docs(new-backend): document the built-in openai_compatible backend

docs/guide/new-backend.md

@@ -2,6 +2,59 @@
 
 SkillOpt supports multiple LLM backends. This guide shows how to add your own.
 
+## Built-in: the generic OpenAI-compatible backend
+
+Before writing a new backend, check whether your provider already speaks the
+OpenAI Chat Completions protocol. Most do — in which case you can use the
+built-in **`openai_compatible`** backend
+(`skillopt/model/openai_compatible_backend.py`) with no code changes.
+
+A single `base_url` + `api_key` pair lets you point SkillOpt at, for example:
+
+| Provider | `base_url` | Example model |
+|---|---|---|
+| DeepSeek | `https://api.deepseek.com/v1` | `deepseek-chat` |
+| Groq | `https://api.groq.com/openai/v1` | `llama-3.3-70b-versatile` |
+| Together AI | `https://api.together.xyz/v1` | `meta-llama/Llama-3.3-70B-Instruct-Turbo` |
+| Ollama (local) | `http://localhost:11434/v1` | `qwen2.5:7b` |
+| vLLM / SGLang / TGI | `http://localhost:8000/v1` | your served model |
+| LiteLLM proxy | `http://localhost:4000` | any proxied model |
+| OpenRouter / Fireworks / xAI / … | provider base URL | provider model id |
+
+Select it as the optimizer and/or target backend:
+
+```python
+import skillopt.model as model
+
+# Shorthand: use it for both optimizer and target.
+model.set_backend("openai_compatible")
+
+# Point it at a provider (shared, or per-role with optimizer_*/target_*).
+model.configure_openai_compatible(
+    base_url="https://api.deepseek.com/v1",
+    api_key="sk-...",
+    model="deepseek-chat",
+)
+```
+
+Or configure it entirely through environment variables (role-specific
+`OPTIMIZER_*` / `TARGET_*` variants override the shared ones):
+
+```bash
+export TARGET_BACKEND=openai_compatible
+export OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_BASE_URL="https://api.groq.com/openai/v1"
+export OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_API_KEY="gsk_..."
+export OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_MODEL="llama-3.3-70b-versatile"
+# Optional: OPENAI_COMPATIBLE_TEMPERATURE, _MAX_TOKENS, _TIMEOUT_SECONDS
+```
+
+The backend uses the official `openai` SDK, records token usage through the
+shared tracker, supports tool/function calling via
+`chat_target_messages(..., tools=...)`, and exposes
+`count_tokens()` (tiktoken with a character-based fallback for non-OpenAI
+models). Only write a brand-new backend if your provider is *not*
+OpenAI-compatible.
+
 ## Backend Architecture
 
 ```

skillopt/model/__init__.py

@@ -112,13 +112,18 @@ def chat_optimizer(
             reasoning_effort=reasoning_effort,
             timeout=timeout,
         )
-<<<<<<< HEAD
     if get_optimizer_backend() == "minimax_chat":
         return _minimax.chat_optimizer(
-=======
+            system=system,
+            user=user,
+            max_completion_tokens=max_completion_tokens,
+            retries=retries,
+            stage=stage,
+            reasoning_effort=reasoning_effort,
+            timeout=timeout,
+        )
     if get_optimizer_backend() == "openai_compatible":
         return _openai_compat.chat_optimizer(
->>>>>>> 3a5fa59 (feat(model): route optimizer/target calls to the openai_compatible backend)
             system=system,
             user=user,
             max_completion_tokens=max_completion_tokens,
@@ -187,8 +192,8 @@ def chat_target(
         )
     if not is_target_chat_backend():
         raise NotImplementedError(
-            "chat_target is only supported with target_backend=openai_chat, claude_chat, qwen_chat, or minimax_chat. "
+            "chat_target is only supported with target_backend=openai_chat, claude_chat, qwen_chat, minimax_chat, "
-            "Exec backends are handled in environment-specific rollout code."
+            "or openai_compatible. Exec backends are handled in environment-specific rollout code."
         )
     return _openai.chat_target(
         system=system,
@@ -236,13 +241,20 @@ def chat_optimizer_messages(
             return_message=return_message,
             timeout=timeout,
         )
-<<<<<<< HEAD
     if get_optimizer_backend() == "minimax_chat":
         return _minimax.chat_target_messages(
-=======
+            messages=messages,
+            max_completion_tokens=max_completion_tokens,
+            retries=retries,
+            stage=stage,
+            reasoning_effort=reasoning_effort,
+            tools=tools,
+            tool_choice=tool_choice,
+            return_message=return_message,
+            timeout=timeout,
+        )
     if get_optimizer_backend() == "openai_compatible":
         return _openai_compat.chat_optimizer_messages(
->>>>>>> 3a5fa59 (feat(model): route optimizer/target calls to the openai_compatible backend)
             messages=messages,
             max_completion_tokens=max_completion_tokens,
             retries=retries,
@@ -326,8 +338,8 @@ def chat_target_messages(
         )
     if not is_target_chat_backend():
         raise NotImplementedError(
-            "chat_target_messages is only supported with target_backend=openai_chat, claude_chat, qwen_chat, or minimax_chat. "
+            "chat_target_messages is only supported with target_backend=openai_chat, claude_chat, qwen_chat, "
-            "Exec backends are handled in environment-specific rollout code."
+            "minimax_chat, or openai_compatible. Exec backends are handled in environment-specific rollout code."
         )
     return _openai.chat_target_messages(
         messages=messages,