Learn how to integrate Replicate with your Lovable application
Replicate lets you run open-source machine learning models with just a few lines of code—no ML expertise required.
It’s an API platform where developers can generate images, videos, audio, and more using community-built or custom AI models. Whether you’re building an MVP, prototyping creative features, or adding production-grade AI to your app, Replicate gives you fast, flexible access to state-of-the-art models.
Replicate fits naturally into Lovable’s AI-first app-building workflow. You can:
With Lovable’s built-in knowledge of Replicate’s API and models, integration takes minutes—not days. Just describe what you want, and Lovable handles the rest.
In this tutorial, we walk through how to integrate Replicate into a Lovable application to dynamically generate course banner images, adding a new layer of interactivity and polish to your product. You’ll also learn how Replicate fits into Lovable’s broader AI workflow—including how to pair it with OpenAI for course content, Superbase for backend logic, and real-time AI conversations using OpenAI’s WebRTC API.
Step 1 – Build a Language Tutor App
We start by creating a Spanish-learning web app with Lovable. This includes:
This gives users a personalized AI tutor that they can talk to, type to, and learn with.
Step 2 – Generate Courses with AI
We enhance the app with AI-generated courses:
How it Works:
Step 3 – Add Visuals with Replicate
Now, let’s make things visual with Replicate.
Example Prompt:
A beautiful, educational, and engaging scene about topic in digital art style. Vibrant colors. No text on image.
Example Response Handling:
Some Replicate models return a single image URL, others return an array. Make sure your Lovable function correctly extracts the output, e.g.:
Step 4 – Use Replicate Playground for Fine-Tuning
Replicate’s Playground makes it easy to test prompts and get code snippets:
Use Playground Beta to compare multiple outputs at once.
Step 5 – Real-Time Conversations with OpenAI
To simulate human conversations, we added a real-time Spanish-speaking feature using OpenAI’s WebRTC API:
This feature integrates smoothly with Lovable’s voice input, WebRTC handling, and frontend chat UI.
What is Replicate, in simple terms?
Replicate is a platform that lets you run powerful machine learning models (like image or video generation) using a simple API—no need to train or host models yourself.
Who typically uses Replicate?
Replicate is popular with indie hackers, startup builders, and large enterprises alike. Whether you’re prototyping an AI feature or deploying at scale, Replicate supports both quick hacks and robust deployments.
Do I need my own Replicate API key?
Yes. Lovable securely stores your keys and handles API calls for you once added.
What models can I use on Replicate?
Replicate supports many modalities including:
Explore them all at replicate.com/explore.
How do I know which model is right for my use case?
Use Replicate’s Playground to test different models before integrating them. The Playground lets you tweak prompts, compare outputs, and copy working code snippets for your app.
What’s the difference between Replicate's old and new API endpoints?
Replicate has two API formats:
/predictions
) endpoint: most widely known and used./models/{owner}/{model}/versions/{id}/predictions
endpoint: more efficient and flexible.Lovable integrates with both depending on the model’s requirements.
What if a model returns a different JSON structure than expected?
Model outputs vary. Some return a string URL, others return an array. Use the Replicate Playground to inspect the real response and update your parsing logic accordingly.
Example fix:
Can I trigger Replicate image generation only once, or on every course view?
You can choose:
In the tutorial, we chose to generate the image once when the course is first created.
Does Lovable know how to work with Replicate out of the box?
Yes! Lovable has built-in knowledge about Replicate and many of its popular models. It can auto-generate integration code for you using the right packages and prompt structure.
How does Lovable handle package installation like replicate for Node.js?
Lovable automatically installs and configures packages when needed, based on your prompt and integration context. You don’t have to npm install manually unless debugging locally.
What’s the workflow for debugging Replicate errors in Lovable?
Can I checkpoint my working app state in Lovable?
Currently, every prompt change creates a commit. You can:
How does GitHub integration work with Lovable?
You can export your Lovable project to GitHub with two-way sync:
What are LLM-friendly .lm.txt or .lm.md files?
These are simplified markdown-based docs optimized for language models. Replicate is actively working on adding these to help Lovable (and other tools) better understand its models automatically.
Do I need to handle prompt tuning myself?
Yes, prompt crafting is essential. Lovable helps with auto-prompting and templating, but you should always test in the Replicate Playground to refine the inputs for best results.
