fix(api): auth-provider error copy — prefix-routing hints + sk-ant-* bearer detection — closes ROADMAP #28

Two live users in #claw-code on 2026-04-08 hit adjacent auth confusion:
varleg set OPENAI_API_KEY for OpenRouter but prefix routing didn't
activate without openai/ model prefix, and stanley078852 put sk-ant-*
in ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN (Bearer path) instead of ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
(x-api-key path) and got 401 Invalid bearer token.

Changes:
1. ApiError::MissingCredentials gained optional hint field (error.rs)
2. anthropic_missing_credentials_hint() sniffs OPENAI/XAI/DASHSCOPE
   env vars and suggests prefix routing when present (providers/mod.rs)
3. All 4 Anthropic auth paths wire the hint helper (anthropic.rs)
4. 401 + sk-ant-* in bearer token detected and hint appended
5. 'Which env var goes where' section added to USAGE.md

Tests: unit tests for all three improvements (no HTTP calls needed).
Workspace: all tests green, fmt clean, clippy warnings-only.

Source: live users varleg + stanley078852 in #claw-code 2026-04-08.

Co-authored-by: gaebal-gajae <gaebal-gajae@layofflabs.com>

rust/crates/api/src/providers/mod.rs

@@ -291,6 +291,73 @@ fn estimate_serialized_tokens<T: Serialize>(value: &T) -> u32 {
         .map_or(0, |bytes| (bytes.len() / 4 + 1) as u32)
 }
 
+/// Env var names used by other provider backends. When Anthropic auth
+/// resolution fails we sniff these so we can hint the user that their
+/// credentials probably belong to a different provider and suggest the
+/// model-prefix routing fix that would select it.
+const FOREIGN_PROVIDER_ENV_VARS: &[(&str, &str, &str)] = &[
+    (
+        "OPENAI_API_KEY",
+        "OpenAI-compat",
+        "prefix your model name with `openai/` (e.g. `--model openai/gpt-4.1-mini`) so prefix routing selects the OpenAI-compatible provider, and set `OPENAI_BASE_URL` if you are pointing at OpenRouter/Ollama/a local server",
+    ),
+    (
+        "XAI_API_KEY",
+        "xAI",
+        "use an xAI model alias (e.g. `--model grok` or `--model grok-mini`) so the prefix router selects the xAI backend",
+    ),
+    (
+        "DASHSCOPE_API_KEY",
+        "Alibaba DashScope",
+        "prefix your model name with `qwen/` or `qwen-` (e.g. `--model qwen-plus`) so prefix routing selects the DashScope backend",
+    ),
+];
+
+/// Check whether an env var is set to a non-empty value either in the real
+/// process environment or in the working-directory `.env` file. Mirrors the
+/// credential discovery path used by `read_env_non_empty` so the hint text
+/// stays truthful when users rely on `.env` instead of a real export.
+fn env_or_dotenv_present(key: &str) -> bool {
+    match std::env::var(key) {
+        Ok(value) if !value.is_empty() => true,
+        Ok(_) | Err(std::env::VarError::NotPresent) => {
+            dotenv_value(key).is_some_and(|value| !value.is_empty())
+        }
+        Err(_) => false,
+    }
+}
+
+/// Produce a hint string describing the first foreign provider credential
+/// that is present in the environment when Anthropic auth resolution has
+/// just failed. Returns `None` when no foreign credential is set, in which
+/// case the caller should fall back to the plain `missing_credentials`
+/// error without a hint.
+pub(crate) fn anthropic_missing_credentials_hint() -> Option<String> {
+    for (env_var, provider_label, fix_hint) in FOREIGN_PROVIDER_ENV_VARS {
+        if env_or_dotenv_present(env_var) {
+            return Some(format!(
+                "I see {env_var} is set — if you meant to use the {provider_label} provider, {fix_hint}."
+            ));
+        }
+    }
+    None
+}
+
+/// Build an Anthropic-specific `MissingCredentials` error, attaching a
+/// hint suggesting the probable fix whenever a different provider's
+/// credentials are already present in the environment. Anthropic call
+/// sites should prefer this helper over `ApiError::missing_credentials`
+/// so users who mistyped a model name or forgot the prefix get a useful
+/// signal instead of a generic "missing Anthropic credentials" wall.
+pub(crate) fn anthropic_missing_credentials() -> ApiError {
+    const PROVIDER: &str = "Anthropic";
+    const ENV_VARS: &[&str] = &["ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN", "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"];
+    match anthropic_missing_credentials_hint() {
+        Some(hint) => ApiError::missing_credentials_with_hint(PROVIDER, ENV_VARS, hint),
+        None => ApiError::missing_credentials(PROVIDER, ENV_VARS),
+    }
+}
+
 /// Parse a `.env` file body into key/value pairs using a minimal `KEY=VALUE`
 /// grammar. Lines that are blank, start with `#`, or do not contain `=` are
 /// ignored. Surrounding double or single quotes are stripped from the value.
@@ -348,6 +415,9 @@ pub(crate) fn dotenv_value(key: &str) -> Option<String> {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
+    use std::ffi::OsString;
+    use std::sync::{Mutex, OnceLock};
+
     use serde_json::json;
 
