Skip to main content
User access tokens can be used in order to authenticate to Blaxel by API or CLI. They apply for both users and service accounts. They are generated through a variety of methods, which are documented below.

​
Overview of authentication methods on Blaxel

Blaxel employs two main authentication paradigms: short-lived tokens (OAuth) and long-lived tokens (API keys). Long-lived tokens are easier to use but are less secure as their validity can go from multiple days to infinite. They are generated as API keys from the Blaxel console. OAuth tokens are recommended for security reasons, as their duration is only of 2 hours (short-lived). They are generated through OAuth 2.0 authentication endpoints.

​
API keys

Long-lived authentication tokens are called API keys on Blaxel. Their validity duration can be infinite.

​
Use API keys

API keys can be used in the Blaxel APIs, CLI and SDK. To authenticate in the SDKs, use the following two variables BL_WORKSPACE and BL_API_KEY, which can be set in one of these sources:
  1. your .env file
  2. your machine’s environment variables
  3. the local configuration file created when you log in through the CLI (see below)
To authenticate in the CLI use this command 
export BL_API_KEY=YOUR-API-KEY
bl login YOUR-WORKSPACE
To authenticate in the APIs, use the API key as an authorization bearer in the headers Authorization or X-Blaxel-Authorization in any call to the Blaxel APIs. For example, to list models: 
curl 'https://api.blaxel.ai/v0/models' \
  -H 'Accept: application/json, text/plain, */*' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR-API-KEY'

​
Use API keys via middleware

If you wish to call the Blaxel API directly from a client Web application, you would have to include your Blaxel API key in client-side code. This creates a serious security vulnerability, as the key will become visible in network requests or in the source code on the client end of the connection. The solution is to add authentication middleware between your client application and the Blaxel API. The middleware serves as a secure “translator”, which intercepts requests from the client application, injects your Blaxel API key, and then forwards them to Blaxel. This solution requires a catch-all route in the client application (e.g. /api/blaxel) that forwards all SDK requests to Blaxel’s API. The route reads the Blaxel workspace and API key securely from host environment variables (e.g. BL_WORKSPACE and BL_API_KEY) and injects it into each request by adding Authorization and X-Blaxel-Workspace headers. Here is a sample implementation of this catch-all route implemented in Next.js:
The above code is illustrative and not intended for production use. It has no authentication, allowing access to anyone who knows the endpoint URL. You must add authentication (session validation, API keys, rate limiting) before deploying in production.
import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from 'next/server';

async function handleRequest(request: NextRequest, { params }: { params: { slug: string[] } }) {
  params = await params;
  const path = params.slug.slice(1).join('/');

  const workspace = process.env.BL_WORKSPACE;
  const apiKey = process.env.BL_API_KEY; // Securely stored in environment variables

  const headers = new Headers(request.headers);
  headers.set('Authorization', `Bearer ${apiKey}`);
  headers.set('X-Blaxel-Workspace', workspace);

  const fetchOptions: RequestInit = {
    method: request.method,
    headers,
    body: ['GET', 'HEAD'].includes(request.method) ? undefined : await request.text(),
  };

  const response = await fetch(`https://api.blaxel.ai/v0/${path}`, fetchOptions);

  const responseHeaders = new Headers(response.headers);
  responseHeaders.delete('content-encoding');
  responseHeaders.delete('content-length');

  return new NextResponse(response.body, {
    status: response.status,
    headers: responseHeaders,
  });
}

export { handleRequest as DELETE, handleRequest as GET, handleRequest as PATCH, handleRequest as POST, handleRequest as PUT };
Now, within the application, the Blaxel SDK should be configured at init-time to use the catch-all route, as shown below. With this change, SDK requests are routed through the middleware rather than directly transmitted to the Blaxel API. 
import blaxel from "@blaxel/core";

blaxel.initialize({
  proxy: 'http://localhost:3000/api/blaxel',  // Your catch-all route
  workspace: 'YOUR_WORKSPACE',
});

// Now use the SDK as normal
const sandbox = await blaxel.SandboxInstance.create({
  // ...
});
Under this approach, your Blaxel API key is never exposed to the calling client, ensuring security. SDK requests continue to work as before, except that now they are routed through the catch-all route rather than directly to the Blaxel API.

​
Manage API keys

You can create private API keys for your Blaxel account to authenticate directly when using the Blaxel APIs or CLI. Your permissions in each workspace will be the ones given to your account in each of them. API keys can be managed from the Blaxel console in Profile > Security. api-key-create.png For production-grade access to workspace resources that should be independent of individual users, it’s strongly recommended to use service accounts in the workspace.

​
OAuth 2.0 tokens

These short-lived tokens are based on the OAuth 2.0 authentication protocol, and have a validity period of 2 hours.

​
Use OAuth tokens in the CLI

Use bl login command. You will then be redirected to the Blaxel console to finish logging in. Sign in using your Blaxel account if you aren’t already. Once this is done, return to your terminal: the login will be finalized and you will then be able to run CLI commands.
Your permissions in each workspace will be the ones given to your account in each of them.

​
Use OAuth tokens in the API via service accounts

Service accounts can retrieve a short-lived token via the OAuth client credentials grant type in the authentication API, using their client ID and client secret. These two keys are generated automatically when creating a service account. Make sure to copy the secret at its generation as you will never be able to see it again after. sa-create2.png
Service accounts can also connect to the API using a long-lived API key, as detailed in the section below.
To retrieve the token, pass the service account’s client ID and client secret in the header to the /oauth/token endpoint. 
curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.blaxel.ai/v0/oauth/token \
  --header 'Authorization: Basic base64(CLIENT_ID:CLIENT_SECRET)' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{
	"grant_type":"client_credentials"
}'
Alternatively, you can also pass pass the client ID and client secret in the body: 
curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.blaxel.ai/v0/oauth/token \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{
	"grant_type":"client_credentials",
    "client_id": CLIENT_ID,
    "client_secret": CLIENT_SECRET
}'
You will retrieve a bearer token valid for 2 hours, which can then be passed in any call to a Blaxel APIs through any of the following headers: Authorization or X-Blaxel-Authorization, as such: 
curl 'https://api.blaxel.ai/v0/models' \
  -H 'Accept: application/json, text/plain, */*' \
  -H 'X-Blaxel-Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN'

​
(Advanced) Use OAuth tokens in the APIs

This section assumes you are a developer experienced with OAuth 2.0. For a simpler guide of how to use short-lived tokens in Blaxel APIs, read the section on authenticating service accounts.
Blaxel implements all grant types in the OAuth 2.0 convention, including client credentials, authorization code, and refresh tokens. If you are a developer experienced with OAuth 2.0, you can find the well-known configuration endpoint at the following URL: 
https://api.blaxel.ai/v0/.well-known/openid-configuration
Through the endpoints discoverable in the aforementioned URL, you can implement any authentication flow in your application, and use the retrieved tokens in any of the following headers: Authorization or X-Blaxel-Authorization . Alternatively, you can retrieve a token using the SDK: 
import { settings } from ´blaxel/core’

await settings.authenticate() // Refreshes the token only if needed
console.log(settings.token)
Note: when using the Blaxel SDK to operate Blaxel (e.g. to create an agent), token retrieval and refresh is done automatically based on either being authenticated with CLI or using environment variables.