Quick Start Guide
# Quick Start Guide
This guide will help you get started with our platform in just a few minutes. You'll learn how to authenticate, make your first API call, and understand the basics of our service.
## Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- A modern web browser
- Basic knowledge of HTTP requests
- Your API key (we'll help you get one)
## Step 1: Get Your API Key
1. Sign up for an account at our platform
2. Navigate to your dashboard
3. Generate a new API key
4. Copy the key and keep it secure
## Step 2: Make Your First Request
Here's a simple example using cURL to authenticate and get user information:
```bash
# Authenticate with your API key
curl -X POST https://api.example.com/v1/auth/login \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"api_key": "your-api-key-here"
}'
# Get user information
curl -X GET https://api.example.com/v1/users/me \
-H "Authorization: Bearer your-access-token"
```
## Step 3: Using Our SDKs
We provide SDKs for popular programming languages to make integration even easier:
### JavaScript/Node.js
```javascript
import { Client } from '@example/sdk';
const client = new Client({
apiKey: 'your-api-key-here'
});
// Authenticate
const auth = await client.auth.login();
// Get user info
const user = await client.users.getMe();
console.log(user);
```
### Python
```python
from example_sdk import Client
client = Client(api_key="your-api-key-here")
# Authenticate
auth = client.auth.login()
# Get user info
user = client.users.get_me()
print(user)
```
## Step 4: Handle Responses
All API responses follow a consistent format:
```json
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"id": "user_123",
"email": "user@example.com",
"name": "John Doe"
},
"meta": {
"timestamp": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z"
}
}
```
## Error Handling
Our APIs return clear error messages when something goes wrong:
```json
{
"success": false,
"error": {
"code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
"message": "The provided API key is invalid",
"details": {}
}
}
```
## Next Steps
Now that you've made your first API call, here's what you can explore next:
- **Authentication Guide**: Learn about different authentication methods
- **API Reference**: Explore all available endpoints
- **Hosting Guide**: Deploy your application
- **Best Practices**: Follow our recommendations for production use
## Need Help?
If you run into any issues:
1. Check our [API Reference](/api-docs) for detailed endpoint documentation
2. Review our [Guides](/docs/guides) for specific use cases
3. Contact our support team using the form below
Happy coding! 🚀