Managing Coding
With Coding, administrators can create controlled API keys for programming tools such as Aider and OpenCode. Users then work not with their own OpenAI key, but with a key managed by AI-School.
This makes Coding suitable for programming lessons, projects, and advanced users who want to use AI assistance in a local development environment.
Why controlled API keys?
A regular API key often provides broad access to an external AI platform. With Coding, usage runs through AI-School. Therefore, management, costs, and reporting stay at the school.
Key benefits:
- Costs under control: set a budget per key.
- Usage traceable: consumption, costs, and chats linked to the user.
- Central management: create, restrict, and revoke keys from the management interface.
- Suitable for classes: create keys for a group of students at once.
Enabling Coding
Coding is enabled at the environment level. This can be done by a governance admin.
- Go to Admin Console → Coding.
- Click on Enable Coding.
- Read the warning about subscription costs and API costs.
- Click on Agree and Enable.
After enabling, AI-School processes the technical connection in the background. Administrators do not need to manage external project settings.
Coding may incur additional subscription costs. API costs are billed with a surcharge. If you have questions, contact AI-School.
Giving Schools Access
After enabling, decide which schools are allowed to use Coding.
- Open the Management tab.
- Select the schools that may deploy Coding.
- Click on Save Access.
A school admin only sees the schools where Coding is allowed and where the admin rights apply. For a school admin, unnecessary school panels are hidden.
Choosing Models
In the Management tab, choose which OpenAI models are available for Coding.
AI-School uses these models:
| Model | Use |
|---|---|
| GPT-5.6 Luna | Fast and versatile model for students and everyday programming help |
| GPT-5.6 Terra | Powerful model for teachers, advanced students, and complex programming tasks |
| GPT-5.6 Sol | Most advanced model for demanding programming work and professional use |
For classroom use, GPT-5.6 Luna is a fast and accessible start. Choose Terra or Sol when a task requires more analysis, reasoning, or independent programming steps.
Compatible coding tools
Coding works with tools that can use an OpenAI-compatible endpoint. The user then needs three items:
- the Coding API key
- the AI-School Coding endpoint URL:
https://europe-west1-ai-school-pro.cloudfunctions.net/coderenOpenAiCompatibleApi/v1 - an allowed model, e.g.,
gpt-5.6-luna
AI-School recommends for most situations these two tools:
| Tool | Recommended for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aider | Students and classroom coding | Explicit pair-programming tool in the terminal. Less agentic and therefore better suited for learning to code. |
| OpenCode | Teachers and advanced students | Agentic coding tool for terminal, desktop, and IDE. More powerful, but requires more experience. |
Additionally, there are other coding tools that can technically work with an OpenAI-compatible endpoint:
| Tool | Type | Point of Attention |
|---|---|---|
| Continue | IDE assistant for VS Code and JetBrains | Supports OpenAI configuration with a custom apiBase. Suitable when users primarily want to work from their IDE. |
| Cline | VS Code extension and CLI | Choose provider OpenAI Compatible and fill in base URL, API key, and model. Highly agentic; less suitable for beginners without guidance. |
| Roo Code | VS Code extension | Can work with an OpenAI-compatible provider. Check what actions the agent performs carefully. |
| Sourcegraph Cody Enterprise | Enterprise coding assistant | Especially relevant for organizations with Sourcegraph Enterprise. Supports openaicompatible model configuration at the organizational level. |
A tool is only suitable if you can set your own OpenAI-compatible base URL. Tools like Claude Code and Codex CLI are therefore not suitable for Coding: Claude Code does not use an OpenAI-compatible API and Codex CLI does not provide a suitable setting for a specific Coding endpoint. Tools like Cursor or Windsurf are only usable if the version in use supports a freely configurable OpenAI-compatible base URL.
Start with Aider for students. Add only agentic tools like OpenCode, Cline, or Roo Code once users have sufficient experience with the terminal, git, diffs, and local file management.
Reporting
The Reporting tab shows usage and costs for the chosen period. By default, the last 7 days are shown.
The reporting includes:
- total number of requests
- total costs
- number of tokens
- breakdown by group
- breakdown by user
A school admin only sees reporting within their own allowed scope. A governing board admin sees the reporting for the entire environment.
Disabling Coding
You can temporarily disable Coding via the toolbar button.
When Coding is disabled:
- existing API keys cannot be used
- reporting and historical data remain preserved
- Coding can be re-enabled later
Disabling does not delete existing reporting.
