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

# Quickstart

> Get an API key and run your first search in under two minutes.

## 1. Get an API key

Open **[app.askalchemist.com/settings/api-keys](https://app.askalchemist.com/settings/api-keys)**, click **Create key**, give it a name, and copy the raw key. It starts with `alch_` and is shown **only once** — save it now.

<Warning>
  The raw key is never stored. If you lose it, revoke it and create a new one.
</Warning>

## 2. Run your first search

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://api.askalchemist.com/api/insights/search \
    -H "X-API-Key: alch_YOUR_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{"query": "Fed dot plot rate path 2026"}'
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import httpx

  resp = httpx.post(
      "https://api.askalchemist.com/api/insights/search",
      headers={"X-API-Key": "alch_YOUR_KEY"},
      json={"query": "Fed dot plot rate path 2026"},
  )
  for insight in resp.json()["insights"]:
      print(insight["title"])
      print(insight["insight"])
      print("—", insight["source_name"], insight["published_date"])
      print()
  ```

  ```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
  const res = await fetch("https://api.askalchemist.com/api/insights/search", {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "X-API-Key": "alch_YOUR_KEY",
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({ query: "Fed dot plot rate path 2026" }),
  });

  const { insights } = await res.json();
  insights.forEach((i) => console.log(i.title, "—", i.source_name));
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Example response

```json theme={null}
{
  "insights": [
    {
      "insight_id": "ins_01jwx...",
      "title": "Fed median dot unchanged at 3.875% for end-2026",
      "insight": "The March 2026 Summary of Economic Projections showed the median federal funds rate projection for year-end 2026 held at 3.875%, unchanged from the December 2025 SEP.",
      "excerpts": [
        "The median projection for the federal funds rate at the end of 2026 remained at 3.875 percent."
      ],
      "doc_id": "doc_01jww...",
      "doc_title": "FOMC Summary of Economic Projections — March 2026",
      "source_url": "https://federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/fomcprojtabl20260320.pdf",
      "source_name": "Federal Reserve",
      "published_date": "2026-03-20",
      "score": 0.92
    }
  ]
}
```

## 3. Add source filters (optional)

Use `GET /api/documents/filters` to see available sources, then narrow your search:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://api.askalchemist.com/api/insights/search \
  -H "X-API-Key: alch_YOUR_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "query": "corn ending stocks revision",
    "source_name": "USDA",
    "since": "2026-01-01",
    "limit": 10
  }'
```

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Add to your agent" icon="robot" href="/agents/overview">
    Connect via MCP for zero-boilerplate tool calling in Claude, Cursor, Cline, and more.
  </Card>

  <Card title="API reference" icon="code" href="/api-reference/overview">
    Full endpoint docs — request shapes, response schemas, and error codes.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>