diff --git a/backend/config.py b/backend/config.py
index 19bdca4..30da119 100644
--- a/backend/config.py
+++ b/backend/config.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import os
 
 OPENAI_API_KEY = os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY", None)
 ANTHROPIC_API_KEY = os.environ.get("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY", None)
+OPENAI_BASE_URL = os.environ.get("OPENAI_BASE_URL", None)
 
 # Image generation (optional)
 REPLICATE_API_KEY = os.environ.get("REPLICATE_API_KEY", None)
diff --git a/backend/routes/generate_code.py b/backend/routes/generate_code.py
index 48709d5..8b8d45a 100644
--- a/backend/routes/generate_code.py
+++ b/backend/routes/generate_code.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import os
 import asyncio
+from dataclasses import dataclass
 from fastapi import APIRouter, WebSocket
 import openai
 from codegen.utils import extract_html_content
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from config import (
     ANTHROPIC_API_KEY,
     IS_PROD,
     OPENAI_API_KEY,
+    OPENAI_BASE_URL,
     REPLICATE_API_KEY,
     SHOULD_MOCK_AI_RESPONSE,
 )
@@ -21,12 +22,13 @@ from llm import (
 )
 from fs_logging.core import write_logs
 from mock_llm import mock_completion
-from typing import Any, Coroutine, Dict, List, Literal, Union, cast, get_args
+from typing import Any, Callable, Coroutine, Dict, List, Literal, cast, get_args
 from image_generation.core import generate_images
 from prompts import create_prompt
 from prompts.claude_prompts import VIDEO_PROMPT
 from prompts.types import Stack
-from utils import pprint_prompt
+
+# from utils import pprint_prompt
 from ws.constants import APP_ERROR_WEB_SOCKET_CODE  # type: ignore
 
 
@@ -83,10 +85,95 @@ async def perform_image_generation(
     )
 
 
+@dataclass
+class ExtractedParams:
+    stack: Stack
+    input_mode: InputMode
+    code_generation_model: Llm
+    should_generate_images: bool
+    openai_api_key: str | None
+    anthropic_api_key: str | None
+    openai_base_url: str | None
+
+
+async def extract_params(
+    params: Dict[str, str], throw_error: Callable[[str], Coroutine[Any, Any, None]]
+) -> ExtractedParams:
+    # Read the code config settings (stack) from the request.
+    generated_code_config = params.get("generatedCodeConfig", "")
+    if generated_code_config not in get_args(Stack):
+        await throw_error(f"Invalid generated code config: {generated_code_config}")
+        raise ValueError(f"Invalid generated code config: {generated_code_config}")
+    validated_stack = cast(Stack, generated_code_config)
+
+    # Validate the input mode
+    input_mode = params.get("inputMode")
+    if input_mode not in get_args(InputMode):
+        await throw_error(f"Invalid input mode: {input_mode}")
+        raise ValueError(f"Invalid input mode: {input_mode}")
+    validated_input_mode = cast(InputMode, input_mode)
+
+    # Read the model from the request. Fall back to default if not provided.
+    code_generation_model_str = params.get(
+        "codeGenerationModel", Llm.GPT_4O_2024_05_13.value
+    )
+    try:
+        code_generation_model = convert_frontend_str_to_llm(code_generation_model_str)
+    except ValueError:
+        await throw_error(f"Invalid model: {code_generation_model_str}")
+        raise ValueError(f"Invalid model: {code_generation_model_str}")
+
+    openai_api_key = get_from_settings_dialog_or_env(
+        params, "openAiApiKey", OPENAI_API_KEY
+    )
+
+    # If neither is provided, we throw an error later only if Claude is used.
+    anthropic_api_key = get_from_settings_dialog_or_env(
+        params, "anthropicApiKey", ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
+    )
+
+    # Base URL for OpenAI API
+    openai_base_url: str | None = None
+    # Disable user-specified OpenAI Base URL in prod
+    if not IS_PROD:
+        openai_base_url = get_from_settings_dialog_or_env(
+            params, "openAiBaseURL", OPENAI_BASE_URL
+        )
+    if not openai_base_url:
+        print("Using official OpenAI URL")
+
+    # Get the image generation flag from the request. Fall back to True if not provided.
+    should_generate_images = bool(params.get("isImageGenerationEnabled", True))
+
+    return ExtractedParams(
+        stack=validated_stack,
+        input_mode=validated_input_mode,
+        code_generation_model=code_generation_model,
+        should_generate_images=should_generate_images,
+        openai_api_key=openai_api_key,
+        anthropic_api_key=anthropic_api_key,
+        openai_base_url=openai_base_url,
+    )
+
+
+def get_from_settings_dialog_or_env(
+    params: dict[str, str], key: str, env_var: str | None
+) -> str | None:
+    value = params.get(key)
+    if value:
+        print(f"Using {key} from client-side settings dialog")
+        return value
+
+    if env_var:
+        print(f"Using {key} from environment variable")
+        return env_var
+
+    return None
+
+
 @router.websocket("/generate-code")
 async def stream_code(websocket: WebSocket):
     await websocket.accept()
-
     print("Incoming websocket connection...")
 
