> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.trystratos.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Begin with a guide on the fastest path to a successful outcome

## 1. Get an API key

Create one from [your dashboard](https://trystratos.ai/settings?section=api) — a key needs at least `apps:write`, `content:write`, `content:approve`, and `credits:read` for this walkthrough.

<Warning>
  The key is shown once, at creation. Store it now — Stratos AI never displays it again, only its prefix (`strat_live_XXXXXXXX...`) for identification.
</Warning>

## 2. Install the CLI (optional — you can also call the API directly)

```bash theme={null}
npm install -g @stratos/cli
stratos auth login strat_live_your_key_here
```

## 3. Import an app

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash CLI theme={null}
  stratos apps import --name "Macrosnap" --app-store-url "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macrosnap/id1234567890"
  ```

  ```bash curl theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://www.try-orbit.com/api/v1/apps \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer $STRATOS_API_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{"name": "Macrosnap", "appStoreUrl": "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macrosnap/id1234567890"}'
  ```
</CodeGroup>

This is free — no credits spent. You'll get back an app id (`product_...`) and up to 15 seed hooks.

## 4. Generate a slideshow

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash CLI theme={null}
  stratos content create --app product_abc123 --type slideshow --topic "tracking macros without obsessing over it"
  ```

  ```bash curl theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://www.try-orbit.com/api/v1/content \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer $STRATOS_API_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -H "Idempotency-Key: $(uuidgen)" \
    -d '{"appId": "product_abc123", "type": "slideshow", "brief": {"topic": "tracking macros without obsessing over it"}}'
  ```
</CodeGroup>

This spends 1 credit **on success only** — check `/v1/credits` first if you want to budget. The response's `status` will be `"ready"` with a `hook` and `bodySlides` array, or `"failed"` with a clear `error` if generation didn't produce anything usable.

<Note>
  Every credit-spending call requires an `Idempotency-Key` header. Reuse the same key on a retry and you'll get the original response back instead of a second charge.
</Note>

## 5. Approve it

```bash theme={null}
stratos content approve <content-id>
```

Content can't be scheduled until this happens. See [The approval gate](/the-approval-gate) for why this is enforced server-side, not just a client convention.

## What's next

* [Set up the MCP server](/guides/mcp) so an AI agent can do steps 3–5 itself.
* [Read the full content resource reference](/api-reference/content) for `illustrated`/`hook_video` status and the `archetype` options.
* [Understand scheduling](/api-reference/schedules) — drafts vs. direct publish.