feat: make CLI/SDK work standalone without backend

Enable LevelCode to run fully standalone without requiring the
LevelCode backend server. Users provide their own API keys directly.

SDK changes:
- Make standalone mode default when NEXT_PUBLIC_LEVELCODE_APP_URL not set
- Add direct OpenRouter model support via OPENROUTER_API_KEY env var
- Add direct Anthropic model support via ANTHROPIC_API_KEY env var
- All database functions gracefully no-op in standalone mode
- Export isStandaloneMode for CLI consumption

CLI changes:
- Remove referral system (not available in open-source mode)
- Remove credits/billing tracking (unlimited in standalone)
- Remove out-of-credits banner (never shown in standalone)
- Make ads gracefully degrade when backend unavailable
- Simplify auth to accept direct API keys without web login
- Skip backend validation in standalone mode
- Make agent publishing unavailable in standalone mode
- Make PostHog analytics no-op when keys not configured
- Always report connected status in standalone mode

39 files changed, -874 lines net reduction.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <[email protected]>

Author: yethikrishna

cli/src/chat.tsx

@@ -10,9 +10,7 @@ import {
 } from 'react'
 import { useShallow } from 'zustand/react/shallow'
 
-import { getAdsEnabled } from './commands/ads'
 import { routeUserPrompt, addBashMessageToHistory } from './commands/router'
-import { AdBanner } from './components/ad-banner'
 import { BottomStatusLine } from './components/bottom-status-line'
 import { ChatInputBar } from './components/chat-input-bar'
 import { LoadPreviousButton } from './components/load-previous-button'
@@ -37,7 +35,6 @@ import { useChatUI } from './hooks/use-chat-ui'
 import { useClaudeQuotaQuery } from './hooks/use-claude-quota-query'
 import { useClipboard } from './hooks/use-clipboard'
 import { useEvent } from './hooks/use-event'
-import { useGravityAd } from './hooks/use-gravity-ad'
 import { useInputHistory } from './hooks/use-input-history'
 import { usePublishMutation } from './hooks/use-publish-mutation'
 import { useSendMessage } from './hooks/use-send-message'
@@ -51,7 +48,6 @@ import { useReviewStore } from './state/review-store'
 import { useFeedbackStore } from './state/feedback-store'
 import { useMessageBlockStore } from './state/message-block-store'
 import { usePublishStore } from './state/publish-store'
-import { reportActivity } from './utils/activity-tracker'
 import { trackEvent } from './utils/analytics'
 import { getClaudeOAuthStatus } from './utils/claude-oauth'
 import { showClipboardMessage } from './utils/clipboard'
@@ -159,7 +155,6 @@ export const Chat = ({
   } = useChatState()
 
   const { statusMessage } = useClipboard()
-  const { ad } = useGravityAd()
 
   // Set initial mode from CLI flag on mount
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -206,17 +201,10 @@ export const Chat = ({
   // Get loaded skills for slash commands
   const loadedSkills = useMemo(() => getLoadedSkills(), [])
 
-  // Filter slash commands based on current ads state - only show the option that changes state
-  // Also merge in skill commands
+  // Merge in skill commands
   const filteredSlashCommands = useMemo(() => {
-    const adsEnabled = getAdsEnabled()
-    const allCommands = getSlashCommandsWithSkills(loadedSkills)
-    return allCommands.filter((cmd) => {
-      if (cmd.id === 'ads:enable') return !adsEnabled
-      if (cmd.id === 'ads:disable') return adsEnabled
-      return true
-    })
-  }, [inputValue, loadedSkills]) // Re-evaluate when input changes (user may have just toggled)
+    return getSlashCommandsWithSkills(loadedSkills)
+  }, [loadedSkills])
 
   const {
     slashContext,
@@ -739,16 +727,6 @@ export const Chat = ({
     inputValueRef.current = inputValue
   }, [inputValue])
 
