feat: simplify image response with MARKDOWN_EMBED_IMAGES config

Remove Open WebUI integration (OPENWEBUI_BASE_URL, OPENWEBUI_API_KEY,
SAVE_IMAGES_LOCALLY). Images are now always stored locally.

New approach for Open WebUI: Set MARKDOWN_EMBED_IMAGES=true to return
base64 data URIs in markdown responses. Open WebUI's
ENABLE_CHAT_RESPONSE_BASE64_IMAGE_URL_CONVERSION will automatically
convert these to file URLs in the user's context.

Changes:
- Add MARKDOWN_EMBED_IMAGES config (default: false)
- Make markdown the default response_format
- Remove openwebui_service.py and related logic
- Simplify storage_service.py

Author: danielcopper

.env.example

@@ -26,18 +26,22 @@ GEMINI_API_KEY=
 # Path to store generated images
 STORAGE_PATH=./generated_images
 
-# Save images locally (default: true)
-# Set to false if using Open WebUI integration exclusively
-SAVE_IMAGES_LOCALLY=true
-
-# IMPORTANT: URL where THIS API serves images (not Open WebUI or other services!)
-# This should be the URL where this image-generation API is accessible.
+# URL where THIS API serves images
 # Examples:
 #   - Local: http://localhost:8000
 #   - Docker: http://openapi-image-gen:8000 (use container name)
 #   - External: https://images.example.com
 IMAGE_BASE_URL=http://localhost:8000
 
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Response Configuration
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Embed images as base64 data URI in markdown responses (default: false)
+# When true: Returns ![image](data:image/png;base64,...)
+# When false: Returns ![image](http://...)
+# Set to true for Open WebUI integration with ENABLE_CHAT_RESPONSE_BASE64_IMAGE_URL_CONVERSION
+MARKDOWN_EMBED_IMAGES=false
+
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Security (Optional)
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -57,18 +61,6 @@ FILTER_IMAGE_MODELS=true
 # Cache TTL for model list in seconds (default: 3600 = 1 hour)
 MODEL_CACHE_TTL=3600
 
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Open WebUI Integration (Optional)
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# When configured, images are uploaded to Open WebUI's file storage.
-# This ensures images are accessible from anywhere (internal/external).
-
-# Open WebUI instance URL (e.g., https://chat.mydomain.com)
-OPENWEBUI_BASE_URL=
-
-# API key from Open WebUI (Settings > Account > API Keys)
-OPENWEBUI_API_KEY=
-
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Server Configuration
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONFIGURATION.md

@@ -37,12 +37,6 @@ Complete configuration reference for the Image Generation API.
 - Default: `./generated_images`
 - Docker: Use volume mount (e.g., `/app/generated_images`)
 
-**`SAVE_IMAGES_LOCALLY`**
-- Whether to save images to local storage
-- Default: `true`
-- Set to `false` if using Open WebUI integration exclusively
-- When `false`, images are only uploaded to Open WebUI (no local backup)
-
 **`IMAGE_BASE_URL`**
 - Public base URL for serving images
 - Default: `http://localhost:8000`
@@ -56,19 +50,14 @@ Complete configuration reference for the Image Generation API.
 - Example: `gpt-image-1`, `dall-e-3`
 - Optional - if not set, first available model is used
 
-### Open WebUI Integration
-
-**`OPENWEBUI_BASE_URL`**
-- Open WebUI instance URL
-- Example: `https://chat.mydomain.com`
-- When set (with API key), images are uploaded to Open WebUI's file storage
-
-**`OPENWEBUI_API_KEY`**
-- API key from Open WebUI
-- Get from: Open WebUI Settings > Account > API Keys
-- Required together with `OPENWEBUI_BASE_URL`
+### Response Configuration
 
-When both are configured, images are automatically uploaded to Open WebUI. This ensures images work from anywhere - no more URL accessibility issues with Docker or external access.
+**`MARKDOWN_EMBED_IMAGES`**
+- Embed images as base64 data URI in markdown responses
+- Default: `false`
+- When `true`: Returns `![image](data:image/png;base64,...)`
+- When `false`: Returns `![image](http://...)`
+- Set to `true` for Open WebUI integration with `ENABLE_CHAT_RESPONSE_BASE64_IMAGE_URL_CONVERSION`
 
 ### Security
 

app/api/routes/edit.py

@@ -217,18 +217,50 @@ async def edit_image_json(
     if not urls:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail="No images generated")
 
-    return ImageResponse(
-        image_url=urls[0],
-        prompt=request.prompt,
-        model=model,
-        provider=request.provider,
-        metadata={
-            "all_urls": urls if len(urls) > 1 else None,
-            "n": len(urls),
-            "edit": True,
-            "source_image": request.image_url,
-        },
-    )
+    # Return markdown format (same as generate endpoint)
+    if settings.MARKDOWN_EMBED_IMAGES:
+        # Return markdown with embedded base64 data URI
+        image_filename = urls[0].split("/")[-1]
+        image_path = Path(settings.STORAGE_PATH) / image_filename
+
+        if not image_path.exists():
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail="Edited image file not found")
+
+        with open(image_path, "rb") as f:
+            image_data = base64.b64encode(f.read()).decode("utf-8")
+
+        ext = image_path.suffix.lower()
+        mime_types = {".png": "image/png", ".jpg": "image/jpeg", ".jpeg": "image/jpeg", ".webp": "image/webp"}
+        mime_type = mime_types.get(ext, "image/png")
+
+        markdown = f"![Edited image](data:{mime_type};base64,{image_data})"
+        return ImageResponse(
+            markdown=markdown,
+            prompt=request.prompt,
+            model=model,
+            provider=request.provider,
+            metadata={
+                "n": len(urls),
+                "edit": True,
+                "source_image": request.image_url,
+            },
+        )
+    else:
+        # Return markdown with image URL
+        markdown = f"![Edited image]({urls[0]})"
+        return ImageResponse(
+            markdown=markdown,
+            image_url=urls[0],
+            prompt=request.prompt,
+            model=model,
+            provider=request.provider,
+            metadata={
+                "all_urls": urls if len(urls) > 1 else None,
+                "n": len(urls),
+                "edit": True,
+                "source_image": request.image_url,
+            },
+        )
 
