Patterns · Vol. 16

Pattern

Self-hosting vs. API economics

Evaluate whether self-hosting open-weight models or consuming cloud-hosted foundation model APIs is more appropriate for a specific deployment, considering volume economics, deployment constraints, capability requirements, and operational capacity.

Classification — Economic and operational analysis of self-hosting open-weight models vs. consuming foundation model APIs.

Full entry

The complete treatment — problem, how it works, when to use it, sources, and examples — lives in the volume below.

Browse the full pattern index or the catalog.