     use crate::error::ApiError;
@@ -356,11 +426,52 @@ mod tests {
     };
 
     use super::{
-        detect_provider_kind, load_dotenv_file, max_tokens_for_model,
-        max_tokens_for_model_with_override, model_token_limit, parse_dotenv,
-        preflight_message_request, resolve_model_alias, ProviderKind,
+        anthropic_missing_credentials, anthropic_missing_credentials_hint, detect_provider_kind,
+        load_dotenv_file, max_tokens_for_model, max_tokens_for_model_with_override,
+        model_token_limit, parse_dotenv, preflight_message_request, resolve_model_alias,
+        ProviderKind,
     };
 
+    /// Serializes every test in this module that mutates process-wide
+    /// environment variables so concurrent test threads cannot observe
+    /// each other's partially-applied state while probing the foreign
+    /// provider credential sniffer.
+    fn env_lock() -> std::sync::MutexGuard<'static, ()> {
+        static LOCK: OnceLock<Mutex<()>> = OnceLock::new();
+        LOCK.get_or_init(|| Mutex::new(()))
+            .lock()
+            .unwrap_or_else(std::sync::PoisonError::into_inner)
+    }
+
+    /// Snapshot-restore guard for a single environment variable. Captures
+    /// the original value on construction, applies the requested override
+    /// (set or remove), and restores the original on drop so tests leave
+    /// the process env untouched even when they panic mid-assertion.
+    struct EnvVarGuard {
+        key: &'static str,
+        original: Option<OsString>,
+    }
+
+    impl EnvVarGuard {
+        fn set(key: &'static str, value: Option<&str>) -> Self {
+            let original = std::env::var_os(key);
+            match value {
+                Some(value) => std::env::set_var(key, value),
+                None => std::env::remove_var(key),
+            }
+            Self { key, original }
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl Drop for EnvVarGuard {
+        fn drop(&mut self) {
+            match self.original.take() {
+                Some(value) => std::env::set_var(self.key, value),
+                None => std::env::remove_var(self.key),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn resolves_grok_aliases() {
         assert_eq!(resolve_model_alias("grok"), "grok-3");
@@ -649,4 +760,225 @@ NO_EQUALS_LINE
 