-  // Report activity on input changes for ad rotation (debounced via separate effect)
-  const lastReportedActivityRef = useRef<number>(0)
-  useEffect(() => {
-    const now = Date.now()
-    // Throttle to max once per second to avoid excessive calls
-    if (now - lastReportedActivityRef.current > 1000) {
-      lastReportedActivityRef.current = now
-      reportActivity()
-    }
-  }, [inputValue])
   useEffect(() => {
     cursorPositionRef.current = cursorPosition
   }, [cursorPosition])
@@ -842,8 +820,6 @@ export const Chat = ({
   }, [feedbackMode, askUserState, inputRef])
 
   const handleSubmit = useCallback(async () => {
-    // Report activity for ad rotation
-    reportActivity()
     // Update terminal title with truncated user input
     if (inputValue.trim()) {
       setTerminalTitle(inputValue)
@@ -1301,20 +1277,8 @@ export const Chat = ({
   // Determine if Claude is actively streaming/waiting
   const isClaudeActive = isStreaming || isWaitingForResponse
 
-  // Track mouse movement for ad activity (throttled)
-  const lastMouseActivityRef = useRef<number>(0)
-  const handleMouseActivity = useCallback(() => {
-    const now = Date.now()
-    // Throttle to max once per second
-    if (now - lastMouseActivityRef.current > 1000) {
-      lastMouseActivityRef.current = now
-      reportActivity()
-    }
-  }, [])
-
   return (
     <box
-      onMouseMove={handleMouseActivity}
       style={{
         flexDirection: 'column',
         gap: 0,
@@ -1404,8 +1368,6 @@ export const Chat = ({
           />
         )}
 
-        {ad && getAdsEnabled() && <AdBanner ad={ad} />}
-
         {reviewMode ? (
           <ReviewScreen
             onSelectOption={handleReviewOptionSelect}

cli/src/commands/ads.ts

@@ -1,49 +1,29 @@
-import { useChatStore } from '../state/chat-store'
-import { logger } from '../utils/logger'
 import { getSystemMessage } from '../utils/message-history'
-import { saveSettings, loadSettings } from '../utils/settings'
 
 import type { ChatMessage } from '../types/chat'
 
 export const handleAdsEnable = (): {
   postUserMessage: (messages: ChatMessage[]) => ChatMessage[]
 } => {
-  logger.info('[gravity] Enabling ads')
-
-  saveSettings({ adsEnabled: true })
-
   return {
     postUserMessage: (messages) => [
       ...messages,
-      getSystemMessage('Ads enabled. You will see contextual ads above the input and earn credits from impressions.'),
+      getSystemMessage('Ads are not available in standalone mode.'),
     ],
   }
 }
 
 export const handleAdsDisable = (): {
   postUserMessage: (messages: ChatMessage[]) => ChatMessage[]
 } => {
-  logger.info('[gravity] Disabling ads')
-  saveSettings({ adsEnabled: false })
-
   return {
     postUserMessage: (messages) => [
       ...messages,
-      getSystemMessage('Ads disabled.'),
+      getSystemMessage('Ads are not available in standalone mode.'),
     ],
   }
 }
 
 export const getAdsEnabled = (): boolean => {
-  // If no mode provided, get it from the store
-  const mode = useChatStore.getState().agentMode
-
-  // In FREE mode, ads are always enabled regardless of saved setting
-  if (mode === 'FREE') {
-    return true
-  }
-
-  // Otherwise, use the saved setting
-  const settings = loadSettings()
-  return settings.adsEnabled ?? false
+  return false
 }