Learn how to integrate Replicate with your Lovable application
Replicate lets you run open-source machine learning models with just a few lines of code—no ML expertise required.
It’s an API platform where developers can generate images, videos, audio, and more using community-built or custom AI models. Whether you’re building an MVP, prototyping creative features, or adding production-grade AI to your app, Replicate gives you fast, flexible access to state-of-the-art models.
Replicate fits naturally into Lovable’s AI-first app-building workflow. You can:
With Lovable’s built-in knowledge of Replicate’s API and models, integration takes minutes—not days. Just describe what you want, and Lovable handles the rest.
In this tutorial, we walk through how to integrate Replicate into a Lovable application to dynamically generate course banner images, adding a new layer of interactivity and polish to your product. You’ll also learn how Replicate fits into Lovable’s broader AI workflow—including how to pair it with OpenAI for course content, Superbase for backend logic, and real-time AI conversations using OpenAI’s WebRTC API.
Step 1 – Build a Language Tutor App
We start by creating a Spanish-learning web app with Lovable. This includes:
This gives users a personalized AI tutor that they can talk to, type to, and learn with.
Step 2 – Generate Courses with AI
We enhance the app with AI-generated courses:
How it Works:
Step 3 – Add Visuals with Replicate
Now, let’s make things visual with Replicate.
Example Prompt:
A beautiful, educational, and engaging scene about topic in digital art style. Vibrant colors. No text on image.
Example Response Handling:
Some Replicate models return a single image URL, others return an array. Make sure your Lovable function correctly extracts the output, e.g.:
Step 4 – Use Replicate Playground for Fine-Tuning
Replicate’s Playground makes it easy to test prompts and get code snippets:
Use Playground Beta to compare multiple outputs at once.
Step 5 – Real-Time Conversations with OpenAI
To simulate human conversations, we added a real-time Spanish-speaking feature using OpenAI’s WebRTC API:
This feature integrates smoothly with Lovable’s voice input, WebRTC handling, and frontend chat UI.
What is Replicate, in simple terms?
Replicate is a platform that lets you run powerful machine learning models (like image or video generation) using a simple API—no need to train or host models yourself.
Who typically uses Replicate?
Replicate is popular with indie hackers, startup builders, and large enterprises alike. Whether you’re prototyping an AI feature or deploying at scale, Replicate supports both quick hacks and robust deployments.
Do I need my own Replicate API key?
Yes. Lovable securely stores your keys and handles API calls for you once added.
What models can I use on Replicate?
Replicate supports many modalities including:
Explore them all at replicate.com/explore.
How do I know which model is right for my use case?
Use Replicate’s Playground to test different models before integrating them. The Playground lets you tweak prompts, compare outputs, and copy working code snippets for your app.
What’s the difference between Replicate's old and new API endpoints?
Replicate has two API formats:
/predictions
) endpoint: most widely known and used./models/{owner}/{model}/versions/{id}/predictions
endpoint: more efficient and flexible.Lovable integrates with both depending on the model’s requirements.
What if a model returns a different JSON structure than expected?
Model outputs vary. Some return a string URL, others return an array. Use the Replicate Playground to inspect the real response and update your parsing logic accordingly.
Example fix:
Can I trigger Replicate image generation only once, or on every course view?
You can choose:
In the tutorial, we chose to generate the image once when the course is first created.
Does Lovable know how to work with Replicate out of the box?
Yes! Lovable has built-in knowledge about Replicate and many of its popular models. It can auto-generate integration code for you using the right packages and prompt structure.
How does Lovable handle package installation like replicate for Node.js?
Lovable automatically installs and configures packages when needed, based on your prompt and integration context. You don’t have to npm install manually unless debugging locally.
What’s the workflow for debugging Replicate errors in Lovable?
Can I checkpoint my working app state in Lovable?
Currently, every prompt change creates a commit. You can:
How does GitHub integration work with Lovable?
You can export your Lovable project to GitHub with two-way sync:
What are LLM-friendly .lm.txt or .lm.md files?
These are simplified markdown-based docs optimized for language models. Replicate is actively working on adding these to help Lovable (and other tools) better understand its models automatically.
Do I need to handle prompt tuning myself?
Yes, prompt crafting is essential. Lovable helps with auto-prompting and templating, but you should always test in the Replicate Playground to refine the inputs for best results.