Create a project

Modem is the backend for your AI app. Your app calls the Modem gateway directly, and Modem holds the provider keys, meters usage, enforces limits, and bills. You deploy no server.

A Modem project holds an app’s provider accounts, products, customers, and usage records. Each project is Live or Sandbox, and so are its products and customers. Creating a project also creates its Free product.

Choose Live or Sandbox

Sandbox for development and testing.
Live for your live application.

The dashboard’s Sandbox switch sets the mode: on for Sandbox, off for Live. The dashboard lists only the selected mode’s records. Switching does not move or copy a project.

Sandbox requests still go to the real AI provider, which can charge the account that holds the API key. See Sandbox mode.

Create the project

Open the projects page

Set the mode

Set the Sandbox switch to the project’s mode.

Open the creation dialog

Select New project. The Create a project dialog opens.

Enter a project name

Enter a name for the application. You can change it later with Rename project.

Create the project

Select Create. Modem creates the project and its Free product, and opens the project.

Find the project ID

The Client SDK and the gateway identify a project by its ID. Find it:

On the project page. Select the ID to copy it.
At the end of the project URL:


https://preternatural.ai/dashboard/projects/<project-id>

The project ID does not grant access. Keep provider API keys, customer tokens, and customer secrets private.

Next steps

Add a provider account for OpenAI, Anthropic, or another provider.
Configure a product to set which provider accounts and models customers can use.