diff --git a/pkg/backends/backend.go b/pkg/backends/backend.go
index 2f829b9..fc32549 100644
--- a/pkg/backends/backend.go
+++ b/pkg/backends/backend.go
@@ -14,9 +14,17 @@ const (
 	BackendTypeLlamaCpp BackendType = "llama_cpp"
 	BackendTypeMlxLm    BackendType = "mlx_lm"
 	BackendTypeVllm     BackendType = "vllm"
-	// BackendTypeMlxVlm BackendType = "mlx_vlm"  // Future expansion
 )
 
+type backend interface {
+	BuildCommandArgs() []string
+	BuildDockerArgs() []string
+	GetPort() int
+	SetPort(int)
+	GetHost() string
+	Validate() error
+}
+
 type Options struct {
 	BackendType    BackendType    `json:"backend_type"`
 	BackendOptions map[string]any `json:"backend_options,omitempty"`
@@ -135,7 +143,7 @@ func (o *Options) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	return json.Marshal(aux)
 }
 
-func getBackendSettings(o *Options, backendConfig *config.BackendConfig) *config.BackendSettings {
+func (o *Options) getBackendSettings(backendConfig *config.BackendConfig) *config.BackendSettings {
 	switch o.BackendType {
 	case BackendTypeLlamaCpp:
 		return &backendConfig.LlamaCpp
@@ -148,6 +156,20 @@ func getBackendSettings(o *Options, backendConfig *config.BackendConfig) *config
 	}
 }
 
+// getBackend returns the actual backend implementation
+func (o *Options) getBackend() backend {
+	switch o.BackendType {
+	case BackendTypeLlamaCpp:
+		return o.LlamaServerOptions
+	case BackendTypeMlxLm:
+		return o.MlxServerOptions
+	case BackendTypeVllm:
+		return o.VllmServerOptions
+	default:
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
 func (o *Options) isDockerEnabled(backend *config.BackendSettings) bool {
 	if backend.Docker != nil && backend.Docker.Enabled && o.BackendType != BackendTypeMlxLm {
 		return true
@@ -156,14 +178,14 @@ func (o *Options) isDockerEnabled(backend *config.BackendSettings) bool {
 }
 
 func (o *Options) IsDockerEnabled(backendConfig *config.BackendConfig) bool {
-	backendSettings := getBackendSettings(o, backendConfig)
+	backendSettings := o.getBackendSettings(backendConfig)
 	return o.isDockerEnabled(backendSettings)
 }
 
 // GetCommand builds the command to run the backend
 func (o *Options) GetCommand(backendConfig *config.BackendConfig) string {
 
-	backendSettings := getBackendSettings(o, backendConfig)
+	backendSettings := o.getBackendSettings(backendConfig)
 
 	if o.isDockerEnabled(backendSettings) {
 		return "docker"
@@ -177,42 +199,22 @@ func (o *Options) BuildCommandArgs(backendConfig *config.BackendConfig) []string
 
 	var args []string
 
-	backendSettings := getBackendSettings(o, backendConfig)
+	backendSettings := o.getBackendSettings(backendConfig)
+	backend := o.getBackend()
+	if backend == nil {
+		return args
+	}
 
 	if o.isDockerEnabled(backendSettings) {
 		// For Docker, start with Docker args
 		args = append(args, backendSettings.Docker.Args...)
 		args = append(args, backendSettings.Docker.Image)
-
-		switch o.BackendType {
-		case BackendTypeLlamaCpp:
-			if o.LlamaServerOptions != nil {
-				args = append(args, o.LlamaServerOptions.BuildDockerArgs()...)
-			}
-		case BackendTypeVllm:
-			if o.VllmServerOptions != nil {
-				args = append(args, o.VllmServerOptions.BuildDockerArgs()...)
-			}
-		}
+		args = append(args, backend.BuildDockerArgs()...)
 
 	} else {
 		// For native execution, start with backend args
 		args = append(args, backendSettings.Args...)
-
-		switch o.BackendType {
-		case BackendTypeLlamaCpp:
-			if o.LlamaServerOptions != nil {
-				args = append(args, o.LlamaServerOptions.BuildCommandArgs()...)
-			}
-		case BackendTypeMlxLm:
-			if o.MlxServerOptions != nil {
-				args = append(args, o.MlxServerOptions.BuildCommandArgs()...)
-			}
-		case BackendTypeVllm:
-			if o.VllmServerOptions != nil {
-				args = append(args, o.VllmServerOptions.BuildCommandArgs()...)
-			}
-		}
+		args = append(args, backend.BuildCommandArgs()...)
 	}
 
 	return args
@@ -221,7 +223,7 @@ func (o *Options) BuildCommandArgs(backendConfig *config.BackendConfig) []string
 // BuildEnvironment builds the environment variables for the backend process
 func (o *Options) BuildEnvironment(backendConfig *config.BackendConfig, environment map[string]string) map[string]string {
 
