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

# Quickstart

> Set up Lightsage access, choose a client, and pull your first agent-ready work item.

Use this quickstart to get from a Lightsage account to your first agent-ready task. You will create an API key, choose how your agent connects to Lightsage, and confirm that you can fetch work with execution prompts.

## Before you start

You need:

* A Lightsage organization with Visibility or API Performance data.
* Access to **Settings > API Keys** in the Lightsage dashboard.
* A terminal for the Lightsage CLI, or an agent that supports Lightsage MCP.

## Create an API key

1. Open **Settings > API Keys**.
2. Click **Create API key**.
3. Copy the key when it appears.
4. Store it in your shell or secret manager.

```bash theme={null}
export LIGHTSAGE_API_KEY="ls_cli_your_api_key"
```

<Warning>
  API keys are shown once. Do not paste them into prompts or commit them to your repository.
</Warning>

## Choose how to connect

Use the CLI when you want repeatable terminal commands or CI-friendly exports. Use MCP when you want an agent to fetch Lightsage context directly during a working session.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="CLI Reference" icon="terminal" href="/docs/cli-reference">
    Install and authenticate the Lightsage CLI.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Lightsage MCP" icon="plug" href="/docs/mcp-reference">
    Connect Lightsage to supported coding agents.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Fetch your first work item

Start with active daily tasks. Each task includes prompt context and a paste-ready `execution_prompt` for an agent.

```bash theme={null}
curl "https://api.lightsage.com/v1/tasks?status=active" \
  -H "X-Lightsage-Api-Key: $LIGHTSAGE_API_KEY"
```

You can also list prompt opportunities directly:

```bash theme={null}
curl "https://api.lightsage.com/v1/opportunities?limit=10" \
  -H "X-Lightsage-Api-Key: $LIGHTSAGE_API_KEY"
```

## Next step

Use the workflow guide to hand those tasks or opportunities to a coding agent and schedule the resulting work.

<Card title="Pull actionables into your agent" icon="list-check" href="/docs/workflows/pull-actionables-into-your-agent">
  Export Lightsage actionables, hand them to a coding agent, and schedule the work in your task system.
</Card>