🔗 Req is all you need

Why complicate things with libraries that wrap AI providers? The article argues that many libraries mask the simplicity of working with unique APIs, creating unnecessary layers of complexity. Instead, it claims an HTTP client like Req in Elixir suffices for interfacing with various AI APIs, exemplified through simple code solutions for the Anthropic API.

It details the ease of creating a lightweight wrapper that maintains a 1:1 mapping with the provider's API while facilitating features like streaming and request cancellation. By keeping the approach straightforward and focused on specific needs, developers can avoid the pitfalls of unnecessary abstraction, allowing for flexibility and a cleaner codebase. The discussion includes practical examples and emphasizes that for most projects, using specific API documentation directly is more efficient than relying on complex third-party libraries.