model selection based on environment variables:

bash
# Configure the OpenAI model to use
export PROVIDER=openai
export OPENAI_MODEL=gpt-4

# Or specify a different model
export OPENAI_MODEL=gpt-3.5-turbo

# CCProxy uses the configured model for all requests
ccproxy

The proxy doesn't make intelligent model selections - it simply uses the model you configure.

Getting Started: Simple Setup Steps ​

Basic OpenAI Setup ​

bash
# Step 1: Install CCProxy
# Download from GitHub releases or build from source
wget https://github.com/orchestre-dev/ccproxy/releases/latest/download/ccproxy-linux-amd64
chmod +x ccproxy-linux-amd64

# Step 2: Configure OpenAI
export PROVIDER=openai
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key
export OPENAI_MODEL=gpt-4

# Step 3: Start CCProxy
./ccproxy-linux-amd64

# Step 4: Configure Claude Code
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3456
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=NOT_NEEDED

# Step 5: Use Claude Code as normal
claude "Help me write a function"

Switching Between Providers ​

bash
# To switch from OpenAI to Groq:
# Stop CCProxy (Ctrl+C)
export PROVIDER=groq
export GROQ_API_KEY=your_groq_api_key
export GROQ_MODEL=llama3-8b-8192

# Restart CCProxy
./ccproxy-linux-amd64

# Claude Code automatically uses the new provider

Docker Setup ​

bash
# Create environment file
cat > .env << EOF
PROVIDER=openai
OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key
OPENAI_MODEL=gpt-4
EOF

# Run with Docker
docker run -p 3456:3456 --env-file .env orchestre/ccproxy:latest

Cost Considerations ​

Manual Provider Selection ​

CCProxy doesn't automatically optimize costs, but you can manually choose cost-effective providers:

bash
# Groq is often more cost-effective for simple tasks
export PROVIDER=groq
export GROQ_API_KEY=your_groq_key
export GROQ_MODEL=llama3-8b-8192

# OpenAI for more complex tasks
export PROVIDER=openai
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key
export OPENAI_MODEL=gpt-4

# Choose based on your specific needs and budget

Simple Cost Monitoring ​

Track your usage by monitoring the provider's native billing:

  • OpenAI: Check your usage in the OpenAI dashboard
  • Groq: Monitor costs in the Groq console
  • Anthropic: Track usage in the Anthropic console

CCProxy itself doesn't provide usage analytics - it simply proxies requests to your chosen provider.

Core Capabilities ​

API Translation ​

CCProxy's main feature is translating between different API formats:

bash
# What CCProxy does:
# 1. Receives Anthropic-format requests from Claude Code
# 2. Converts them to OpenAI-format requests
# 3. Sends requests to OpenAI API
# 4. Converts OpenAI responses back to Anthropic format
# 5. Returns formatted responses to Claude Code

# No complex routing or optimization - just translation

Tool Support ​

CCProxy handles tool calling translation between providers:

bash
# When Claude Code sends tool calls:
# 1. CCProxy converts Anthropic tool format to OpenAI function format
# 2. Sends function calls to OpenAI
# 3. Converts OpenAI function responses back to Anthropic tool format
# 4. Returns tool results to Claude Code

# This allows Claude Code's tool ecosystem to work with OpenAI models

Security and Compliance ​

API Key Management ​

CCProxy requires standard API key security practices:

bash
# Store API keys securely
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key

# Use environment variables, not hardcoded keys
# Consider using tools like HashiCorp Vault for production
export OPENAI_API_KEY=$(vault kv get -field=api_key secret/openai)

# CCProxy doesn't store or manage keys - it just uses them

Basic Security Considerations ​

  • Local operation: CCProxy runs locally by default (localhost:3456)
  • No data storage: CCProxy doesn't store requests or responses
  • Simple proxy: Just forwards requests to the configured provider
  • Standard HTTPS: Uses provider's native HTTPS endpoints

For production deployments, consider:

  • Running CCProxy behind a reverse proxy
  • Using proper firewall rules
  • Regular API key rotation
  • Monitoring access logs

Performance Characteristics ​

Simple Proxy Performance ​

CCProxy is designed to be a lightweight proxy with minimal overhead:

bash
# Performance characteristics:
# - Low memory usage (~10-20MB)
# - Fast startup time (<100ms)
# - Minimal request latency (<10ms translation overhead)
# - Simple Go binary with no complex dependencies

# CCProxy doesn't include:
# - Built-in benchmarking tools
# - Response caching
# - Performance optimization features
# - Complex routing algorithms

Provider-Specific Performance ​

Different providers have different performance characteristics:

  • OpenAI: Reliable but can have variable response times
  • Groq: Very fast inference, good for real-time applications
  • Anthropic: Good balance of speed and capability

CCProxy doesn't optimize performance - it simply forwards requests to your chosen provider.