-	backendSettings := getBackendSettings(o, backendConfig)
+	backendSettings := o.getBackendSettings(backendConfig)
 	env := map[string]string{}
 
 	if backendSettings.Environment != nil {
@@ -242,80 +244,39 @@ func (o *Options) BuildEnvironment(backendConfig *config.BackendConfig, environm
 }
 
 func (o *Options) GetPort() int {
-	if o != nil {
-		switch o.BackendType {
-		case BackendTypeLlamaCpp:
-			if o.LlamaServerOptions != nil {
-				return o.LlamaServerOptions.Port
-			}
-		case BackendTypeMlxLm:
-			if o.MlxServerOptions != nil {
-				return o.MlxServerOptions.Port
-			}
-		case BackendTypeVllm:
-			if o.VllmServerOptions != nil {
-				return o.VllmServerOptions.Port
-			}
-		}
+	backend := o.getBackend()
+	if backend != nil {
+		return backend.GetPort()
 	}
 	return 0
 }
 
 func (o *Options) SetPort(port int) {
-	if o != nil {
-		switch o.BackendType {
-		case BackendTypeLlamaCpp:
-			if o.LlamaServerOptions != nil {
-				o.LlamaServerOptions.Port = port
-			}
-		case BackendTypeMlxLm:
-			if o.MlxServerOptions != nil {
-				o.MlxServerOptions.Port = port
-			}
-		case BackendTypeVllm:
-			if o.VllmServerOptions != nil {
-				o.VllmServerOptions.Port = port
-			}
-		}
+	backend := o.getBackend()
+	if backend != nil {
+		backend.SetPort(port)
 	}
 }
 
 func (o *Options) GetHost() string {
-	if o != nil {
-		switch o.BackendType {
-		case BackendTypeLlamaCpp:
-			if o.LlamaServerOptions != nil {
-				return o.LlamaServerOptions.Host
-			}
-		case BackendTypeMlxLm:
-			if o.MlxServerOptions != nil {
-				return o.MlxServerOptions.Host
-			}
-		case BackendTypeVllm:
-			if o.VllmServerOptions != nil {
-				return o.VllmServerOptions.Host
-			}
-		}
+	backend := o.getBackend()
+	if backend != nil {
+		return backend.GetHost()
 	}
 	return "localhost"
 }
 
 func (o *Options) GetResponseHeaders(backendConfig *config.BackendConfig) map[string]string {
-	backendSettings := getBackendSettings(o, backendConfig)
+	backendSettings := o.getBackendSettings(backendConfig)
 	return backendSettings.ResponseHeaders
 }
 
 // ValidateInstanceOptions performs validation based on backend type
 func (o *Options) ValidateInstanceOptions() error {
-	// Validate based on backend type
-	switch o.BackendType {
-	case BackendTypeLlamaCpp:
-		return validateLlamaCppOptions(o.LlamaServerOptions)
-	case BackendTypeMlxLm:
-		return validateMlxOptions(o.MlxServerOptions)
-	case BackendTypeVllm:
-		return validateVllmOptions(o.VllmServerOptions)
-	default:
-		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("unsupported backend type: %s", o.BackendType))
+	backend := o.getBackend()
+	if backend == nil {
+		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("backend options cannot be nil for backend type %s", o.BackendType))
 	}
+
+	return backend.Validate()
 }
diff --git a/pkg/backends/llama.go b/pkg/backends/llama.go
index 7cdc182..dc07457 100644
--- a/pkg/backends/llama.go
+++ b/pkg/backends/llama.go
@@ -336,6 +336,36 @@ func (o *LlamaServerOptions) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (o *LlamaServerOptions) GetPort() int {
+	return o.Port
+}
+
+func (o *LlamaServerOptions) SetPort(port int) {
+	o.Port = port
+}
+
+func (o *LlamaServerOptions) GetHost() string {
+	return o.Host
+}
+
+func (o *LlamaServerOptions) Validate() error {
+	if o == nil {
+		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("llama server options cannot be nil for llama.cpp backend"))
+	}
+
+	// Use reflection to check all string fields for injection patterns
+	if err := validation.ValidateStructStrings(o, ""); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Basic network validation for port
+	if o.Port < 0 || o.Port > 65535 {
+		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("invalid port range: %d", o.Port))
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // BuildCommandArgs converts InstanceOptions to command line arguments
 func (o *LlamaServerOptions) BuildCommandArgs() []string {
 	// Llama uses multiple flags for arrays by default (not comma-separated)
@@ -366,22 +396,3 @@ func ParseLlamaCommand(command string) (*LlamaServerOptions, error) {
 
