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

# Quickstart

> Call your first ASG tool in under 3 minutes

# Quickstart

Get started with ASG Agent Cloud — from zero to first call in 3 minutes.

<Tip>
  **Start free:** `get_status` and `echo` are **always free** — no payment required. Validate your setup before spending a cent.
</Tip>

## Prerequisites

* ASG API key (from [Console → API Keys](https://agent.asgcompute.com/console/#/console/keys))
* For paid tools: Solana wallet with **USDC on mainnet**
* Node.js 18+ or Python 3.10+

## Step 1: Get Your API Key

1. Open [Console](https://agent.asgcompute.com/console/)
2. Connect wallet → **API Keys** → **Create Key**
3. Export the key:

```bash theme={null}
export ASG_API_KEY="sk-agent-YOUR_KEY"
```

## Step 2: First Call — Free (No Payment!)

Call `get_status` to verify your key works:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash curl theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://agent.asgcompute.com/v1/mcp/tools/call \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer $ASG_API_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{"tool": "get_status", "params": {}}'
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests, os

  ASG = "https://agent.asgcompute.com/v1/mcp/tools/call"
  API_KEY = os.environ["ASG_API_KEY"]

  r = requests.post(ASG, json={
      "tool": "get_status",
      "params": {}
  }, headers={
      "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}",
      "Content-Type": "application/json"
  })
  print(r.json())
  ```

  ```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
  const ASG = 'https://agent.asgcompute.com/v1/mcp/tools/call';
  const API_KEY = process.env.ASG_API_KEY!;

  const res = await fetch(ASG, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${API_KEY}`,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({ tool: 'get_status', params: {} }),
  });
  console.log(await res.json());
  ```
</CodeGroup>

✅ You should see `"ok": true` with your balance and system status.

## Step 3: Discover Tools

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash curl theme={null}
  curl -s https://agent.asgcompute.com/mcp/capabilities \
    | jq '.tools[] | {name, status, billable}'
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests

  r = requests.get("https://agent.asgcompute.com/mcp/capabilities")
  for tool in r.json().get("tools", []):
      print(f"{tool['name']:30} billable={tool.get('billable', 'N/A')}")
  ```

  ```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
  const res = await fetch('https://agent.asgcompute.com/mcp/capabilities');
  const data = await res.json();
  for (const tool of data.tools) {
    console.log(`${tool.name.padEnd(30)} billable=${tool.billable}`);
  }
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Step 4: Make a Paid Call

Call a billable tool. If you have balance, it executes immediately. Otherwise, you get a 402 with a quote.

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash curl theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://agent.asgcompute.com/v1/mcp/tools/call \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer $ASG_API_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{
      "tool": "inference_chat",
      "params": {
        "model": "openai/gpt-4o-mini",
        "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
      }
    }'
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests, os

  ASG = "https://agent.asgcompute.com/v1/mcp/tools/call"
  API_KEY = os.environ["ASG_API_KEY"]

  r = requests.post(ASG, json={
      "tool": "inference_chat",
      "params": {
          "model": "openai/gpt-4o-mini",
          "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
      }
  }, headers={
      "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}",
      "Content-Type": "application/json"
  })
  print(r.status_code, r.json())
  ```

  ```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
  const ASG = 'https://agent.asgcompute.com/v1/mcp/tools/call';
  const API_KEY = process.env.ASG_API_KEY!;

  const res = await fetch(ASG, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${API_KEY}`,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      tool: 'inference_chat',
      params: {
        model: 'openai/gpt-4o-mini',
        messages: [{ role: 'user', content: 'Hello!' }],
      },
    }),
  });
  console.log(res.status, await res.json());
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### If 200: Success!

```json theme={null}
{
  "ok": true,
  "result": { "type": "text", "content": "Hello! How can I help you?" },
  "receipt": { "receipt_id": "rcpt_123", "debited_usdc_microusd": 10000 }
}
```

### If 402: Payment Required

You receive a quote with `payment_instructions`:

```json theme={null}
{
  "code": "PAYMENT_REQUIRED",
  "quote": {
    "quote_id": "abc123",
    "amount_usdc_microusd": 10000,
    "expires_at": "2026-02-10T12:00:00Z"
  },
  "payment_instructions": {
    "network": "solana-mainnet",
    "asset": "USDC",
    "pay_to": "<treasury_ata>",
    "usdc_mint": "EPjFWdd5AufqSSqeM2qN1xzybapC8G4wEGGkZwyTDt1v"
  },
  "step_id": "step_xyz"
}
```

## Step 5: Pay on Solana Mainnet

Send USDC to `pay_to` with memo: `{step_id}:{quote_id}:1`

<Tip>
  **Faster:** Deposit USDC via [Console → Balance](https://agent.asgcompute.com/console/#/console/balance) first. Then all paid calls deduct from your balance automatically — no per-call on-chain transactions needed.
</Tip>

## Step 6: Retry with Payment Proof

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash curl theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://agent.asgcompute.com/v1/mcp/tools/call \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer $ASG_API_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{
      "tool": "inference_chat",
      "params": {
        "model": "openai/gpt-4o-mini",
        "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
      },
      "idempotency_key": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
      "payment_proof": {
        "tx_ref": "<solana_tx_signature>",
        "quote_id": "abc123",
        "step_id": "step_xyz",
        "memo": "step_xyz:abc123:1",
        "amount_usdc": "0.010000",
        "network": "solana-mainnet"
      }
    }'
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests, os

  ASG = "https://agent.asgcompute.com/v1/mcp/tools/call"
  API_KEY = os.environ["ASG_API_KEY"]

  r = requests.post(ASG, json={
      "tool": "inference_chat",
      "params": {
          "model": "openai/gpt-4o-mini",
          "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
      },
      "idempotency_key": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
      "payment_proof": {
          "tx_ref": "<solana_tx_signature>",
          "quote_id": "abc123",
          "step_id": "step_xyz",
          "memo": "step_xyz:abc123:1",
          "amount_usdc": "0.010000",
          "network": "solana-mainnet"
      }
  }, headers={
      "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}",
      "Content-Type": "application/json"
  })
  print(r.json())
  ```

  ```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
  const ASG = 'https://agent.asgcompute.com/v1/mcp/tools/call';
  const API_KEY = process.env.ASG_API_KEY!;

  const res = await fetch(ASG, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${API_KEY}`,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      tool: 'inference_chat',
      params: {
        model: 'openai/gpt-4o-mini',
        messages: [{ role: 'user', content: 'Hello!' }],
      },
      idempotency_key: '550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000',
      payment_proof: {
        tx_ref: '<solana_tx_signature>',
        quote_id: 'abc123',
        step_id: 'step_xyz',
        memo: 'step_xyz:abc123:1',
        amount_usdc: '0.010000',
        network: 'solana-mainnet',
      },
    }),
  });
  console.log(await res.json());
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## What's Next?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Agent Quickstart" icon="robot" href="/guide/agent-quickstart">
    Full agent integration guide with Python + TypeScript examples
  </Card>

  <Card title="Core Concepts" icon="book" href="/guide/concepts">
    Runs, Steps, Budgets, and Receipts
  </Card>

  <Card title="SDK Reference" icon="code" href="/sdk/examples">
    Working code examples
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pricing" icon="credit-card" href="/billing/pricing">
    Detailed pricing for all services
  </Card>
</CardGroup>