Supported Providers ​

Current Provider Support ​

CCProxy currently supports these providers:

bash
# Available providers
export PROVIDER=openai      # OpenAI GPT models
export PROVIDER=groq        # Groq's fast inference
export PROVIDER=anthropic   # Anthropic Claude models
export PROVIDER=xai         # xAI Grok models
export PROVIDER=gemini      # Google Gemini models
export PROVIDER=mistral     # Mistral AI models
export PROVIDER=ollama      # Local Ollama models
export PROVIDER=openrouter  # OpenRouter model hub

Adding New Providers ​

CCProxy is designed to be extensible. New providers can be added by:

  1. Implementing the Provider interface in Go
  2. Adding API format conversion logic
  3. Contributing to the open-source project

CCProxy doesn't have a plugin architecture - new providers are added through code contributions.

Community and Support ​

Resources and Documentation ​

The Orchestre team maintains comprehensive resources for CCProxy:

Contributing to the Project ​

bash
# Help improve CCProxy
git clone https://github.com/orchestre-dev/ccproxy
cd ccproxy
go mod download
go test ./...

# Submit improvements and bug fixes

Getting Help ​

  • GitHub Issues: Report bugs and request features
  • GitHub Discussions: Ask questions and share experiences
  • Documentation: Check the comprehensive guides at ccproxy.orchestre.dev

CCProxy is developed by Orchestre, a team focused on building modern development tools that bridge different AI systems and make them more accessible to developers.

Troubleshooting Common Issues ​

OpenAI Rate Limits ​

bash
# CCProxy doesn't handle rate limiting - it forwards provider errors
# If you hit OpenAI rate limits, you'll see the error from OpenAI
# Solution: Wait for limits to reset or upgrade your OpenAI plan

# Check OpenAI rate limits in your OpenAI dashboard

API Key Issues ​

bash
# Common API key problems:

# 1. Invalid API key
export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-actual-key-here

# 2. Wrong provider selected
export PROVIDER=openai  # Make sure this matches your key

# 3. API key expired or revoked
# Check your provider's dashboard and regenerate if needed

Connection Problems ​

bash
# If Claude Code can't connect to CCProxy:

# 1. Check CCProxy is running
curl http://localhost:3456/health

# 2. Verify Claude Code configuration
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3456
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=NOT_NEEDED

# 3. Check firewall settings (if needed)

Why This Matters: Developer Flexibility ​

The Value of Choice ​

The AI landscape is evolving rapidly, and different providers excel at different tasks. CCProxy provides:

Practical Benefits:

  • Interface consistency: Keep using Claude Code with different AI models
  • Provider flexibility: Switch between AI providers without changing your workflow
  • Tool compatibility: Use Claude Code's powerful tool ecosystem with any provider
  • Simple integration: No complex API wrappers or custom code needed

Strategic Advantages:

  • Avoid vendor lock-in: Don't get tied to a single AI provider's decisions
  • Experiment easily: Try different models for different use cases
  • Future-ready: Add new providers as they become available
  • Cost management: Choose providers based on your budget and needs

A Note for Claude Code Users ​

Claude Code is an excellent tool with a well-designed interface. CCProxy doesn't replace Claude Code or Claude models - it simply gives you more options:

  • Keep your workflow: Continue using Claude Code exactly as you do now
  • Add flexibility: Use OpenAI, Groq, or other providers when beneficial
  • Maintain familiarity: Same interface, same tools, different AI models
  • Simple switching: Change providers with just configuration changes

This is about expanding your options, not abandoning what works well.

Getting Started: Your Path to AI Flexibility ​

Step 1: Install CCProxy

bash
# Download and install CCProxy
wget https://github.com/orchestre-dev/ccproxy/releases/latest/download/ccproxy-linux-amd64
chmod +x ccproxy-linux-amd64

Step 2: Configure Your Provider

bash
# For OpenAI
export PROVIDER=openai
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key

# For Groq
export PROVIDER=groq
export GROQ_API_KEY=your_groq_key

Step 3: Start the Proxy

bash
./ccproxy-linux-amd64

Step 4: Configure Claude Code

bash
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3456
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=NOT_NEEDED

Ready to use OpenAI models with Claude Code?

Set up CCProxy with OpenAI and start using different AI providers with your familiar Claude Code interface.

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CCProxy is developed by Orchestre, building tools that make AI more accessible and flexible for everyone.