Agora Conversational AI — Translator Recipe (Python)

  

The translator recipe in the Agora Conversational AI recipes family. Real-time speech translation: speak in a source language, the agent translates and speaks back in the target language. Fully zero-key — OpenAI is Agora-managed (no OPENAI_API_KEY required unless you bring your own account).

Pipeline: DeepgramSTT(language=SOURCE_LANG) → OpenAI (translate) → MiniMaxTTS(voice=TTS_VOICE)

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10+
• Bun
• Agora CLI — makes generating an App ID + App Certificate easy

Run It

# 1. Install web deps + create the Python venv
bun run setup

# 2. Add Agora credentials (CLI), or edit server/.env.local by hand
agora login
agora project use <your-project>          # select which project to use
agora project env write server/.env.local # writes App ID + Certificate

# 3. (Optional) customise language pair in server/.env.local
#    SOURCE_LANG=es       # Deepgram language code for the speaker
#    TARGET_LANG=English  # language name used in the translation prompt
#    TTS_VOICE=English_captivating_female1  # MiniMax voice matching the target

# 4. Run backend + web
bun run dev

Open http://localhost:3000 → Start Conversation → speak in SOURCE_LANG.

Working from a clone

If you cloned this repo (rather than scaffolding via the Agora CLI), the steps above are complete as written: bun run setup creates the Python venv and installs web dependencies, then bun run dev brings up both services. You still need Agora credentials in server/.env.local before a conversation can connect.

Services:

• Frontend — http://localhost:3000
• Backend — http://localhost:8000
• Mock LLM — N/A (managed OpenAI, no local service)
• API docs — http://localhost:8000/docs

Deploy

Deploy web (Next.js) and server (a reachable FastAPI backend). Set AGENT_BACKEND_URL in the web deployment so the Next rewrites reach the backend.

A backend-only Docker image is published to ghcr.io/AgoraIO-Conversational-AI/recipe-agent-translator on v* tags. It exposes BACKEND-ONLY (:8000). No separate LLM container is needed — OpenAI is Agora-managed.

Environment variables

Backend env file: `server/.env.example`.

Note: when you change TARGET_LANG, also pick a matching TTS_VOICE for that target language.

Commands

bun run setup            # install web deps + create server/ venv
bun run dev              # run backend (:8000) + web (:3000)

bun run doctor           # prerequisite check (no creds needed)
bun run doctor:local     # + .env.local + credentials checks

bun run verify           # web-only gate (no Agora creds needed)
bun run verify:local     # full local gate: backend compile + smoke tests + web build
bun run clean            # remove venvs and build artifacts

Tests run standalone (no Agora cloud needed): pytest in server/, plus bun run verify in web/. CI runs them on Linux/macOS/Windows × Python 3.10 & 3.13.

Architecture

Browser (localhost:3000)
  │  fetch /api/*
  ▼
Next.js  ──rewrite──▶  Agent backend  (server/, localhost:8000)
                          │  starts agent session (managed OpenAI vendor)
                          ▼
                       Agora ConvoAI Cloud
                          │  Deepgram STT (managed, SOURCE_LANG)
                          │  OpenAI translation (Agora-managed, keyless)
                          │  MiniMax TTS (managed, TTS_VOICE)
                          ▼
                       User hears translated speech

No separate llm/ service — OpenAI is Agora-managed and requires no API key. See ARCHITECTURE.md.

What You Get

• A Next.js web client (:3000) that drives the RTC/RTM lifecycle and only ever calls /api/*.
• A FastAPI agent backend (:8000) that owns Agora token generation and the agent session lifecycle.
• The /api/get_config · /api/startAgent · /api/stopAgent contract between the web client and the backend (Next rewrites, no Route Handlers).
• Managed keyless OpenAI translating STT(source) → TTS(target) — Agora-managed, no OPENAI_API_KEY required.
• Configurable language pair via SOURCE_LANG / TARGET_LANG / TTS_VOICE environment variables.
• Zero-key setup — the full pipeline runs with no LLM API key by default.

How It Works

1. The browser calls /api/get_config, which Next rewrites to the backend; the

backend mints an Agora token from AGORA_APP_ID + AGORA_APP_CERTIFICATE.

1. The browser joins the RTC channel, then calls /api/startAgent; the backend

starts an agent session using the managed OpenAI vendor.

1. The user speaks in SOURCE_LANG. Agora runs STT (Deepgram, SOURCE_LANG locale)

and produces a transcript.

1. Agora's managed OpenAI stage receives the transcript with a translation system

prompt and produces the translated text in TARGET_LANG.

1. Agora runs TTS (MiniMax, TTS_VOICE) on the translated text and plays it back

in the channel. No API key is required — Agora manages the OpenAI account.

1. /api/stopAgent ends the session.

Repo Map

• web/ — Next.js frontend (:3000); RTC/RTM lifecycle and UI.
• server/ — FastAPI agent backend (:8000); Agora tokens + agent lifecycle, managed OpenAI translation.
• ARCHITECTURE.md — system shape and component boundaries.
• AGENTS.md — guide for coding agents working in this repo.

Troubleshooting

More Docs

• ARCHITECTURE.md
• AGENTS.md

License

Released under the MIT License.