# Quickstart

Below are the basic steps to get started with the ShortGenius API:

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Sign Up & Retrieve API Token**

1. Sign up for a ShortGenius account at <https://shortgenius.com>.
2. Go to the [API keys](https://shortgenius.com/developers/keys) page to retrieve your API token.
3. Keep this token secure! You'll use it for authenticating API calls.
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Test the Health Endpoint**

Let's ensure everything is up and running with the `/health` endpoint.

```bash
curl --request GET \
  --url "https://api.shortgenius.com/v1/health"
```

**Expected Response**:

```json
{
  "status": "ok"
}
```

{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Make Your First Authorized Request**

Add your token to the Authorization header:

```bash
curl --request GET \
  --url "https://api.shortgenius.com/v1/music/genres" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN"
```

If your token is valid, you'll receive a JSON list of available music genres:

```json
[
  {
    "name": "Classical",
    "recommended_for_locales": [...]
  },
  ...
]
```

{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

This quickstart is enough to prove your token works and that the API is reachable. In the next sections, we'll dive deeper into the available endpoints and show you how to create videos, images, audio, and more.

## SDK Quickstarts

For a more streamlined development experience, check out our official SDKs:

{% content-ref url="/pages/xnMHo5ZUetL5tG1Fd2oO" %}
[TypeScript Quickstart](/api/quickstart-typescript.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/7TMTXhiwtdUBmKuldBwP" %}
[Python Quickstart](/api/quickstart-python.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

***

> **Next Steps**\
> Now that you've tested the waters, proceed to [Authentication & Essentials](/api/essentials.md).


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://shortgenius.gitbook.io/api/quickstart.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.