 	return &llamaOptions, nil
 }
-
-// validateLlamaCppOptions validates llama.cpp specific options
-func validateLlamaCppOptions(options *LlamaServerOptions) error {
-	if options == nil {
-		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("llama server options cannot be nil for llama.cpp backend"))
-	}
-
-	// Use reflection to check all string fields for injection patterns
-	if err := validation.ValidateStructStrings(options, ""); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// Basic network validation for port
-	if options.Port < 0 || options.Port > 65535 {
-		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("invalid port range: %d", options.Port))
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/pkg/backends/mlx.go b/pkg/backends/mlx.go
index 00f62da..d0ec602 100644
--- a/pkg/backends/mlx.go
+++ b/pkg/backends/mlx.go
@@ -31,12 +31,45 @@ type MlxServerOptions struct {
 	MaxTokens int     `json:"max_tokens,omitempty"`
 }
 
+func (o *MlxServerOptions) GetPort() int {
+	return o.Port
+}
+
+func (o *MlxServerOptions) SetPort(port int) {
+	o.Port = port
+}
+
+func (o *MlxServerOptions) GetHost() string {
+	return o.Host
+}
+
+func (o *MlxServerOptions) Validate() error {
+	if o == nil {
+		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("MLX server options cannot be nil for MLX backend"))
+	}
+
+	if err := validation.ValidateStructStrings(o, ""); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Basic network validation for port
+	if o.Port < 0 || o.Port > 65535 {
+		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("invalid port range: %d", o.Port))
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // BuildCommandArgs converts to command line arguments
 func (o *MlxServerOptions) BuildCommandArgs() []string {
 	multipleFlags := map[string]bool{} // MLX doesn't currently have []string fields
 	return BuildCommandArgs(o, multipleFlags)
 }
 
+func (o *MlxServerOptions) BuildDockerArgs() []string {
+	return []string{}
+}
+
 // ParseMlxCommand parses a mlx_lm.server command string into MlxServerOptions
 // Supports multiple formats:
 // 1. Full command: "mlx_lm.server --model model/path"
@@ -55,21 +88,3 @@ func ParseMlxCommand(command string) (*MlxServerOptions, error) {
 
 	return &mlxOptions, nil
 }
-
-// validateMlxOptions validates MLX backend specific options
-func validateMlxOptions(options *MlxServerOptions) error {
-	if options == nil {
-		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("MLX server options cannot be nil for MLX backend"))
-	}
-
-	if err := validation.ValidateStructStrings(options, ""); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// Basic network validation for port
-	if options.Port < 0 || options.Port > 65535 {
-		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("invalid port range: %d", options.Port))
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/pkg/backends/vllm.go b/pkg/backends/vllm.go
index 0a8c6f3..857eab3 100644
--- a/pkg/backends/vllm.go
+++ b/pkg/backends/vllm.go
@@ -140,6 +140,36 @@ type VllmServerOptions struct {
 	OverrideKVCacheALIGNSize  int    `json:"override_kv_cache_align_size,omitempty"`
 }
 
+func (o *VllmServerOptions) GetPort() int {
+	return o.Port
+}
+
+func (o *VllmServerOptions) SetPort(port int) {
+	o.Port = port
+}
+
+func (o *VllmServerOptions) GetHost() string {
+	return o.Host
+}
+
+func (o *VllmServerOptions) Validate() error {
+	if o == nil {
+		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("vLLM server options cannot be nil for vLLM backend"))
+	}
+
+	// Use reflection to check all string fields for injection patterns
+	if err := validation.ValidateStructStrings(o, ""); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Basic network validation for port
+	if o.Port < 0 || o.Port > 65535 {
+		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("invalid port range: %d", o.Port))
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // BuildCommandArgs converts VllmServerOptions to command line arguments
 // For vLLM native, model is a positional argument after "serve"
 func (o *VllmServerOptions) BuildCommandArgs() []string {
@@ -199,22 +229,3 @@ func ParseVllmCommand(command string) (*VllmServerOptions, error) {
 
 	return &vllmOptions, nil
 }
-
-// validateVllmOptions validates vLLM backend specific options
-func validateVllmOptions(options *VllmServerOptions) error {
-	if options == nil {
-		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("vLLM server options cannot be nil for vLLM backend"))
-	}
-
-	// Use reflection to check all string fields for injection patterns
-	if err := validation.ValidateStructStrings(options, ""); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// Basic network validation for port
-	if options.Port < 0 || options.Port > 65535 {
-		return validation.ValidationError(fmt.Errorf("invalid port range: %d", options.Port))
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}