Replicate Models

Docs

• Reference: https://replicate.com/docs/llms.txt
• OpenAPI schema: https://api.replicate.com/openapi.json
• MCP server: https://mcp.replicate.com
• Per-model docs: https://replicate.com/{owner}/{model}/llms.txt
• Set Accept: text/markdown when requesting docs pages.

1. Find models

• Search: GET /v1/search?query=... returns models, collections, and docs.
• Collections: GET /v1/collections for curated groups. The official collection is always warm with stable APIs.
• Read schema: GET /v1/models/{owner}/{name} → model.latest_version.openapi_schema.components.schemas.Input.properties. Always fetch before running — schemas change.

Prefer official models (warm, stable, predictable pricing). Prefer latest versions. Run count can be misleading — recency matters more.

2. Compare models

Build a shortlist, then compare on four axes:

Tradeoffs: smaller = cheaper/slower; schnell/turbo = faster/pricier; pro/max = best/slowest; ControlNet = most control/most setup.

3. Run models

Workflow: choose → get schema → create prediction → poll → return output.

# Create
POST /v1/predictions

# Poll
GET /v1/predictions/{id}

Output methods:

1. Poll: store id, loop until status == succeeded
2. Sync: Prefer: wait header — blocking, max 60s, only for very fast models
3. Webhook: set webhook URL + webhook_events_filter (start, output, logs, completed). Validate with Webhook-ID, Webhook-Timestamp, Webhook-Signature

Guidelines:

• Use POST /v1/predictions for official and community models
• Validate inputs against schema constraints (minimum, maximum, enum)
• Don't set optional inputs without reason
• Use HTTPS URLs for file inputs
• Fire predictions concurrently
• Output URLs expire after 1 hour — back up immediately
• Set lifetime to auto-cancel (30s, 5m, 1h)

Model identifiers:

• Official: owner/name (routes to latest)
• Community: owner/name:version_id (must pin; can cold-boot)

4. Multi-model workflows

Chain models by passing output URLs as inputs to the next. Start independent predictions in parallel. Output URLs are valid for 1 hour.

5. Prompting guidance

• Image: see replicate-prompting §Image
• Video: see replicate-prompting §Video