cli/src/commands/command-registry.ts

@@ -5,9 +5,7 @@ import { useThemeStore } from '../hooks/use-theme'
 import { handleHelpCommand } from './help'
 import { handleImageCommand } from './image'
 import { handleInitializationFlowLocally } from './init'
-import { handleReferralCode } from './referral'
 import { runBashCommand } from './router'
-import { normalizeReferralCode } from './router-utils'
 import { handleUsageCommand } from './usage'
 import { WEBSITE_URL } from '../login/constants'
 import { useChatStore } from '../state/chat-store'
@@ -229,38 +227,15 @@ export const COMMAND_REGISTRY: CommandDefinition[] = [
       clearInput(params)
     },
   }),
-  defineCommandWithArgs({
+  defineCommand({
     name: 'referral',
     aliases: ['redeem'],
-    handler: async (params, args) => {
-      const trimmedArgs = args.trim()
-
-      // If user provided a code directly, redeem it immediately
-      if (trimmedArgs) {
-        const code = normalizeReferralCode(trimmedArgs)
-        try {
-          const { postUserMessage } = await handleReferralCode(code)
-          params.setMessages((prev) => [
-            ...prev,
-            getUserMessage(params.inputValue.trim()),
-            ...postUserMessage([]),
-          ])
-        } catch (error) {
-          const errorMessage =
-            error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error'
-          params.setMessages((prev) => [
-            ...prev,
-            getUserMessage(params.inputValue.trim()),
-            getSystemMessage(`Error redeeming referral code: ${errorMessage}`),
-          ])
-        }
-        params.saveToHistory(params.inputValue.trim())
-        clearInput(params)
-        return
-      }
-
-      // Otherwise enter referral mode
-      useChatStore.getState().setInputMode('referral')
+    handler: (params) => {
+      params.setMessages((prev) => [
+        ...prev,
+        getUserMessage(params.inputValue.trim()),
+        getSystemMessage('The referral system is not available in open-source mode.'),
+      ])
       params.saveToHistory(params.inputValue.trim())
       clearInput(params)
     },

cli/src/commands/publish.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { WEBSITE_URL } from '@levelcode/sdk'
+import { WEBSITE_URL, isStandaloneMode } from '@levelcode/sdk'
 
 import { getUserCredentials } from '../utils/auth'
 import { getApiClient, setApiClientAuthToken } from '../utils/levelcode-api'
@@ -93,6 +93,15 @@ async function publishAgentTemplates(
  * @returns PublishResult with success/error information
  */
 export async function handlePublish(agentIds: string[]): Promise<PublishResult> {
+  if (isStandaloneMode()) {
+    return {
+      success: false,
+      error:
+        'Agent publishing is not available in open-source standalone mode.',
+      hint: 'Visit levelcode.ai for the hosted version with agent publishing support.',
+    }
+  }
+
   const user = getUserCredentials()
 
   if (!user) {

cli/src/commands/referral.ts

@@ -1,73 +1,15 @@
-import { env } from '@levelcode/common/env'
-import { CREDITS_REFERRAL_BONUS } from '@levelcode/common/old-constants'
-
-import { getAuthToken } from '../utils/auth'
-import { getApiClient, setApiClientAuthToken } from '../utils/levelcode-api'
-import { logger } from '../utils/logger'
 import { getSystemMessage } from '../utils/message-history'
 
 import type { PostUserMessageFn } from '../types/contracts/send-message'
 
-export async function handleReferralCode(referralCode: string): Promise<{
+export async function handleReferralCode(_referralCode: string): Promise<{
   postUserMessage: PostUserMessageFn
 }> {
-  const authToken = getAuthToken()
-
-  if (!authToken) {
-    const postUserMessage: PostUserMessageFn = (prev) => [
-      ...prev,
-      getSystemMessage(
-        'Please log in first to redeem a referral code. Use /login to authenticate.',
-      ),
-    ]
-    return { postUserMessage }
-  }
-
-  setApiClientAuthToken(authToken)
-  const apiClient = getApiClient()
-
-  try {
-    const response = await apiClient.referral({ referralCode })
-
-    if (!response.ok) {
-      const errorMessage = response.error ?? 'Failed to redeem referral code'
-      logger.error(
-        {
-          referralCode,
-          error: errorMessage,
-        },
-        'Error redeeming referral code',
-      )
-      const postUserMessage: PostUserMessageFn = (prev) => [
-        ...prev,
-        getSystemMessage(`Error: ${errorMessage}`),
-      ]
-      return { postUserMessage }
-    }
-
-    const creditsRedeemed =
-      response.data?.credits_redeemed ?? CREDITS_REFERRAL_BONUS
-    const postUserMessage: PostUserMessageFn = (prev) => [
-      ...prev,
-      getSystemMessage(
-        `🎉 Noice, you've earned an extra ${creditsRedeemed} credits!\n\n` +
-          `(pssst: you can also refer new users and earn ${CREDITS_REFERRAL_BONUS} credits for each referral at: ${env.NEXT_PUBLIC_LEVELCODE_APP_URL}/referrals)`,
-      ),
-    ]
-    return { postUserMessage }
-  } catch (error) {
-    const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)
-    logger.error(
-      {
-        referralCode,
-        error: errorMessage,
-      },
-      'Error redeeming referral code',
-    )
-    const postUserMessage: PostUserMessageFn = (prev) => [
-      ...prev,
-      getSystemMessage(`Error redeeming referral code: ${errorMessage}`),
-    ]
-    return { postUserMessage }
-  }
+  const postUserMessage: PostUserMessageFn = (prev) => [
+    ...prev,
+    getSystemMessage(
+      'The referral system is not available in open-source mode.',
+    ),
+  ]
+  return { postUserMessage }
 }

