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

# Quickstart

> Create an Orbit account, get an API key, and send your first request.

This takes you from a new account to a working completion. You do not need a credit card.

## Prerequisites

* An email address to sign up at [tryorbit.cloud](https://tryorbit.cloud/sign-up)
* An Orbit API key (`sk-orbit-...`)
* Optional: Python 3, Node.js, or curl

## Get started

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create an account">
    Go to [tryorbit.cloud/sign-up](https://tryorbit.cloud/sign-up) and create an account. Orbit creates an organization for you and grants **\$2 in free credits**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create an API key">
    Open the dashboard, go to [API Keys](https://tryorbit.cloud/api-keys), and create a key.

    Give it a name (for example `local` or `cursor`). You can set an expiration of 30 days, 90 days, 1 year, or never.

    Copy the secret immediately. Orbit stores only a hash and a short preview after it is shown once.

    ```bash theme={"theme":"github-dark"}
    export ORBIT_API_KEY="sk-orbit-..."
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send a request">
    Use the official OpenAI SDK, the official Anthropic SDK, or curl. All three talk to the same catalogue.

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="OpenAI (Python)">
        ```python theme={"theme":"github-dark"}
        import os
        from openai import OpenAI

        client = OpenAI(
            api_key=os.environ["ORBIT_API_KEY"],
            base_url="https://api.tryorbit.cloud/api/v1",
        )

        response = client.chat.completions.create(
            model="claude-sonnet-5",
            messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello from Orbit."}],
        )

        print(response.choices[0].message.content)
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Anthropic (Python)">
        ```python theme={"theme":"github-dark"}
        import os
        from anthropic import Anthropic

        client = Anthropic(
            api_key=os.environ["ORBIT_API_KEY"],
            base_url="https://api.tryorbit.cloud/api",
        )

        message = client.messages.create(
            model="claude-sonnet-5",
            max_tokens=1024,
            messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello from Orbit."}],
        )

        print(message.content[0].text)
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="cURL">
        ```bash theme={"theme":"github-dark"}
        curl https://api.tryorbit.cloud/api/v1/chat/completions \
          -H "Authorization: Bearer $ORBIT_API_KEY" \
          -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
          -d '{
            "model": "claude-sonnet-5",
            "messages": [{ "role": "user", "content": "Hello from Orbit." }]
          }'
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What to do next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Claude Code" icon="terminal" href="/agents/claude-code">
    Run the Claude Code agent on Orbit credits.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cursor" icon="arrow-pointer" href="/agents/cursor">
    Point Cursor at Orbit's OpenAI-compatible endpoint.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Models" icon="layer-group" href="/guides/models">
    How slugs, vendors, and routing work.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Billing" icon="credit-card" href="/guides/billing">
    Credits, plans, and invoices.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Tip>
  Need help? Email [hello@tryorbit.cloud](mailto:hello@tryorbit.cloud) or join [Discord](https://discord.gg/JHsxTjPUBc).
</Tip>