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

# Quickstart

> Install the User Intuition CLI and make your first call in under two minutes.

## 1. Get an API key

Sign in at [app.userintuition.ai](https://app.userintuition.ai) and create a key under **Settings → API Keys**. Keys look like `ui_sk_...`. Copy it now — it is only shown once.

## 2. Install

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="One-shot (npx)">
    No install — runs the latest published version on demand:

    ```bash theme={null}
    npx -y @userintuition-ai/mcp list
    ```

    Slower per-invocation (npm fetches metadata). Best for occasional use.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Global">
    ```bash theme={null}
    npm install -g @userintuition-ai/mcp
    userintuition-mcp list
    ```

    Installs once, then `userintuition-mcp` is on your `PATH`. Best for daily use.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Project-local">
    ```bash theme={null}
    npm install --save-dev @userintuition-ai/mcp
    npx userintuition-mcp list
    ```

    Pinned to your project's `package.json` and lockfile. Best for CI and reproducible scripts.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## 3. Set your key

```bash theme={null}
export USERINTUITION_API_KEY=ui_sk_your_key_here
```

Add this to your shell profile (`~/.zshrc`, `~/.bashrc`) so it persists across sessions. For CI, set it as a secret environment variable.

## 4. Verify the connection

```bash theme={null}
userintuition-mcp call list_studies
```

A JSON array (possibly empty) on stdout confirms the CLI, your key, and network egress to `api.userintuition.ai` are all working.

## 5. First real call

Estimate the cost of a small Human Signal study without spending any Panel budget:

```bash theme={null}
userintuition-mcp call ask_humans \
  --mode preference \
  --text "Which tagline resonates more with busy parents?" \
  --options '["Save time, save money", "Less stress, more life"]' \
  --n 25 \
  --dry_run true
```

You should see an estimated cost on stdout. When you're ready to actually field the study, change `--dry_run false`.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Command reference" icon="terminal" href="/cli/commands">
    Full reference for `list`, `describe`, `call`, and every flag.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Recipes" icon="book" href="/cli/recipes">
    CI cost gates, lifecycle scripts, batch operations.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>