Zukko Blog
Guides to Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and the Claude and GPT APIs: setup, token savings and troubleshooting.
Local LLM or API: hardware, quality, cost, and privacy
6 min · · сравнение
Ollama on your own machine or a model through an API? A comparison by hardware, context, quality, cost, and privacy — with a calculation and one codebase for both.
How to build an AI agent in Python from scratch: tool calling, loop, budget
5 min · · агенты
A minimal AI agent in Python with no frameworks: tools, a call loop, step and budget limits. Full code on the OpenAI SDK and an estimate of what one task costs.
The insufficient_quota error in the OpenAI API: causes and fixes
5 min · · errors
insufficient_quota arrives with a 429 status, but it's not a rate limit — it's money or a spend cap. Causes, exact codes, and handling in Python.
Claude 529 overloaded error: what it means and how to handle it
6 min · · errors
A Claude 529 error isn't your limit or your balance, it's API overload. How to retry, when to switch to a fallback model, and what you'll see through a gateway.
Vibe coding: what it is, the tools, and what an hour of agent work costs
7 min · · development
Where vibe coding came from, what to use, where the catch is, and what an hour of AI agent work really costs — with a formula and limits that keep your budget intact.
What is an MCP server, why agents need it, and how to add one to Claude Code
7 min · · агенты
The Model Context Protocol in plain words: how it is built, how to add an MCP server to Claude Code, and why every connected server costs tokens.
AI model API prices in October 2026: Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek
7 min · · сравнение
A price table for 21 models: the official vendor price and the Zukko price for input, output and cache as of October 7, 2026, how to read it, and what a typical monthly volume costs.
Free AI model API: what you can actually get without paying
5 min · · экономия
An honest look at free API access to AI models: a $0.50 bonus for subscribing to a channel, the cheapest models, how many requests that covers, and how to avoid overspending.
Best AI model for programming: how to choose by the numbers
7 min · · development
Which criteria to compare coding models on, which catalog models make good candidates, what an agent session costs at October 7, 2026 prices, and how to test models on your own repository.
AI model ranking 2026: intelligence index and price as of October
6 min · · models
A ranking of Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen and GLM models by intelligence index, with per-token prices as of October 7, 2026 — and why a composite score doesn't replace testing on your own tasks.
AI model API: what it is and how to send your first request
6 min · · API keys
How an AI model API differs from a browser chat, what a key and a base URL are, what you pay for, and how to send your first request in ten minutes.
What tokens are in neural networks and how they add up to a price
6 min · · models
A token is the unit a model reads text in and the unit you pay in. We cover input, output, cache and context, and work out the cost of a request with a formula.
DeepSeek in Russia: V4 Pro, V4.1 Flash and V4 Flash on one key
5 min · · models
Three DeepSeek models on one key and balance with Claude, GPT and Gemini. We compare V4 Pro, V4.1 Flash and V4 Flash by price, index and image input, and do a budget.
Claude API key in Russia: Anthropic SDK and Claude Code on a Zukko key
5 min · · API keys
The Anthropic Console doesn't serve Russia, but a Zukko key works with the Anthropic SDK and Claude Code. Steps: the key, code, prompt caching, Opus 5.5 and Sonnet 5 prices.
OpenAI API key in Russia: why it's hard and how to replace it, step by step
5 min · · API keys
Why an OpenAI key is hard to get from Russia and how to replace it with a Zukko key for the official OpenAI SDK. Step by step: key, variables, code, errors.
Gemini in Russia via API: Gemini 3.8 Flash and 3.7 Flash on one key
5 min · · models
Google does not support the Gemini API in Russia, but Gemini 3.8 Flash and 3.7 Flash are available through Zukko with payment in rubles. Setup code, prices and limits.
Claude in Russia: how to use it in a chat, via API and in Claude Code
6 min · · models
Anthropic does not support Russia, but Claude models are available through Zukko: a browser chat, the API and Claude Code on one key, paid in rubles. Setup and prices.
ChatGPT in Russia: how to use GPT models in a web chat and via API
6 min · · models
Official ChatGPT does not support Russia, but GPT models are available through Zukko: a browser chat, an API and payment in rubles. Models, prices and first steps.
AnythingLLM with Zukko: document chat on your own OpenAI-compatible API
5 min · · development
AnythingLLM connects third-party models through the Generic OpenAI provider. We cover the fields, the settings that drive answer cost, and typical errors.
Flowise and Zukko: an OpenAI-compatible API for AI workflows
5 min · · development
In Flowise, third-party models are connected through the ChatOpenAI Custom node and the Base Path parameter. Step-by-step setup, a chat example and errors.
Connecting Zukko to Dify: an OpenAI-compatible API for LLM apps
5 min · · development
In Dify, a third-party API is connected through the OpenAI-API-compatible plugin. We go through every form field, model choice per node and common errors.
How to cap API key spend so an agent doesn't drain your balance
6 min · · API keys
An agent stuck in a loop can burn through a balance overnight. A separate key, limits, a model list and proper error handling put a ceiling on spend.
RAG on a cheap model: knowledge base search without a vector DB
5 min · · development
Knowledge base search without a vector database or a cloud service: BM25 locally, answers from a cheap model, per-query cost by formula.
Chinese LLMs via API: DeepSeek, Qwen and GLM with one key
6 min · · models
Seven DeepSeek, Qwen and GLM models in one table: prices, context, images and index. Plus paying from Russia and switching between them with one key.