---
title: Research Session
query: "should we be doing the taskmaster gateway even though we have a hamster connection now? how might we serve the ai from hamster as a standalone model?"
date: 11/17/2025
time: 7:35:00 PM
timestamp: 2025-11-18T00:35:00.754Z
exchanges: 2
---

# Research Session

## Initial Query

**Question:** should we be doing the taskmaster gateway even though we have a hamster connection now? how might we serve the ai from hamster as a standalone model?

**Response:**

You do not necessarily need to proceed with the Taskmaster Gateway integration if your current **Hamster connection** already provides the required AI capabilities, but the decision depends on your specific project needs, desired features, and architectural preferences. Serving the AI from Hamster as a standalone model is feasible and may offer advantages in control, cost, and flexibility, but it also comes with trade-offs compared to using a managed gateway.

---

## Should You Still Integrate the Taskmaster Gateway?

**Key considerations:**

- **Feature Set:**  
  The Taskmaster Gateway is designed to provide access to **premium AI-powered test generation, TDD orchestration, and smart git workflows** via API key authentication. If Hamster already delivers these features (or you can implement them), the gateway may be redundant.

- **Centralization and Vendor Lock-in:**  
  Using the gateway centralizes premium features and may simplify updates, billing, and support. However, it can introduce vendor lock-in and dependency on external uptime and pricing.

- **Local vs. Remote AI:**  
  The gateway is intended to maintain local file operations while leveraging remote AI intelligence. If Hamster can run locally or on your own infrastructure, you gain more control over data privacy, latency, and cost.

- **Testing and Workflow Integration:**  
  If your team values seamless integration with **git workflows** and **test orchestration** as provided by the gateway, and these are not easily replicated with Hamster, the gateway may still be valuable.

- **Project Roadmap:**  
  If Task 102 is high priority and aligns with your long-term goals (e.g., supporting multiple AI backends or offering users a choice), completing the integration could future-proof your platform.

---

## Serving the AI from Hamster as a Standalone Model

If you decide to use Hamster as your primary AI backend, you can serve it as a **standalone model** in several ways:

### 1. **Local API Server**
- **Wrap the Hamster model** in a lightweight HTTP API (e.g., using FastAPI, Flask, or Express).
- Expose endpoints that mimic the Taskmaster Gateway API, allowing your CLI and other tools to interact with Hamster as if it were a remote service.
- This approach enables easy swapping between Hamster and other backends by changing the API endpoint.

### 2. **Direct Integration**
- Integrate Hamster directly into your Taskmaster codebase as a module or service.
- This reduces network overhead and can simplify error handling, but may require more code changes if you later want to support multiple backends.

### 3. **Containerization**
- Package Hamster and its serving API in a Docker container.
- Users can run the container locally or deploy it to their own infrastructure, maintaining isolation and reproducibility.

### 4. **Configuration and Abstraction**
- Add a configuration flag or environment variable to select between Hamster and the Taskmaster Gateway.
- Abstract the AI interaction layer so that switching backends requires minimal code changes.

---

## Actionable Recommendations

- **Evaluate Feature Parity:**  
  Compare the features of Hamster and the Taskmaster Gateway. If Hamster meets your needs, prioritize serving it as a standalone model.

- **Design for Flexibility:**  
  Implement an abstraction layer for AI providers. This allows you to support both Hamster and the Taskmaster Gateway (or others) with minimal friction.

- **Document the Setup:**  
  Clearly document how to run Hamster as a standalone service, including installation, configuration, and API usage. This will help with onboarding and maintenance.

- **Consider User Experience:**  
  If your users expect plug-and-play access to premium features (as with the gateway), ensure your Hamster integration matches or exceeds this experience.

---

## How This Applies to Your Tasks

- **Task 102 (Taskmaster Gateway Integration):**  
  If you choose to deprioritize this, document the rationale and ensure stakeholders agree. If you proceed, consider making the gateway optional, with Hamster as a default or fallback.

