DunneWrite · Tutorial
Connect an AI provider
Save and check a Claude or Gemini API key, or connect a local Ollama model, and choose which one reads your notes.
DunneWrite uses an AI only when you ask it to read material: your notes, a manuscript, or a chapter an AI drafted. You bring your own provider. In this tutorial you'll connect one and check that it works, without spending anything.
You'll need#
- DunneWrite installed and open.
- One of:
- an API key from Anthropic (Claude) or Google (Gemini), created on the provider's developer website, with some credit on the account; or
- Ollama installed on this computer, with a model pulled.
Save and check a key (Claude or Gemini)#
- Click Settings at the bottom of the left-hand menu.
- Under AI keys, paste your key into the Claude or Gemini box and press Save.
- Press Check this key (free). This spends nothing and tells you straight away whether the key works. If it is rejected with a message about credit or billing, the key is fine; the account behind it needs credit.
- Under Which one reads your notes, choose the provider you just checked. You are only offered providers whose keys have been checked.
If you chose Gemini, you'll be asked to pick three models from a list your key can see: First pass (cheap), Main reading and Second look (only when unsure). Choosing is free. If you have no strong opinion, start with lower-cost models and work up.
Your key is stored encrypted on this computer and is sent only to the provider it belongs to.
Or connect Ollama#
- Make sure Ollama is running on this computer.
- In Settings, find Ollama and press Check the connection (free).
- Pick the model or models it should use.
- Under Which one reads your notes, choose Ollama.
With Ollama, your text never leaves your computer and nothing is billed. It uses your own hardware, and how well it does depends on the model and the machine. Try it on a few chapters first.
What you've learned#
- Keys are saved and checked in Settings ▸ AI keys, and checking is always free.
- Which one reads your notes decides which provider every reading job uses.
- Every paid action asks before it sends anything, and tells you the amount of work, not a price.
Next#
Something unclear or out of date? Open a support ticket.