cli/src/commands/router-utils.ts

@@ -2,12 +2,10 @@ import { SLASHLESS_COMMAND_IDS } from '../data/slash-commands'
 
 /**
  * Normalize user input by stripping the leading slash if present.
- * This is used for referral codes which work with or without the slash.
  *
  * @example
  * normalizeInput('/help') // => 'help'
  * normalizeInput('help')  // => 'help'
- * normalizeInput('/ref-abc123') // => 'ref-abc123'
  */
 export function normalizeInput(input: string): string {
   return input.startsWith('/') ? input.slice(1) : input
@@ -19,7 +17,6 @@ export function normalizeInput(input: string): string {
  * @example
  * isSlashCommand('/help') // => true
  * isSlashCommand('help')  // => false
- * isSlashCommand('/ref-abc123') // => true
  */
 export function isSlashCommand(input: string): boolean {
   return input.trim().startsWith('/')
@@ -47,54 +44,6 @@ export function parseCommand(input: string): string {
   return firstWord.toLowerCase()
 }
 
-/**
- * Check if the input is a referral code (starts with 'ref-').
- * Works with or without the leading slash.
- *
- * @example
- * isReferralCode('ref-abc123')  // => true
- * isReferralCode('/ref-abc123') // => true
- * isReferralCode('reference')   // => false
- */
-export function isReferralCode(input: string): boolean {
-  const normalized = normalizeInput(input.trim())
-  return normalized.startsWith('ref-')
-}
-
-/**
- * Extract the referral code from user input.
- * Returns the normalized code without the leading slash.
- *
- * @example
- * extractReferralCode('/ref-abc123') // => 'ref-abc123'
- * extractReferralCode('ref-abc123')  // => 'ref-abc123'
- */
-export function extractReferralCode(input: string): string {
-  return normalizeInput(input.trim())
-}
-
-const REFERRAL_PREFIX = 'ref-'
-
-/**
- * Normalize a referral code by ensuring it has the lowercase 'ref-' prefix.
- * Handles case-insensitive prefix detection (REF-, Ref-, etc.) and preserves
- * the original casing of the code portion.
- *
- * @example
- * normalizeReferralCode('abc123')      // => 'ref-abc123'
- * normalizeReferralCode('ref-abc123')  // => 'ref-abc123'
- * normalizeReferralCode('REF-ABC123')  // => 'ref-ABC123'
- * normalizeReferralCode('Ref-XYZ')     // => 'ref-XYZ'
- */
-export function normalizeReferralCode(code: string): string {
-  const trimmed = code.trim()
-  const hasPrefix = trimmed.toLowerCase().startsWith(REFERRAL_PREFIX)
-  const codeWithoutPrefix = hasPrefix
-    ? trimmed.slice(REFERRAL_PREFIX.length)
-    : trimmed
-  return `${REFERRAL_PREFIX}${codeWithoutPrefix}`
-}
-
 /**
  * Result of parsing a command-like input.
  */