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

# Quickstart

> Understand AUI's products and start building in minutes.

## AUI Products

AUI provides a family of products for building and integrating AI agents:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="API" icon="message" href="/api/overview">
    Integrate AI agents into your product and manage them programmatically. Send messages via REST or WebSocket, receive structured responses and streaming outputs, and operate projects, agents, and versions — ready for web, mobile, or backend use.
  </Card>

  <Card title="SDK" icon="cube" href="/sdk/overview">
    The official TypeScript/JavaScript client (`@aui.io/aui-client`) — type-safe methods, automatic retries, and built-in WebSocket handling.
  </Card>

  <Card title="CLI" icon="terminal" href="/cli/overview">
    Develop agents locally with a CLI-first workflow. Edit JSON configs with schema support, validate instantly, and deploy to the cloud with a single command.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Agent Builder API" icon="robot" href="/agent-builder/overview">
    Programmatically create and manage agents. Define knowledge, tools, behavior,
    and guardrails through a simple API — fully customizable and scalable.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

|               | API                          | SDK                       | CLI                     | Agent Builder API         |
| ------------- | ---------------------------- | ------------------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------- |
| **Purpose**   | Message & manage agents      | Type-safe client for apps | Develop & deploy agents | Create & configure agents |
| **Interface** | REST + WebSocket             | TypeScript / JavaScript   | Terminal                | REST                      |
| **Status**    | v1 — Stable                  | Stable                    | Beta — GA Q2 2026       | Upcoming — Q2 2026        |
| **Best for**  | App integration & operations | Web & Node apps           | Day-to-day development  | Automation & CI/CD        |

***

## Start from the Playground

The fastest way to experience AUI is through the [Playground](https://playground-v3.aui.io) — no code required.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Playground">
    Go to [playground-v3.aui.io](https://playground-v3.aui.io) and log in with your AUI account.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select an agent">
    Choose an existing agent or create a new one to start a conversation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Chat">
    Send messages and see the agent respond in real time. Test how it handles different intents, activates tools, and follows rules.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to code">
    When you're ready to integrate, exchange your publishable key for an access
    token and send the same messages programmatically:

    ```bash cURL theme={"dark"}
    # 1. Exchange your publishable key for an access token
    curl -X POST "https://api-v3.aui.io/apollo-api/management/v1/auth/token" \
      -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
      -d '{ "grant_type": "publishable_key", "publishable_key": "pk_..." }'

    # 2. Send a message — a conversation thread is created automatically
    curl -X POST "https://api-v3.aui.io/apollo-api/messaging/v1/messages" \
      -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer <access_token>" \
      -d '{
        "text": "I need help finding a product",
        "user_id": "my-user-123"
      }'
    ```

    See the [API overview](/api/overview) for the full tour.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="API" icon="paper-plane" href="/api/overview">
    Start integrating agents into your app.
  </Card>

  <Card title="CLI Installation" icon="download" href="/cli/installation">
    Install the CLI and start building agents locally.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>