MiniMax H3 API with Node.js and TypeScript

Use native fetch—no client SDK required

Node.js 22 includes fetch, crypto.randomUUID, and AbortSignal, which is enough for a complete MiniMax H3 API integration. Keep the key in your backend and expose a narrow application endpoint to your own users instead of forwarding the vgenv key to the browser.

export VGENV_API_KEY="vgenv_live_..."
node quickstart.mjs

Build one JSON request helper

A shared helper should parse both successful and error JSON, retain the HTTP status, and read Retry-After. This keeps create and polling behavior consistent and prevents error payloads from being silently discarded.

const base = "https://api.vgenv.com/v2";
const key = process.env.VGENV_API_KEY;

async function api(path, init = {}) {
  const response = await fetch(base + path, {
    ...init,
    headers: {
      Authorization: `Bearer ${key}`,
      ...(init.body ? { "Content-Type": "application/json" } : {}),
      ...init.headers,
    },
  });
  const data = await response.json();
  if (!response.ok) {
    const error = new Error(data.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
    error.status = response.status;
    error.retryAfter = Number(response.headers.get("retry-after")) || null;
    throw error;
  }
  return data;
}

Create and poll the Video resource

The create response already contains the Video ID, queue state, and final quote. Poll the same resource until it reaches a terminal state. Keep a deadline around the whole operation rather than applying an aggressive timeout to the generation itself.

const video = await api("/videos", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: { "Idempotency-Key": `node-${crypto.randomUUID()}` },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: "minimax/h3",
    tier: "fast",
    prompt: "A product reveal with a slow cinematic camera move",
    duration: 5,
    resolution: "480p",
    aspect_ratio: "16:9",
  }),
});

let current = video;
while (!["succeeded", "failed", "cancelled"].includes(current.status)) {
  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 8000));
  current = await api(`/videos/${encodeURIComponent(video.id)}`);
}
console.log(current.status === "succeeded" ? current.output.url : current.error);

Type the state machine, not just the payload

In TypeScript, model status as a discriminated union so code cannot read output before success. Store queued_at, queue_position, progress, and the price snapshot if your product displays job history or cost attribution.

• Do not assume every 2xx response is already completed.
• Treat signed output URLs as temporary delivery URLs.
• Handle 401, 402, 422, and 429 separately in your product UI.
• Use the same idempotency key when retrying an uncertain create response.