Getting Started with the DeepSeek API: A Comprehensive Guide

DeepSeek API offers developers a powerful suite of AI tools, readily accessible through a format compatible with the OpenAI API. This means you can leverage your existing OpenAI SDK knowledge and tools to integrate DeepSeek's advanced models into your projects with minimal adjustments.

This article will guide you through your first API call, providing a clear understanding of the necessary steps and configurations.

DeepSeek API: OpenAI Compatibility and Key Features

The DeepSeek API is designed for seamless integration, adopting an API format that aligns with OpenAI standards. This strategic compatibility allows developers familiar with the OpenAI ecosystem to quickly adapt and utilize DeepSeek's functionalities.

Key benefits of this compatibility include:

• Familiarity: Developers already accustomed to the OpenAI SDK can transition easily to DeepSeek API.
• Tooling Reuse: Existing software and tools built for OpenAI API can be repurposed for DeepSeek API, saving time and resources.
• Reduced Learning Curve: The similar structure minimizes the learning curve, allowing developers to focus on leveraging the API's capabilities.

Setting Up Your First API Call

Before diving into the code, you'll need to obtain an API key and configure your environment.

1. Obtain an API Key

You'll need an API key to authenticate your requests. You can apply for one on the DeepSeek Platform.

2. Configure the Base URL

The base URL for the DeepSeek API is https://api.deepseek.com. For OpenAI compatibility, you can also use https://api.deepseek.com/v1. Note that the v1 in the URL does not refer to the model version.

3. Understanding Available Models

DeepSeek offers various models, including:

• deepseek-chat: This model has been upgraded to DeepSeek-V3, a versatile model for conversational AI. To use it, specify model='deepseek-chat' in your API request.
• deepseek-reasoner: This model, powered by DeepSeek-R1, excels in complex reasoning tasks. Access it by setting model='deepseek-reasoner'. You can find more information about this in the reasoning model documentation.

Making Your First API Call: Code Examples

Here's how to make your first API call using different programming languages. These examples demonstrate how to interact with the DeepSeek API to generate conversational responses.

Example 1: cURL

curl https://api.deepseek.com/chat/completions \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <DeepSeek API Key>" \
  -d '{
    "model": "deepseek-chat",
    "messages": [
      {"role": "system", "content": "You are a helpful assistant."},
      {"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}
    ],
    "stream": false
  }'

Example 2: Python (using OpenAI SDK)

# Please install OpenAI SDK first: `pip3 install openai`
from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    api_key="<DeepSeek API Key>",
    base_url="https://api.deepseek.com"
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="deepseek-chat",
    messages=[
        {"role": "system", "content": "You are a helpful assistant"},
        {"role": "user", "content": "Hello"},
    ],
    stream=False
)

print(response.choices[0].message.content)

Example 3: Node.js (using OpenAI SDK)

// Please install OpenAI SDK first: `npm install openai`
import OpenAI from "openai";

const openai = new OpenAI({
  baseURL: 'https://api.deepseek.com',
  apiKey: '<DeepSeek API Key>'
});

async function main() {
  const completion = await openai.chat.completions.create({
    messages: [{ role: "system", content: "You are a helpful assistant." }],
    model: "deepseek-chat",
  });
  console.log(completion.choices[0].message.content);
}

main();

Key Parameters Explained

• base_url: Specifies the API endpoint. Use https://api.deepseek.com or https://api.deepseek.com/v1.
• api_key: Your unique authentication key.
• model: The DeepSeek model you want to use (e.g., deepseek-chat, deepseek-reasoner).
• messages: An array of message objects representing the conversation history. Each object has a role (either "system", "user", or "assistant") and content.
• stream: A boolean value indicating whether to use streaming output. Set to true for streaming responses, false for complete responses.

Advanced Usage and Further Exploration

Once you've successfully made your first API call, you can explore more advanced features:

• Temperature Settings: Adjust the temperature parameter to control the randomness of the generated text. See more details in the Temperature Settings documentation.
• Token Usage Calculation: Understand how token usage affects pricing. Refer to the token usage documentation for more information.
• Error Handling: Familiarize yourself with the error codes to effectively debug your applications.
• API Guides: Explore the capabilities of the DeepSeek API by diving into topics such as multi-round chat, Function Calling, and JSON Output.

Stay Updated

Keep up-to-date with the latest DeepSeek API features and updates through the official news and updates pages.

Conclusion

The DeepSeek API offers a powerful and accessible platform for developers to integrate advanced AI capabilities into their applications. By leveraging its OpenAI compatibility and exploring its diverse features, you can build innovative solutions and enhance user experiences.