Getting Started with DeepSeek API: A Comprehensive Guide for Developers

DeepSeek API offers a powerful and versatile platform for developers looking to integrate cutting-edge AI capabilities into their applications. Designed with compatibility in mind, the DeepSeek API leverages an OpenAI-compatible format, meaning you can adapt existing OpenAI SDKs and software with minimal configuration changes. This makes transitioning to DeepSeek a smooth and efficient process.

This article provides a detailed walkthrough for making your first API call, along with essential information and resources to help you get started.

Why Choose DeepSeek API?

• OpenAI Compatibility: Seamless integration with existing OpenAI-based projects, reducing development time and costs.
• Advanced AI Models: Access to state-of-the-art models like DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1 (via deepseek-reasoner).
• Versatile Applications: Suitable for various use cases, including multi-round conversations, reasoning tasks, code completion, and more.

Setting Up Your Environment

Before diving into the API calls, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

1. API Key: Obtain an API key from the DeepSeek Platform. This key is essential for authenticating your requests.
2. OpenAI SDK (Recommended): Although DeepSeek API is compatible, installing the OpenAI SDK simplifies the integration process in languages, such as Python and Node.js.

Installing OpenAI SDK

Depending on your preferred language, use the following commands to install the OpenAI SDK:

• Python:

  pip3 install openai
  

• Node.js:

  npm install openai
  

Making Your First API Call

DeepSeek API's base URL is https://api.deepseek.com. For OpenAI compatibility, you can also use https://api.deepseek.com/v1 as the base URL, but note that "v1" here is not related to the model version.

Here’s how to make a basic chat completion API call using curl, Python, and Node.js:

1. Using cURL

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

2. Using Python

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    api_key="<Your 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)

3. Using Node.js

import OpenAI from "openai";

const openai = new OpenAI({
    baseURL: 'https://api.deepseek.com',
    apiKey: '<Your 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();

Replace <Your DeepSeek API Key> with your actual API key.

Understanding the Code

• Headers: The Content-Type header specifies that the request body is in JSON format. The Authorization header includes your API key for authentication.
• Payload: The JSON payload contains the model parameter, which specifies the model to use (e.g., deepseek-chat). The messages array contains the conversation history, with each message having a role (system or user) and content. Setting stream to false returns the entire response at once. To use streaming, set it to true.

Key Models and Their Usage

• deepseek-chat: This model is a updated version of DeepSeek-V3. To use it, specify model='deepseek-chat' in your API call.
• deepseek-reasoner: This model leverages DeepSeek-R1 for advanced reasoning capabilities. Specify model='deepseek-reasoner' to utilize this model, as detailed in the Reasoning Model Guide.

Additional Resources

To further enhance your understanding and utilization of DeepSeek API, refer to the following resources:

• Official Documentation: For comprehensive information on all available endpoints, parameters, and functionalities, visit the DeepSeek API Documentation.
• Pricing: Understand the cost implications of using different models and features by reviewing the model pricing.
• API Guides: Explore various guides offering in-depth knowledge about Reasoning Models, Multi-round conversations, JSON output and Function Calling to tailor the API to your specific needs.
• Community Support: Engage with other DeepSeek developers through Discord and GitHub.
• Examples and Integrations: Check out other DeepSeek integrations for inspiration.

Conclusion

DeepSeek API offers a robust and accessible platform for integrating powerful AI capabilities into your applications. With its OpenAI compatibility, advanced models, and extensive documentation, getting started with DeepSeek is easier than ever. By following this guide and exploring the provided resources, you'll be well-equipped to leverage the full potential of DeepSeek API in your projects.