- **CLI and Directory Structure:**  
  Ensure that your `.taskmaster/` directory and CLI enhancements (Tasks 95, 57) are compatible with both Hamster and gateway-based workflows.

- **Installation and Configuration:**  
  Update your installation scripts and documentation (Tasks 64, 65, 31) to support configuration for Hamster as a backend, including any required flags or environment variables.

---

**Summary:**  
If Hamster provides all required AI features, you can serve it as a standalone model via a local API or direct integration, potentially making the Taskmaster Gateway optional. Design your system to support backend flexibility, and ensure your documentation and CLI tools reflect this choice.

---

## Follow-up 1

**Question:** so if i have an ai sdk setup from hamster, could i just expose it as an option and let users pay us directly?

**Response:**

Yes, if you have an AI SDK setup from Hamster, you can expose it as an option and allow users to pay you directly—**but there are important technical, legal, and business considerations** to keep in mind for your project.

---

### **How It Works Technically**
- **SDK as a Service Layer:**  
  You can wrap the Hamster AI SDK in your own API or service layer, exposing endpoints that users interact with. This way, your platform acts as a middleman, routing requests to Hamster’s backend and returning results.
- **Billing Integration:**  
  You can implement your own billing logic (e.g., usage-based or subscription) and charge users directly. You’d then pay Hamster for the underlying API usage (if their pricing is usage-based) or manage your own subscription costs.
- **User Experience:**  
  Users see your platform as the provider, not Hamster. You control the UX, branding, and support, while Hamster remains the backend engine.

---

### **Key Considerations for Your Project**
- **Pricing Model Alignment:**  
  Hamster AI offers a **free plan (250 credits/month)** and a **Pro plan (unlimited credits, $3.30/month)**. If you want to charge users, you’ll need to either:
  - Use the Pro plan and resell access (with your own pricing),
  - Or use the free plan and limit user access to 250 credits/month (not ideal for heavy usage).
- **Usage Tracking:**  
  You’ll need to track user usage (e.g., tokens, requests) to bill them accurately and ensure you don’t exceed Hamster’s limits.
- **Legal & Terms of Service:**  
  Check Hamster’s **terms of service** to ensure reselling or white-labeling is allowed. Some AI providers restrict commercial resale or require special agreements.
- **Abstraction Layer:**  
  To support flexibility (e.g., switching to other AI backends like Claude or Taskmaster Gateway), design an abstraction layer in your code. This lets you swap providers without breaking your user-facing API.

---

### **Actionable Steps for Your Team**
1. **Review Hamster’s Terms:**  
   Confirm if reselling or white-labeling is permitted.
2. **Implement Usage Tracking:**  
   Add logic to track user requests/tokens and map them to your billing system.
3. **Design Your API Layer:**  
   Create endpoints that proxy requests to Hamster, with your own authentication and rate limiting.
4. **Set Up Billing:**  
   Integrate a payment processor (e.g., Stripe) to charge users directly.
5. **Document the Flow:**  
   Clearly explain to users how billing works and what they’re paying for.

---

### **Trade-offs vs. Taskmaster Gateway**
- **Pros of Using Hamster Directly:**
  - Lower cost (especially if you use the Pro plan),
  - More control over pricing and user experience,
  - No vendor lock-in with Taskmaster.
- **Cons:**
  - You’re responsible for billing, support, and compliance,
  - Hamster may not offer all the premium features (e.g., advanced test generation, git workflows) that Taskmaster Gateway provides.

---

### **Recommendation**
If Hamster meets your AI needs and their terms allow it, **exposing it as a paid option is feasible and can be a cost-effective way to monetize your platform**. However, ensure you have a clear abstraction layer so you can easily switch providers or add new ones (like Taskmaster Gateway) in the future. This approach gives you flexibility and control while keeping costs low.


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*Generated by Task Master Research Command*  
*Timestamp: 2025-11-18T00:35:00.754Z*
