Qwen Code Integration

Configure Qwen Code to use Nordlys’s Mixture of Models model for coding tasks.

Mixture of Models model with prompt‑activated specialists. Works as a drop-in replacement for Qwen Code’s API backend with lab-grade quality and cost control.

Benefits of Using Qwen Code with Nordlys

When you integrate Qwen Code with Nordlys, you unlock powerful capabilities:

Mixture of Models Activation: The right specialists activate per prompt
Cost Optimization: Save 60-90% on API costs with lab‑tuned models
Consistent Quality: Stable output quality across coding tasks
Drop-in Integration: OpenAI-compatible settings with zero code changes
Usage Analytics: Monitor model usage, costs, and performance in real-time

Get Your Nordlys API Key

Quick Setup

Run Automated Installer

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Nordlys-Labs/nordlys/main/scripts/installers/unix/qwen-code.sh | bash

The installer will automatically:

Install Qwen Code if not present (via npm)
Configure OpenAI-compatible environment variables for Nordlys
Add configuration to your shell profile (~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc, etc.)
Verify the installation

Verify Configuration

qwen --version
echo $OPENAI_API_KEY
echo $OPENAI_BASE_URL

Start Using

qwen
# Or start with a prompt
qwen "help me refactor this function"

Nordlys will activate the right specialists for coding tasks.

Manual Installation

If you prefer to set up Qwen Code manually or need more control over the installation process:

Step 1: Install Qwen Code

npm install -g @qwen-code/qwen-code@latest

Qwen Code requires Node.js 20 or higher. Check your version with node --version.

Step 2: Configure Environment Variables

Qwen Code uses OpenAI-compatible API configuration:

# Qwen Code with Nordlys AI model API Configuration
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-nordlys-api-key-here"  # qwen-code
export OPENAI_BASE_URL="https://api.nordlylabs.com/v1"  # qwen-code
export OPENAI_MODEL="nordlys/hypernova"  # qwen-code - for automatic Nordlys model

Step 3: Apply Configuration

# For Bash/Zsh
source ~/.bashrc  # or ~/.zshrc

# For Fish
source ~/.config/fish/config.fish

# Or restart your terminal

Step 4: Verify Installation

qwen --version
qwen "test connection"

Alternative Setup Methods

export NORDLYS_API_KEY='your-api-key-here'
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Nordlys-Labs/nordlys/main/scripts/installers/unix/qwen-code.sh | bash
# The installer will automatically configure your shell

Advanced Configuration

Model Selection

Use Nordlys by setting the model ID explicitly:

export OPENAI_MODEL='nordlys/hypernova'
qwen "complex algorithm optimization"

If you omit OPENAI_MODEL, Qwen Code will use its default model. Nordlys model IDs will be listed in the docs as new models ship.

Usage Examples

Code Understanding & Editing

cd your-project/
qwen

# Architecture analysis
> Describe the main pieces of this system's architecture
> What are the key dependencies and how do they interact?
> Find all API endpoints and their authentication methods

Workflow Automation

# Analyze git commits from the last 7 days, grouped by feature
> git log --since="7 days ago" --pretty=format:"%h - %s" --graph

# Create a changelog from recent commits
> Generate a CHANGELOG.md from commits since last release

# Find all TODO comments and create GitHub issues
> Find all TODO comments and create corresponding issues

Session Management

Control your token usage with configurable session limits:

# Create or edit .qwen/settings.json in your home directory
{
  "sessionTokenLimit": 32000
}

Session token limit applies to a single conversation, not cumulative API calls.

Vision Model Support

Qwen Code includes automatic vision model detection for image analysis:

# Include images in your queries
qwen "Analyze this UI screenshot and suggest improvements" --image screenshot.png

# Vision model will automatically switch when images are detected

# Configure behavior in .qwen/settings.json
{
  "experimental": {
    "vlmSwitchMode": "once" // "once", "session", "persist", or omit for interactive
  }
}

Nordlys Model Behavior

Nordlys activates the right specialists per prompt and keeps costs predictable.

Troubleshooting

Installation Issues

Problem: Qwen Code installation failsSolutions:

Ensure Node.js 20+ is installed: node --version

Install Node.js if needed:

# Using nvm (recommended)
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.3/install.sh | bash
nvm install 22

Check npm permissions: npm config get prefix
Try with sudo (not recommended): sudo npm install -g @qwen-code/qwen-code
Clear npm cache: npm cache clean --force

Authentication Errors

Problem: “Unauthorized” or “Invalid API key” errorsSolutions:

Verify your API key at nordlylabs.com/dashboard

Check environment variables are set:

echo $OPENAI_API_KEY
echo $OPENAI_BASE_URL
echo $OPENAI_MODEL

Ensure variables are exported in your shell config:

# Bash/Zsh
source ~/.bashrc  # or ~/.zshrc

# Fish
source ~/.config/fish/config.fish

Restart your terminal if changes were made to shell config
Verify the base URL is correct: https://api.nordlylabs.com/v1
Check for the # qwen-code comment to ensure correct environment variables

Connection Errors

Problem: Cannot connect to Nordlys APISolutions:

Check internet connectivity
Verify base URL is correct: echo $OPENAI_BASE_URL

Test API directly:

curl -X POST https://api.nordlylabs.com/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $OPENAI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "nordlys/hypernova",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}]
  }'

Check if your network/firewall blocks the API endpoint
Try using a different network or VPN

Model ID Issues

Problem: Requests fail due to a model ID errorSolutions:

Set the model ID explicitly:

export OPENAI_MODEL='nordlys/hypernova'

Confirm the value is spelled exactly and matches the docs.

Performance Issues

Problem: Slow response times or timeoutsSolutions:

Verify rate limits aren’t exceeded
Check your network connection
Reduce prompt size or request complexity
Retry with smaller batches if processing large files

Session Token Limits

Problem: Hitting token limits in long sessionsSolutions:

Configure higher session limits in .qwen/settings.json:
```
{
  "sessionTokenLimit": 64000
}
```
Use session compression to reduce token usage:
```
/compress
```
Clear conversation history and start fresh:
```
/clear
```
Monitor token usage:
```
/stats
```
Break large tasks into smaller sessions

Uninstallation

If you need to remove Qwen Code or revert configuration:

Remove Qwen Code

npm uninstall -g @qwen-code/qwen-code

Remove Environment Variables

Edit your shell config file and remove these lines:

# Qwen Code with Nordlys AI model API Configuration
export OPENAI_API_KEY="..." # qwen-code
export OPENAI_BASE_URL="..." # qwen-code
export OPENAI_MODEL="..." # qwen-code

Reload Shell Configuration

source ~/.bashrc # or ~/.zshrc or ~/.config/fish/config.fish

Next Steps

Monitor Usage & Savings

Track your cost savings and usage analytics in real-time

API Documentation

Learn about Nordlys’s API capabilities and advanced features

More CLI Tools

Explore other CLI tools with Nordlys integration

Advanced Model selection

Learn about advanced Nordlys model and load balancing

Monitor Usage & Savings

Track your cost savings and usage analytics in real-time

API Documentation

Learn about Nordlys’s API capabilities and advanced features

More CLI Tools

Explore other CLI tools with Nordlys integration

Advanced Model selection

Learn about advanced Nordlys model and load balancing

Was this page helpful? Contact us at [email protected] for feedback or assistance with your Qwen Code integration.

Getting Started

Key Features

Framework Integrations

Developer Tools

Examples

API Reference

Support

Qwen Code Integration

Benefits of Using Qwen Code with Nordlys

Get Your Nordlys API Key

Quick Setup

Manual Installation

Step 1: Install Qwen Code

Step 2: Configure Environment Variables

Step 3: Apply Configuration

Step 4: Verify Installation

Alternative Setup Methods

Advanced Configuration

Model Selection

Usage Examples

Code Understanding & Editing

Workflow Automation

Session Management

Vision Model Support

Nordlys Model Behavior

Troubleshooting

Uninstallation

Next Steps

Monitor Usage & Savings

API Documentation

More CLI Tools

Advanced Model selection

Monitor Usage & Savings

API Documentation

More CLI Tools

Advanced Model selection

Getting Started

Key Features

Framework Integrations

Developer Tools

Examples

API Reference

Support

​Benefits of Using Qwen Code with Nordlys

​Get Your Nordlys API Key

​Quick Setup

​Manual Installation

​Step 1: Install Qwen Code

​Step 2: Configure Environment Variables

​Step 3: Apply Configuration

​Step 4: Verify Installation

​Alternative Setup Methods

​Advanced Configuration

​Model Selection

​Usage Examples

​Code Understanding & Editing

​Workflow Automation

​Session Management

​Vision Model Support

​Nordlys Model Behavior

​Troubleshooting

​Uninstallation

​Next Steps

Monitor Usage & Savings

API Documentation

More CLI Tools

Advanced Model selection

Monitor Usage & Savings

API Documentation

More CLI Tools

Advanced Model selection

Benefits of Using Qwen Code with Nordlys

Get Your Nordlys API Key

Quick Setup

Manual Installation

Step 1: Install Qwen Code

Step 2: Configure Environment Variables

Step 3: Apply Configuration

Step 4: Verify Installation

Alternative Setup Methods

Advanced Configuration

Model Selection

Usage Examples

Code Understanding & Editing

Workflow Automation

Session Management

Vision Model Support

Nordlys Model Behavior

Troubleshooting

Uninstallation

Next Steps