START_HERE.md

🚀 AJ + ngrok - START HERE

⚡ Quick Start (3 Simple Steps)

Step 1: Start Everything

Double-click: QUICK_START.bat

You'll see two windows open in the background:

• Flask API (localhost:5000)
• ngrok tunnel

Step 2: Get Your Public URL

Open your browser and go to:

http://localhost:4040

You'll see a page showing your PUBLIC ngrok URL like:

https://1a2b3c4d5e6f-abcd.ngrok.io

Copy this URL!

Step 3: Connect & Chat

Open index.html in your browser

1. Paste your ngrok URL into the "📡 ngrok API URL Configuration" field
2. Click "Save URL"
3. Wait for "✅ Connected!" status
4. Type your message and press Send!

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✅ Checklist

• Running QUICK_START.bat
• API and ngrok are running (check with Task Manager)
• Got ngrok URL from http://localhost:4040
• Opened index.html in browser
• Pasted ngrok URL and clicked Save
• Chatting with AJ!

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🎯 What's Running

Service	URL	Purpose
Flask API	http://localhost:5000	Local AI API (aj-mini)
ngrok Dashboard	http://localhost:4040	View your public URL
Web Interface	Open index.html	Chat with AJ
Public URL	https://xxxxx.ngrok.io	Your public API endpoint

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📝 Example Chat

You: "Hello, how are you?"

AJ: (Uses aj-mini model to reply perfectly with context-aware response)

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⚠️ Important Notes

• Your PC must stay ON for the API to be accessible
• Your ngrok URL changes when you restart services (this is normal)
• The public URL expires after 7 days if unused (free tier)
• CORS is enabled - works with any frontend

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🔧 Troubleshooting

"Connection failed" in web interface?

• Check ngrok URL is correct (from http://localhost:4040)
• Make sure you clicked "Save URL"
• Verify both services are running

"API not responding" error?

• Check if Flask is running (Task Manager → search "python")
• Restart QUICK_START.bat

Web page won't load?

• Right-click index.html → Open with Browser
• Or drag-drop into browser
• Try clearing browser cache (Ctrl+Shift+Delete)

ngrok URL keeps changing?

• This is normal for free tier
• Get the new URL from http://localhost:4040 each time

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🎓 How It Works

Your Questions
     ↓
index.html (Web UI)
     ↓
ngrok tunnel (HTTPS)
     ↓
Flask API (localhost:5000)
     ↓
Ollama + aj-mini Model
     ↓
Perfect AI Response ✨

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📖 Files Explained

File	Purpose
QUICK_START.bat	Launches everything (use this!)
index.html	Web interface for chatting
api_server.py	Flask API backend
start_ngrok.ps1	PowerShell launcher (advanced)
NGROK-SETUP.md	Detailed setup guide

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🚀 When You're Ready for Production

Instead of ngrok (which requires your PC to stay on), deploy to:

• Render.com - Connect to a proper AI API service (Groq, HuggingFace, etc.)
• Railway.app - Similar to Render
• See DEPLOYMENT-GUIDE.md for full production options

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Questions? Check the other .md files for detailed guides!