API keys
None are required. OpenTac opens with satellite imagery, keyless terrain, and live aircraft, satellites, earthquakes, public cameras and launches.
Where keys live. Keys you add in the globe's POWER UP → Provider Settings panel are saved on your Mac only, in the .env file inside OpenTac's engine folder under ~/Library/Application Support. They are sent to the provider they belong to and nowhere else. Nothing goes to OpenTac or this website.
| Key | What it unlocks | Cost | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cesium ion | Google Photorealistic 3D, world terrain, extra imagery. Use a public assets:read token. | Free tier for eligible personal, non-commercial use; quotas apply | cesium.com/ion |
| Google Maps | Direct Google Photorealistic 3D, place search, Street View. | Metered | Google Cloud Console (restrict the key by URL) |
| OpenAI | Voice control and the AI heads-up summary. | Metered | platform.openai.com |
| Gemini | Voice control through Gemini Live, as an alternative to OpenAI. | Per Google's current pricing | Google AI Studio |
| AISStream | Live global ships. | Free signup | aisstream.io |
| NASA FIRMS | Live active fires. | Free | firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov |
| TomTom | Live flow speeds and congestion colours for the simulated traffic layer. | Free tier available | my.tomtom.com |
| Mapillary | Street-level coverage and photos (a public client token). | Free | mapillary.com |
| OpenSky | More flight-polling credits. Anonymous access works without a key. | Free | opensky-network.org |
| Launch Library 2 | Higher limits for rocket launches. Public access needs no key. | Optional paid token | thespacedevs.com |
Prices, quotas and eligibility are set by each provider and change; check their pages before you sign up. The full, current explanation is in the upstream README section Keys & Costs.
Good to know
- After you save a key, the globe reloads. That is normal.
- If you switch AI summaries to Ollama, OpenRouter or xAI, the engine's OpenAI key row is locked while that is on. Add your voice key first, or switch back. See AI options.
- Keys for the optional OpenRouter and xAI summary providers are OpenTac's, not the engine's: they are encrypted on your Mac and never written to the engine's
.env.