> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.aliengh.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Settings

> Every key in Alien's settings file, and where to find it.

Most people never open this file: the panel's Help links your key and **⚙** sets your theme. It's there when you want a different model, a local model, or another folder.

| | Where it is |
| - | - |
| macOS | `~/Library/Application Support/Alien/settings.json` |
| Windows | `%APPDATA%\Alien\settings.json` |

Open it from the panel's **⚙** or right-click a component › **Open settings file**. Alien re-reads it when it changes.

```json settings.json theme={null}
{
  "openrouterKey": "sk-or-v1-…",
  "model": "anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5",
  "editor": "code"
}
```

## Keys

| Key | What it sets | Default |
| - | - | - |
| `repository` | Your script folder | `Documents/Alien scripts` |
| `openrouterKey` | Your OpenRouter API key, for describing components and the AI components. Never stored in `.gh` files or scripts | none |
| `model` | The model that writes your components. Use `ollama:<name>` for a local model | `anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5` |
| `imageModel` | The image model for materials, scale figures and trees | `google/gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image` |
| `model3d` | The model for 3D object | `anthropic/claude-sonnet-5.5` |
| `model2d` | The model for 2D object and symbol (next beta) | as `model3d` |
| `modelDisplay` | The model for display mode (next beta) | `anthropic/claude-sonnet-5.5` |
| `agentModel` | The project agent's model; it needs tool calling (next beta) | `anthropic/claude-sonnet-5.5` |
| `classifyModel` | The model that sorts uncategorised library components | as `model` |
| `classify` | `"off"` sorts the library by keywords only | on |
| `ollamaUrl` | Your local model server | `http://localhost:11434` |
| `reasoning` | Reasoning effort when describing components | `low` (`none` for local models) |
| `editor` | The command **Edit script** opens, e.g. `code` | VS Code or Cursor if installed, else your system's text editor |
| `panel` | `"rhino"` docks the panel in Rhino instead of beside Grasshopper | beside Grasshopper |
| `port` | The MCP server's port | `9876` |
| `theme` | Written by the panel's **⚙**: `{"preset", "background", "text", "accent"}` | the Alien preset |

## Run everything locally

Install [Ollama](https://ollama.com), pull a model, and point Alien at it:

```json settings.json theme={null}
{
  "model": "ollama:qwen3-coder",
  "ollamaUrl": "http://localhost:11434"
}
```

Describing components then never leaves your machine. The image and 3D generators still use their own model settings.


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