Use Groq with PicoClaw for fast, low-cost LLM calls

Groq offers very fast inference on supported models, which pairs well with PicoClaw’s tiny footprint on Raspberry Pi, VPS, and homelab servers. This guide explains how to connect the two and when Groq is a good default provider.

1. Why Groq + PicoClaw?

  • Latency: Fast responses help Telegram, Discord, and webhook flows feel interactive.
  • Cost: A usable free tier makes experiments and personal assistants affordable.
  • Edge-friendly runtime: PicoClaw stays lightweight on the device; Groq runs the heavy model work in the cloud.

2. Get a Groq API key

Create a key in the Groq console. Store it only in config or your secret manager—never commit keys to git.

3. Configure PicoClaw

Add Groq under providers in your PicoClaw config and set the default model your agent should use. Exact field names and examples are on the Configuration page; supported provider names are listed on Providers.

4. Pick a model for your workload

Smaller models are cheaper and faster for alerts and classification; larger ones fit longer reasoning or drafting. Adjust prompts and model choice if you hit rate limits or need shorter answers on a Pi or low-bandwidth link.

5. Next steps