# A tools/llm run is refused, though the key works and the credits are there

## Symptoms

A tool in `tools/llm/` stops with one of these messages, and nothing is spent:

- `Credit balance is too low`, from `headless.py` or `skillcheck.py`, while `ask.py` works
  with the same key.
- `Claude Code 2.1.190 does not support this model; version 2.1.280 or newer is required`.
- `This API key is not scoped to a workspace, so this request must include the
  anthropic-workspace-id header`.
- `Set GAMEFRAME_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY for GAMEFRAME_LLM_PROVIDER=anthropic`.

## Cause

Each message has its own cause (*observed* on 2026-10-24).

- The credits pay for API-key use. They do not pay for Claude Code started from the desktop
  app. A run started from inside a Claude Code session inherited that session's `CLAUDE*`
  variables, such as `CLAUDE_CODE_ENTRYPOINT`, and counted as part of the session.
- The installed `claude` was older than the model.
- The key belonged to the organization and to no workspace.
- The key was not in the environment or in the `.env` of the current folder, the project or
  GameFrame.

## Evidence

A request through the SDK with the same key and `max_tokens` up to 64000 succeeded, while
`claude -p --bare` failed. With the `CLAUDE*` variables left out, the same `claude -p` call
succeeded for $0.004.

## What to do

Pull GameFrame: since 2026-10-24, `client.py` leaves the `CLAUDE*` variables out of every run
it starts. Then fix whichever message remains.

- An old `claude`: run `claude update`, or set `GAMEFRAME_CLAUDE` to a newer `claude`.
- No workspace: create the key in a workspace, or put `GAMEFRAME_ANTHROPIC_WORKSPACE_ID=...` in `.env`.
- No key: put `GAMEFRAME_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=...` in the project's `.env`, then select the service with
  `GAMEFRAME_LLM_PROVIDER=anthropic` for the task.
- Check the setup with `./gameframe run tools/llm/client.py`.

## Tried

- A larger or smaller `max_tokens`: no change; the balance was never the cause.