🌐 NextChat (Web/Desktop) Integration Guide

NextChat (formerly ChatGPT Next Web) is a lightweight, cross‑platform open‑source chat client. It offers Windows/Mac desktop apps and can also be deployed as a web app. If you prefer a minimal interface, it’s a solid choice.

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📥 Step 1: Access or download

• Web: you can use any publicly hosted NextChat instance (it is front‑end only; your key is stored locally in the browser).
• Desktop releases: NextChat GitHub Releases

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⚙️ Step 2: Configure endpoint & API key

1. Open NextChat and click Settings (gear icon) in the bottom-left.
2. Scroll down to Model Provider and choose OpenAI.
3. Enable Custom Endpoint.
4. Fill in:

   • Endpoint URL: our base request domain:

     https://api.olddog.shop

     (⚠️ Note: NextChat usually appends paths automatically, so you typically do not need /v1 here. If it doesn’t work, try adding /v1.)

   • API Key: your token generated in the Old Dog AI Console (starts with sk-).

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🧩 Step 3: Add custom models (important)

NextChat’s default dropdown usually only includes older OpenAI models. To use claude-sonnet-4-6 or gpt-5.2, add them manually:

1. Continue scrolling in settings to Custom Models.
2. Enter the model names you want (refer to the recommended names in Models & Pricing).
3. Rules: separate multiple models with an English comma ,. To hide built‑in models, prefix with -all.
   • Example (copy/paste):

     -all,+claude-opus-4-6,+claude-sonnet-4-6,+gpt-5.2,+o3-pro,+gemini-3.2-pro

4. NextChat saves automatically.

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💬 Step 4: Select a model and start chatting

1. Return to the main chat view.
2. Click the model name at the top (center or top-right).
3. You should see your added models like claude-sonnet-4-6.
4. Select one and start.

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💡 Troubleshooting

• Spinning then “Network Error”: often caused by proxy conflicts in certain network environments or an incorrect endpoint. Double‑check the endpoint spelling.
• Invalid API Key: your key is incorrect or contains extra spaces/newlines. Copy it again from the console.