Accounts and models

Chief can start new sessions under more than one account: another Claude login, Codex, or an Anthropic-compatible API provider. Open Accounts and Models on the host screen. Chief never logs in for you and never stores a key. Use only accounts you own.

Logins

A login is a folder on the computer. Log in there in a folder of its own, for example CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR=~/.claude-work claude auth login or CODEX_HOME=~/.codex-work codex login, then add that folder in Melta or with melta-chief accounts add.

API-key providers

For a provider such as DeepSeek, Kimi, Qwen or MiniMax, give the name of the environment variable that holds the key on the computer, or a key file only you can read. Melta never sees the key itself.

Usage bars

Each account shows its use over the last 5 hours and 7 days, against an allotment. You set it with melta-chief accounts set-limit, Chief learns it the first time a session hits the provider's limit, or Codex reports its own percent.

Smart switch

With Smart switch on, each new session starts under the account with the lowest 5-hour use. The rotation holds your API-key accounts plus one Claude login and one Codex login, the first enabled of each. It skips an account at 97% until its window rolls. When every account is spent, Chief refuses the session and says when the first one resets.

Switch by hand

Any other login is picked by hand. Tap Switch Account on the host screen, or Use for New Sessions on an account, or run melta-chief accounts use <id>. accounts use auto goes back to Smart switch.

The 90% nudge

When the account the next session would use passes 90% of either window, the host screen and Chief say so.

Common questions

Does a running session switch account?

No. A switch applies to new sessions only.

Why is my second Claude login marked manual?

Smart switch rotates through one login per provider. Pick others yourself.

Where is my key stored?

Only on your computer, where you put it.

What happens when every account is spent?

With Smart switch on, new sessions are refused, and Chief says when the earliest window resets.