         let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&temp_root);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn anthropic_missing_credentials_hint_is_none_when_no_foreign_creds_present() {
+        // given
+        let _lock = env_lock();
+        let _openai = EnvVarGuard::set("OPENAI_API_KEY", None);
+        let _xai = EnvVarGuard::set("XAI_API_KEY", None);
+        let _dashscope = EnvVarGuard::set("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY", None);
+
+        // when
+        let hint = anthropic_missing_credentials_hint();
+
+        // then
+        assert!(
+            hint.is_none(),
+            "no hint should be produced when every foreign provider env var is absent, got {hint:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn anthropic_missing_credentials_hint_detects_openai_api_key_and_recommends_openai_prefix() {
+        // given
+        let _lock = env_lock();
+        let _openai = EnvVarGuard::set("OPENAI_API_KEY", Some("sk-openrouter-varleg"));
+        let _xai = EnvVarGuard::set("XAI_API_KEY", None);
+        let _dashscope = EnvVarGuard::set("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY", None);
+
+        // when
+        let hint = anthropic_missing_credentials_hint()
+            .expect("OPENAI_API_KEY presence should produce a hint");
+
+        // then
+        assert!(
+            hint.contains("OPENAI_API_KEY is set"),
+            "hint should name the detected env var so users recognize it: {hint}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            hint.contains("OpenAI-compat"),
+            "hint should identify the target provider: {hint}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            hint.contains("openai/"),
+            "hint should mention the `openai/` prefix routing fix: {hint}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            hint.contains("OPENAI_BASE_URL"),
+            "hint should mention OPENAI_BASE_URL so OpenRouter users see the full picture: {hint}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn anthropic_missing_credentials_hint_detects_xai_api_key() {
+        // given
+        let _lock = env_lock();
+        let _openai = EnvVarGuard::set("OPENAI_API_KEY", None);
+        let _xai = EnvVarGuard::set("XAI_API_KEY", Some("xai-test-key"));
+        let _dashscope = EnvVarGuard::set("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY", None);
+
+        // when
+        let hint = anthropic_missing_credentials_hint()
+            .expect("XAI_API_KEY presence should produce a hint");
+
+        // then
+        assert!(
+            hint.contains("XAI_API_KEY is set"),
+            "hint should name XAI_API_KEY: {hint}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            hint.contains("xAI"),
+            "hint should identify the xAI provider: {hint}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            hint.contains("grok"),
+            "hint should suggest a grok-prefixed model alias: {hint}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn anthropic_missing_credentials_hint_detects_dashscope_api_key() {
+        // given
+        let _lock = env_lock();
+        let _openai = EnvVarGuard::set("OPENAI_API_KEY", None);
+        let _xai = EnvVarGuard::set("XAI_API_KEY", None);
+        let _dashscope = EnvVarGuard::set("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY", Some("sk-dashscope-test"));
+
+        // when
+        let hint = anthropic_missing_credentials_hint()
+            .expect("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY presence should produce a hint");
+
+        // then
+        assert!(
+            hint.contains("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY is set"),
+            "hint should name DASHSCOPE_API_KEY: {hint}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            hint.contains("DashScope"),
+            "hint should identify the DashScope provider: {hint}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            hint.contains("qwen"),
+            "hint should suggest a qwen-prefixed model alias: {hint}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn anthropic_missing_credentials_hint_prefers_openai_when_multiple_foreign_creds_set() {
+        // given
+        let _lock = env_lock();
+        let _openai = EnvVarGuard::set("OPENAI_API_KEY", Some("sk-openrouter-varleg"));
+        let _xai = EnvVarGuard::set("XAI_API_KEY", Some("xai-test-key"));
+        let _dashscope = EnvVarGuard::set("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY", Some("sk-dashscope-test"));
+
+        // when
+        let hint = anthropic_missing_credentials_hint()
+            .expect("multiple foreign creds should still produce a hint");
+
+        // then
+        assert!(
+            hint.contains("OPENAI_API_KEY"),
+            "OpenAI should be prioritized because it is the most common misrouting pattern (OpenRouter users), got: {hint}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !hint.contains("XAI_API_KEY"),
+            "only the first detected provider should be named to keep the hint focused, got: {hint}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn anthropic_missing_credentials_builds_error_with_canonical_env_vars_and_no_hint_when_clean() {
+        // given
+        let _lock = env_lock();
+        let _openai = EnvVarGuard::set("OPENAI_API_KEY", None);
+        let _xai = EnvVarGuard::set("XAI_API_KEY", None);
+        let _dashscope = EnvVarGuard::set("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY", None);
+
+        // when
+        let error = anthropic_missing_credentials();
+
+        // then
+        match &error {
+            ApiError::MissingCredentials {
+                provider,
+                env_vars,
+                hint,
+            } => {
+                assert_eq!(*provider, "Anthropic");
+                assert_eq!(*env_vars, &["ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN", "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"]);
+                assert!(
+                    hint.is_none(),
+                    "clean environment should not generate a hint, got {hint:?}"
+                );
+            }
+            other => panic!("expected MissingCredentials variant, got {other:?}"),
+        }
+        let rendered = error.to_string();
+        assert!(
+            !rendered.contains(" — hint: "),
+            "rendered error should be a plain missing-creds message: {rendered}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn anthropic_missing_credentials_builds_error_with_hint_when_openai_key_is_set() {
+        // given
+        let _lock = env_lock();
+        let _openai = EnvVarGuard::set("OPENAI_API_KEY", Some("sk-openrouter-varleg"));
+        let _xai = EnvVarGuard::set("XAI_API_KEY", None);
+        let _dashscope = EnvVarGuard::set("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY", None);
+
+        // when
+        let error = anthropic_missing_credentials();
+
+        // then
+        match &error {
+            ApiError::MissingCredentials {
+                provider,
+                env_vars,
+                hint,
+            } => {
+                assert_eq!(*provider, "Anthropic");
+                assert_eq!(*env_vars, &["ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN", "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"]);
+                let hint_value = hint.as_deref().expect("hint should be populated");
+                assert!(
+                    hint_value.contains("OPENAI_API_KEY is set"),
+                    "hint should name the detected env var: {hint_value}"
+                );
+            }
+            other => panic!("expected MissingCredentials variant, got {other:?}"),
+        }
+        let rendered = error.to_string();
+        assert!(
+            rendered.starts_with("missing Anthropic credentials;"),
+            "canonical base message should still lead the rendered error: {rendered}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            rendered.contains(" — hint: I see OPENAI_API_KEY is set"),
+            "rendered error should carry the env-driven hint: {rendered}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn anthropic_missing_credentials_hint_ignores_empty_string_values() {
+        // given
+        let _lock = env_lock();
+        // An empty value is semantically equivalent to "not set" for the
+        // credential discovery path, so the sniffer must treat it that way
+        // to avoid false-positive hints for users who intentionally cleared
+        // a stale export with `OPENAI_API_KEY=`.
+        let _openai = EnvVarGuard::set("OPENAI_API_KEY", Some(""));
+        let _xai = EnvVarGuard::set("XAI_API_KEY", None);
+        let _dashscope = EnvVarGuard::set("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY", None);
+
+        // when
+        let hint = anthropic_missing_credentials_hint();
+
+        // then
+        assert!(
+            hint.is_none(),
+            "empty env var should not trigger the hint sniffer, got {hint:?}"
+        );
+    }
 }