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

# Quickstart

> Make your first Spine API request end-to-end — submit a prompt, poll, and read the result.

The Spine API lets you run canvas-based research and agent workflows programmatically. Submit a prompt, pick a template (or custom blocks), and poll for the synthesized result plus downloadable artifacts.

## 1. Get an API key

Sign up at the [developer portal](https://platform.getspine.ai/keys) — you get **\$5 of free credits** immediately (no card required) to try the API end-to-end. Pricing is simple pay-as-you-go: **\$1 = 1,000 credits**, no subscription.

Create a key from the keys page. Keys look like:

```
sk_spine_...
```

Keys are shown only once at creation — store them somewhere safe. See [Authentication](/api-reference/authentication) for rotation and revocation.

## 2. Make your first request

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"tokyo-night"}}
curl -X POST https://api.getspine.ai/v1/run \
  -H "X-API-KEY: sk_spine_..." \
  -F "prompt=What is the current state of AI regulation in the EU?"
```

Try it interactively on the [Create a run](/api-reference/endpoints/create-run) page.

## 3. Poll for results

The API returns a `run_id` immediately. Poll the status endpoint until the run completes:

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"tokyo-night"}}
curl https://api.getspine.ai/v1/run/<run_id> \
  -H "X-API-KEY: sk_spine_..."
```

Runs average 10–20 minutes; complex research can take up to 2 hours. Poll every 15–30 seconds.

## 4. Read the result

When `status` becomes `completed`, the response includes:

* `result.final_output` — the synthesized answer
* `result.artifacts` — downloadable files (docx, xlsx, pptx, html, png, …)
* `metadata.credits_consumed` — credits used for this run

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Authentication" icon="key" href="/api-reference/authentication">
    Manage, rotate, and secure your API keys.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Canvases and runs" icon="diagram-project" href="/api-reference/concepts/canvases-and-runs">
    How runs, canvases, and blocks fit together.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Templates" icon="layer-group" href="/api-reference/concepts/templates">
    Preset block configurations for common workflows.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Endpoints" icon="code" href="/api-reference/endpoints/create-run">
    Full endpoint reference with try-it panels.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>