> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.shuttleai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Playground

> Test any model in a browser-based chat interface — no code required.

The ShuttleAI Playground at [shuttleai.com/playground](https://shuttleai.com/playground) is an interactive chat interface for testing models directly in your browser.

## Features

### Model selection

Use the **model selector** dropdown to choose any model available on your plan. The list shows all chat completion models with their provider and tier.

### System message

Set a **system message** to define the AI's behavior and personality. This is the same as the `system` role in the API:

```
You are a helpful coding assistant that writes clean, well-documented Python code.
```

### Parameter controls

Fine-tune model behavior with adjustable sliders:

| Parameter       | Range | Description                                                       |
| --------------- | ----- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Temperature** | 0 – 2 | Controls randomness. Lower = more focused, higher = more creative |
| **Top P**       | 0 – 1 | Nucleus sampling. Controls diversity of token selection           |

### Streaming

Responses stream in real-time, token by token — just like they would in your application. You can see the **tokens/second** rate displayed during generation.

### Stop generation

Click the **Stop** button to immediately halt a response mid-generation. Useful when you can see the model is going in the wrong direction.

## Using the Playground

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select a model">
    Pick a model from the dropdown. Start with **ShuttleAI Auto** if you're not sure.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set a system message (optional)">
    Define how the AI should behave. Leave blank for default behavior.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Type your message">
    Enter your prompt in the input field at the bottom.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send and iterate">
    Press Enter or click Send. Continue the conversation, adjust parameters, or try a different model.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Tips

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Compare models">
    Try the same prompt with different models to compare quality and speed. Open multiple browser tabs for side-by-side comparison.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Test before coding">
    Use the Playground to validate your prompts and system messages before integrating them into your application.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Clear conversation">
    Click the **Clear** button to start a fresh conversation. This resets the message history but keeps your system message and parameters.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Error handling

The Playground shows clear error messages for common issues:

| Error   | Meaning                                                    |
| ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| **429** | Rate limit exceeded — wait and try again                   |
| **402** | No active plan — [subscribe to a plan](/dashboard/plans)   |
| **403** | Model requires a higher plan — [upgrade](/dashboard/plans) |