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Setup Guide

Get started with Codehere in minutes. Configure your API key and start coding faster.

Quick Start

1. Install Codehere

npm install -g codehere

2. Set your API key

export COHERE_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

3. Index your repository

codehere index

4. Start using Codehere

codehere "explain this function"

API Key Configuration

Getting a Cohere API Key

Codehere uses Cohere's API for code understanding and generation. You'll need a Cohere API key to get started.

  1. Visit Cohere Dashboard
  2. Sign up or log in to your account
  3. Navigate to API Keys section
  4. Create a new API key
  5. Copy your API key (keep it secure!)

Setting Your API Key

Set your API key as an environment variable. This keeps your key secure and accessible to Codehere.

Linux / macOS

# Add to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
export COHERE_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

# Or set it for the current session
export COHERE_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

Windows (PowerShell)

# Set for current session
$env:COHERE_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

# Or set permanently
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("COHERE_API_KEY", "your-api-key-here", "User")

Using .env file (Recommended)

Create a .env file in your project root:

COHERE_API_KEY=your-api-key-here

Make sure to add .env to your .gitignore!

Verify Your API Key

Test that your API key is working correctly:

codehere "test"

Rate Limits & API Quotas

Understanding API Limits

Cohere offers different API key types with varying rate limits and quotas. Understanding these limits helps you use Codehere effectively.

Trial Keys

  • Limited to 1000 API calls per month
  • Great for testing and small projects
  • Monthly quota resets at the start of each month
  • Rate limit errors will appear when quota is exceeded

Production Keys

  • Higher rate limits and quotas
  • Better for production use and larger projects
  • Upgrade available at Cohere Dashboard

Rate Limit Errors

If you encounter rate limit errors, here's what they mean and how to resolve them:

429 Too Many Requests

This error indicates that you've exceeded your API quota or rate limit.

  • Trial key limit exceeded: Wait for monthly reset or upgrade to Production key
  • Rate limit exceeded: Wait a few minutes and try again
  • Codehere will automatically detect these errors and provide helpful messages

Best Practices

  • Index your repository once, then reuse the local code index
  • Use Codehere for targeted queries rather than bulk operations
  • Consider upgrading to a Production key for heavier usage
  • Monitor your API usage in the Cohere Dashboard

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"COHERE_API_KEY not found"

Make sure your API key is set correctly:

echo $COHERE_API_KEY  # Should print your API key

"API rate limit exceeded"

Your API key has reached its quota. For Trial keys:

  • Wait for the monthly quota to reset
  • Upgrade to a Production key for higher limits
  • Reduce API usage by reusing the local code index

Slow API responses

If API calls are slow:

  • Check your internet connection
  • Verify your API key is valid and not rate-limited
  • Codehere includes automatic retry logic for temporary failures

Security Best Practices

  • Never commit API keys to version control - Always use environment variables or .env files (add to .gitignore)
  • Use separate keys for development and production - This helps you monitor usage and maintain security
  • Rotate keys regularly - Update your API keys periodically for better security
  • Monitor usage - Check your API usage regularly in the Cohere Dashboard

Ready to get started?

Install Codehere and start shipping faster with AI-powered code assistance.

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