     ## Communication protocol setup
@@ -112,89 +199,37 @@ async def stream_code(websocket: WebSocket):
             {"type": type, "value": value, "variantIndex": variantIndex}
         )
 
-    ## Parameter validation
+    ## Parameter extract and validation
 
     # TODO: Are the values always strings?
-    params: Dict[str, str] = await websocket.receive_json()
+    params: dict[str, str] = await websocket.receive_json()
     print("Received params")
 
-    # Read the code config settings (stack) from the request.
-    generated_code_config = params.get("generatedCodeConfig", "")
-    if not generated_code_config in get_args(Stack):
-        await throw_error(f"Invalid generated code config: {generated_code_config}")
-        raise Exception(f"Invalid generated code config: {generated_code_config}")
-    # Cast the variable to the Stack type
-    valid_stack = cast(Stack, generated_code_config)
-
-    # Validate the input mode
-    input_mode = params.get("inputMode")
-    if not input_mode in get_args(InputMode):
-        await throw_error(f"Invalid input mode: {input_mode}")
-        raise Exception(f"Invalid input mode: {input_mode}")
-    # Cast the variable to the right type
-    validated_input_mode = cast(InputMode, input_mode)
-
-    # Read the model from the request. Fall back to default if not provided.
-    code_generation_model_str = params.get(
-        "codeGenerationModel", Llm.GPT_4O_2024_05_13.value
-    )
-    try:
-        code_generation_model = convert_frontend_str_to_llm(code_generation_model_str)
-    except:
-        await throw_error(f"Invalid model: {code_generation_model_str}")
-        raise Exception(f"Invalid model: {code_generation_model_str}")
+    extracted_params = await extract_params(params, throw_error)
+    # TODO(*): Rename to stack and input_mode
+    valid_stack = extracted_params.stack
+    validated_input_mode = extracted_params.input_mode
+    code_generation_model = extracted_params.code_generation_model
+    openai_api_key = extracted_params.openai_api_key
+    openai_base_url = extracted_params.openai_base_url
+    anthropic_api_key = extracted_params.anthropic_api_key
+    should_generate_images = extracted_params.should_generate_images
 
     # Auto-upgrade usage of older models
     code_generation_model = auto_upgrade_model(code_generation_model)
+
     print(
-        f"Generating {generated_code_config} code for uploaded {input_mode} using {code_generation_model} model..."
+        f"Generating {valid_stack} code in {validated_input_mode} mode using {code_generation_model}..."
     )
 
-    # Get the OpenAI API key from the request. Fall back to environment variable if not provided.
-    # If neither is provided, we throw an error.
-    openai_api_key = params.get("openAiApiKey")
-    if openai_api_key:
-        print("Using OpenAI API key from client-side settings dialog")
-    else:
-        openai_api_key = OPENAI_API_KEY
-        if openai_api_key:
-            print("Using OpenAI API key from environment variable")
-
+    # TODO(*): Do I still need this?
     if not openai_api_key and is_openai_model(code_generation_model):
         await throw_error(
             "No OpenAI API key found. Please add your API key in the settings dialog or add it to backend/.env file. If you add it to .env, make sure to restart the backend server."
         )
         return
 
-    # Get the Anthropic API key from the request. Fall back to environment variable if not provided.
-    # If neither is provided, we throw an error later only if Claude is used.
-    anthropic_api_key = params.get("anthropicApiKey")
-    if anthropic_api_key:
-        print("Using Anthropic API key from client-side settings dialog")
-    else:
-        anthropic_api_key = ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
-        if anthropic_api_key:
-            print("Using Anthropic API key from environment variable")
-
-    # Get the OpenAI Base URL from the request. Fall back to environment variable if not provided.
-    openai_base_url: Union[str, None] = None
-    # Disable user-specified OpenAI Base URL in prod
-    if not os.environ.get("IS_PROD"):
-        openai_base_url = params.get("openAiBaseURL")
-        if openai_base_url:
-            print("Using OpenAI Base URL from client-side settings dialog")
-        else:
-            openai_base_url = os.environ.get("OPENAI_BASE_URL")
-            if openai_base_url:
-                print("Using OpenAI Base URL from environment variable")
-
-    if not openai_base_url:
-        print("Using official OpenAI URL")
-
-    # Get the image generation flag from the request. Fall back to True if not provided.
-    should_generate_images = bool(params.get("isImageGenerationEnabled", True))
-
-    # TODO(*): Print with send_message instead of print statements
+    # TODO(*): Don't assume number of variants
     await send_message("status", "Generating code...", 0)
     await send_message("status", "Generating code...", 1)
 
@@ -213,7 +248,7 @@ async def stream_code(websocket: WebSocket):
         )
         raise
 
-    pprint_prompt(prompt_messages)  # type: ignore
+    # pprint_prompt(prompt_messages)  # type: ignore
 
     ### Code generation