 
 def _get_service(provider: str):

app/api/routes/generate.py

@@ -99,20 +99,49 @@ async def generate_image(request: ImageRequest, _: None = Depends(verify_token))
         )
 
     if request.response_format == "markdown":
-        # Return ready-to-use markdown with image URL
-        markdown = f"![Generated image]({urls[0]})"
-        return ImageResponse(
-            markdown=markdown,
-            image_url=urls[0],
-            prompt=request.prompt,
-            model=model,
-            provider=request.provider,
-            metadata={
-                "aspect_ratio": request.aspect_ratio,
-                "quality": request.quality,
-                "n": len(urls),
-            },
-        )
+        if settings.MARKDOWN_EMBED_IMAGES:
+            # Return markdown with embedded base64 data URI
+            # Open WebUI's ENABLE_CHAT_RESPONSE_BASE64_IMAGE_URL_CONVERSION will convert this
+            image_filename = urls[0].split("/")[-1]
+            image_path = Path(settings.STORAGE_PATH) / image_filename
+
+            if not image_path.exists():
+                raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail="Generated image file not found")
+
+            with open(image_path, "rb") as f:
+                image_data = base64.b64encode(f.read()).decode("utf-8")
+
+            ext = image_path.suffix.lower()
+            mime_types = {".png": "image/png", ".jpg": "image/jpeg", ".jpeg": "image/jpeg", ".webp": "image/webp"}
+            mime_type = mime_types.get(ext, "image/png")
+
+            markdown = f"![Generated image](data:{mime_type};base64,{image_data})"
+            return ImageResponse(
+                markdown=markdown,
+                prompt=request.prompt,
+                model=model,
+                provider=request.provider,
+                metadata={
+                    "aspect_ratio": request.aspect_ratio,
+                    "quality": request.quality,
+                    "n": len(urls),
+                },
+            )
+        else:
+            # Return markdown with image URL
+            markdown = f"![Generated image]({urls[0]})"
+            return ImageResponse(
+                markdown=markdown,
+                image_url=urls[0],
+                prompt=request.prompt,
+                model=model,
+                provider=request.provider,
+                metadata={
+                    "aspect_ratio": request.aspect_ratio,
+                    "quality": request.quality,
+                    "n": len(urls),
+                },
+            )
 
     return ImageResponse(
         image_url=urls[0],

app/core/config.py

@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     # Storage Configuration
     STORAGE_PATH: str = "./generated_images"
     IMAGE_BASE_URL: str = "http://localhost:8000"  # URL where this API serves images
-    SAVE_IMAGES_LOCALLY: bool = True  # Set to false if using Open WebUI exclusively
+
+    # Response Configuration
+    MARKDOWN_EMBED_IMAGES: bool = False  # Embed images as base64 data URI in markdown responses
 
     # Security (Optional)
     API_BEARER_TOKEN: str | None = None
@@ -53,10 +55,6 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     FILTER_IMAGE_MODELS: bool = True  # Only return image generation models from LiteLLM
     DEFAULT_MODEL: str | None = None  # Default model for image generation
 
-    # Open WebUI Integration (optional)
-    OPENWEBUI_BASE_URL: str | None = None  # e.g. https://chat.mydomain.com
-    OPENWEBUI_API_KEY: str | None = None  # API key from Open WebUI settings
-
     # Server Configuration
     HOST: str = "0.0.0.0"
     PORT: int = 8000
@@ -76,10 +74,5 @@ def gemini_available(self) -> bool:
         """Check if Gemini direct access is available."""
         return bool(self.GEMINI_API_KEY)
 
-    @property
-    def openwebui_available(self) -> bool:
-        """Check if Open WebUI integration is configured."""
-        return bool(self.OPENWEBUI_BASE_URL and self.OPENWEBUI_API_KEY)
-
 
 settings = Settings()

app/schemas/requests.py

@@ -55,12 +55,12 @@ class ImageRequest(BaseModel):
     )
 
     response_format: Literal["url", "base64", "markdown"] = Field(
-        default="url",
+        default="markdown",
         description=(
             "Response format for generated images. "
-            "'url': Returns image URL (for web apps). "
-            "'base64': Returns base64 encoded data (for offline/serverless). "
-            "'markdown': Returns ready-to-use markdown with image URL (for chat/LLM integrations)."
+            "'markdown': Returns markdown with image (default, best for LLM/chat integrations). "
+            "'url': Returns image URL only. "
+            "'base64': Returns base64 encoded data in JSON."
         ),
     )