Update README.md

Author: codelion

optillm/plugins/proxy/README.md

@@ -11,9 +11,19 @@ A sophisticated load balancing and failover plugin for OptiLLM that distributes
 - 📊 **Performance Tracking**: Monitor latency and errors per provider
 - 🗺️ **Model Mapping**: Map model names to provider-specific deployments
 
+## Installation
+
+```bash
+# Install OptiLLM via pip
+pip install optillm
+
+# Verify installation
+optillm --version
+```
+
 ## Quick Start
 
-### 1. Basic Setup
+### 1. Create Configuration
 
 Create `~/.optillm/proxy_config.yaml`:
 
@@ -23,27 +33,69 @@ providers:
     base_url: https://api.openai.com/v1
     api_key: ${OPENAI_API_KEY}
     weight: 2
+    model_map:
+      gpt-4: gpt-4-turbo-preview  # Optional: map model names
 
   - name: backup
     base_url: https://api.openai.com/v1
     api_key: ${OPENAI_API_KEY_BACKUP}
     weight: 1
 
 routing:
-  strategy: weighted
+  strategy: weighted  # Options: weighted, round_robin, failover
+```
+
+### 2. Start OptiLLM Server
+
+```bash
+# Option A: Use proxy as default for ALL requests (recommended)
+optillm --approach proxy
+
+# Option B: Start server normally (requires model prefix or extra_body)
+optillm
+
+# With custom port
+optillm --approach proxy --port 8000
 ```
 
-### 2. Usage Examples
+### 3. Usage Examples
+
+#### When using `--approach proxy` (Recommended)
+```bash
+# No need for "proxy-" prefix! The proxy handles all requests automatically
+curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/v1/chat/completions \
+  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{
+    "model": "gpt-4",
+    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}]
+  }'
+
+# The proxy will:
+# 1. Route to one of your configured providers
+# 2. Apply model mapping if configured
+# 3. Handle failover automatically
+```
 
-#### Standalone Proxy
+#### Without `--approach proxy` flag
 ```bash
-# Route requests through proxy
+# Method 1: Use model prefix
 curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/v1/chat/completions \
   -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
   -d '{
     "model": "proxy-gpt-4",
     "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}]
   }'
+
+# Method 2: Use extra_body
+curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/v1/chat/completions \
+  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{
+    "model": "gpt-4",
+    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
+    "extra_body": {
+      "optillm_approach": "proxy"
+    }
+  }'
 ```
 
 #### Proxy with Approach/Plugin
@@ -151,20 +203,29 @@ providers:
 
 ### Model-Specific Routing
 
-Different providers may use different model names:
+When using `--approach proxy`, the proxy automatically maps model names to provider-specific deployments:
 
 ```yaml
 providers:
   - name: azure
     base_url: ${AZURE_ENDPOINT}
     api_key: ${AZURE_KEY}
     model_map:
-      # Request -> Provider mapping
+      # Request model -> Provider deployment name
       gpt-4: gpt-4-deployment-001
       gpt-4-turbo: gpt-4-turbo-latest
       gpt-3.5-turbo: gpt-35-turbo-deployment
+  
+  - name: openai
+    base_url: https://api.openai.com/v1
+    api_key: ${OPENAI_API_KEY}
+    # No model_map needed - uses model names as-is
 ```
 
+With this configuration and `optillm --approach proxy`:
+- Request for "gpt-4" → Azure uses "gpt-4-deployment-001", OpenAI uses "gpt-4"
+- Request for "gpt-3.5-turbo" → Azure uses "gpt-35-turbo-deployment", OpenAI uses "gpt-3.5-turbo"
+
 ### Failover Configuration
 
 Set up primary and backup providers:
@@ -294,16 +355,22 @@ from openai import OpenAI
 
 client = OpenAI(
     base_url="http://localhost:8000/v1",
-    api_key="dummy"
+    api_key="dummy"  # Can be any string when using proxy
+)
+
+# If server started with --approach proxy:
+response = client.chat.completions.create(
+    model="gpt-4",  # No "proxy-" prefix needed!
+    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}]
 )
 
-# Proxy wrapping MOA approach
+# Or explicitly use proxy with another approach:
 response = client.chat.completions.create(
     model="gpt-4",
     messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
     extra_body={
         "optillm_approach": "proxy",
-        "proxy_wrap": "moa"
+        "proxy_wrap": "moa"  # Proxy will route MOA's requests
     }
 )
 ```
@@ -312,9 +379,10 @@ response = client.chat.completions.create(
 ```python
 from langchain.llms import OpenAI
 
+# If server started with --approach proxy:
 llm = OpenAI(
     openai_api_base="http://localhost:8000/v1",
-    model_name="proxy-gpt-4"
+    model_name="gpt-4"  # Proxy handles routing automatically
 )
 
 response = llm("What is the meaning of life?")