feat(config): add SAVE_IMAGES_LOCALLY option

Allow disabling local image storage when using Open WebUI exclusively.
When false, images are only uploaded to Open WebUI with no local backup.

Author: danielcopper

.env.example

@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ 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.
 # Examples:

CONFIGURATION.md

@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@ 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`

app/core/config.py

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ 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
 
     # Security (Optional)
     API_BEARER_TOKEN: str | None = None

app/services/storage_service.py

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def __init__(self):
 
     async def save_image(self, image_data: bytes, extension: str = "png") -> str:
         """
-        Save image bytes to local storage and optionally upload to Open WebUI.
+        Save image bytes to local storage and/or upload to Open WebUI.
 
         Args:
             image_data: Raw image bytes
@@ -32,24 +32,26 @@ async def save_image(self, image_data: bytes, extension: str = "png") -> str:
             Public URL to access the image (Open WebUI URL if configured, else local)
         """
         filename = f"{uuid.uuid4()}.{extension}"
-        filepath = self.storage_path / filename
-
-        # Always save locally first
-        async with aiofiles.open(filepath, "wb") as f:
-            await f.write(image_data)
-
         local_url = f"{settings.IMAGE_BASE_URL.rstrip('/')}/images/{filename}"
 
+        # Save locally if configured
+        if settings.SAVE_IMAGES_LOCALLY:
+            filepath = self.storage_path / filename
+            async with aiofiles.open(filepath, "wb") as f:
+                await f.write(image_data)
+
         # Upload to Open WebUI if configured
         if settings.openwebui_available:
             try:
                 from app.services.openwebui_service import get_openwebui_service
 
                 webui_service = get_openwebui_service()
-                webui_url = await webui_service.upload_image(image_data, filename)
-                return webui_url
+                return await webui_service.upload_image(image_data, filename)
             except Exception as e:
-                logger.warning(f"Open WebUI upload failed, using local URL: {e}")
+                logger.warning(f"Open WebUI upload failed: {e}")
+                if settings.SAVE_IMAGES_LOCALLY:
+                    return local_url
+                raise
 
         return local_url