# Getting started

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Install

Requires **Node.js 20+**.

```bash
npm install -g stackai
```

Verify it's on your PATH:

```bash
stackai --version
```

{% hint style="info" %}
**Windows / PowerShell:** if you see *"running scripts is disabled on this system"*, run once (no admin needed): `Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned`
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Get an API key

1. Go to [usestackai.com](https://usestackai.com) and **sign in with X**.
2. Open the **Dashboard** → **Create key**.
3. Copy the key (`sk_live_…`) — it's shown only once.
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Log in

```bash
stackai login
```

Paste your key when prompted (it's masked). Check it worked:

```bash
stackai whoami
```

{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Use it

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Interactive (recommended)" %}

```bash
cd your-project
stackai
```

Type what you want, e.g. *"add a dark mode toggle to the navbar"*, and press Enter. Context is kept across messages. Type `/exit` to quit.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="One-shot" %}

```bash
stackai "create a REST endpoint for users with validation"
```

Runs once on the current directory, prints what it changed, then exits.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**Next:** give the agent [project rules](/cli/project-context.md) so it codes to your conventions automatically.
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.usestackai.com/get-started/getting-started.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.