Tool-Specific Considerations

Tools used at Axelerant

Irrespective of the tool, we believe that using AI in right mindset is of paramount importance. Kindly go through this video on same.

We use ChatGPT for Enterprise and are piloting the usage of Cline + OpenRouter for IDE based assistants for developers.

OpenRouter Specific

OpenRouter is an AI model aggregator that provides a unified API to access various large language models (LLMs) from multiple providers. It offers dynamic model routing, load balancing, and fallback mechanisms to enhance reliability and performance.​

Key Configuration Considerations

• Provider Preferences: Configure provider preferences to prioritize or exclude specific AI providers based on client requirements and trust levels. This includes setting parameters such as order, sort, and allow_fallbacks to control provider selection and fallback behaviour.​

• Data Collection Policies: Review and configure the data_collection settings to align with Axelerant's data protection policies. Ensure that providers with data practices not meeting client standards are excluded.​

• Model Routing: Utilize OpenRouter's model routing capabilities to specify preferred models and define fallback models in case of primary model unavailability. This ensures continuity and adherence to client-approved models.​

• Authentication: Authenticate OpenRouter API requests using company-approved API keys. Store and manage these keys securely to prevent unauthorized access.​

• Terms of Service Compliance: Familiarize yourself with OpenRouter's Terms of Service to ensure that usage complies with legal and ethical standards. Pay particular attention to clauses related to data usage, user obligations, and service limitations.

When to use what?

This guide helps engineering teams choose between ChatGPT, Codex, and IDE-integrated AI tools like Cline with OpenRouter, based on the task at hand. These tools serve different purposes across the development lifecycle—from ideation to deployment—and even during onboarding.

💬 ChatGPT (Conversational AI with Custom Context)

Best For:

• General-purpose exploration: architectural decisions, documentation, and brainstorming.

• Learning and onboarding: explaining code snippets, frameworks, or tools.

• Design support: outlining ADRs, evaluating trade-offs, and discussing patterns.

Usage Examples:

• “Explain how a decoupled Drupal setup works.”

• “What are the trade-offs between GraphQL and REST APIs?”

• “Draft documentation for our technical debt workflow.”

🤖 Codex (Code-as-a-Partner Automation Engine)

Best For:

• Natural language to code translation: creating usable code from English instructions.

• End-to-end automation: generating working prototypes, boilerplate, or PR-ready code.

• Cross-language support: converting logic across programming languages.

• Hands-on onboarding support for new engineers.

Onboarding Use Case:

• New developers can ask Codex questions about the codebase, such as:

  • “What does this function do?”

  • “Show me how to add a new endpoint.”

  • “Where is the authentication logic implemented?”

• Codex can generate example code that mirrors existing patterns in the project.

• It reduces onboarding time by bridging the gap between documentation and implementation.

Other Use Cases:

• Generate simple web apps or APIs

• Write SQL queries, data pipelines, or CLI scripts

• Automate routine code transformations

Advantages:

• Enables self-directed, code-driven learning

• Accelerates ramp-up with guided examples

• Scales across domains (front-end, back-end, DevOps)

🛠️ IDE-Based AI (e.g., Cline + OpenRouter)

Best For:

• Context-aware edits: makes precise changes in your local project based on full file visibility.

• Interactive coding: refactoring, code suggestions, real-time enhancements.

• Post-PR refinement: review and improve PRs generated by Codex or team members.

Usage Examples:

• Inline documentation

• Test generation

• Performance improvements and edge case handling

🧭 Decision Flow

Here’s a quick decision guide to choose the right tool:

References

• Provider Routing Documentation

• OpenRouter API Reference

• OpenRouter Terms of Service

• Introducing Codex