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

# Quick Start

> Get started with Ground in under 2 minutes

# Quick Start

This guide will help you get Ground up and running with your first indexed source.

## 1. Get an API Key

Sign up at [app.trygroundai.com](https://app.trygroundai.com) to get your API key. Send it on every request using **`Authorization: Bearer gnd_…`** or **`X-API-Key: gnd_…`**.

```bash theme={null}
export GROUND_API_KEY="gnd_your_api_key"
```

## 2. Add Your First Source

Ground can index Git repositories, documentation sites, and packages (npm/PyPI).

### Via UI

1. Navigate to **Sources** → **Add Source** in the [Dashboard](https://app.trygroundai.com)
2. Select source type (Repository, Documentation, or Package)
3. Enter the URL and configuration
4. Click **Create**

### Via API

```bash theme={null}
# Add a Git repository
curl -X POST https://api.trygroundai.com/sources \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $GROUND_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "My Repo",
    "source_type": "repo",
    "url": "https://github.com/groundai/ground",
    "branch": "main"
  }'
```

## 3. Sync the Source

Once created, tell Ground to start indexing your content.

```bash theme={null}
# Replace SOURCE_ID with the ID from the create response
curl -X POST https://api.trygroundai.com/sources/SOURCE_ID/sync \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $GROUND_API_KEY"
```

Or click **Sync** in the Dashboard.

## 4. Search Your Content

As soon as the sync job finishes (or while it's in progress), you can start querying your grounded context.

### Via UI

Navigate to the **Playground** in the Dashboard and enter a search query.

### Via API

```bash theme={null}
curl "https://api.trygroundai.com/search?query=how+to+authenticate" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $GROUND_API_KEY"
```

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Concepts" icon="book" href="/concepts">
    Learn about sources, jobs, citations, and freshness
  </Card>

  <Card title="SDKs" icon="rocket" href="/sdks/overview">
    Integrate Ground into your app using our official SDKs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Trust Policy" icon="shield" href="/guides/trust-policy">
    Configure staleness budgets and refusal thresholds
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Reference" icon="code" href="/api-reference/overview">
    Complete API documentation
  </Card>
</CardGroup>