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

# Quickstart

> Make your first carousel through the Pekto API.

You need a Pekto account and about five minutes. Prefer chatting to coding? Go to [MCP setup](/mcp/setup) instead.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create an API key">
    In Pekto, open **Settings → Developer**, name the key and keep the default scopes (they include `presentations:create`), then **Create**. Copy the `pekto_live_…` secret now: Pekto shows it only once.

    ```bash theme={null}
    export PEKTO_API_KEY="pekto_live_..."
    export PEKTO_API="https://fwpvfpysaskvlxgwcaxk.supabase.co/functions/v1/api-v1"
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check your credits">
    ```bash theme={null}
    curl "$PEKTO_API/account" \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer $PEKTO_API_KEY"
    ```

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "data": {
        "credits": 50,
        "subscription_tier": "pro",
        "presentation_cost": 2.5,
        "upgrade_url": "https://app.trypekto.com/subscription"
      }
    }
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate a carousel">
    Send the source text and ask for a carousel. The `Idempotency-Key` makes a retry return the same result instead of charging twice.

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl -X POST "$PEKTO_API/presentations" \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer $PEKTO_API_KEY" \
      -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
      -H "Idempotency-Key: branding-carousel-001" \
      --max-time 180 \
      -d '{
        "format": "carousel",
        "slide_count": 8,
        "topic": "5 personal branding mistakes that kill trust",
        "content": "You post only when you feel like it. Your bio could belong to anyone. You never say what you actually offer...",
        "audience": "Founders who post on LinkedIn",
        "tone": "Direct and practical"
      }'
    ```

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "data": {
        "project_id": "6f1c…",
        "editor_url": "https://app.trypekto.com/dashboard/projects/6f1c…/edit",
        "title": "5 personal branding mistakes that kill trust",
        "slide_count": 8,
        "format": "carousel",
        "template_family": { "id": "carousel37", "name": "Yellow Organic Wave Instagram Carousel" },
        "credits_used": 2.5,
        "remaining_credits": 47.5
      }
    }
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open it">
    Open `editor_url`. Everything is editable: text, layouts, images and colours. Export it as PDF for LinkedIn, or PNGs for Instagram.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Next steps

* Pick a style with `template_family`: see [Carousels](/guides/carousels)
* Make a deck instead: leave out `format` (or send `"presentation"`)
* Change a slide later: see [Editing projects](/guides/editing-projects)
* Schedule it on LinkedIn: see [Scheduling posts](/guides/scheduling-posts)


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