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

# Quickstart (CLI)

> Install the nodepick CLI (np), save your credentials, deploy a compute node, connect via SSH, and clean up.

Get up and running with the nodepick.ai command-line tool (`np`) in less than a minute. Deploy and manage compute nodes directly from your terminal.

<Note>
  Billing is calculated per-second. It starts the moment your node is created and stops the moment you delete it.
</Note>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install the CLI">
    Install the `np` CLI using `uv` (recommended) or `pip`:

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash uv theme={null}
      uv tool install nodepick-cli
      ```

      ```bash pip theme={null}
      pip install nodepick-cli
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Authenticate Your Account">
    Save your API key securely in your OS keyring using `np auth save`:

    ```bash theme={null}
    np auth save --api-key YOUR_API_KEY
    ```

    Verify access and display your account details:

    ```bash theme={null}
    np auth test
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add an SSH Public Key (Optional)">
    Register an SSH public key so it is automatically injected into new nodes:

    ```bash theme={null}
    np ssh add --name my-key --file ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Deploy Your First Node">
    Create a new compute node with a single command:

    ```bash theme={null}
    np node create --name my-first-node --cpu 1 --memory 512
    ```

    Your node is provisioned and ready in seconds.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect via SSH">
    List your nodes to retrieve the SSH connection command:

    ```bash theme={null}
    np node list
    ```

    Alternatively, inspect detailed information for your specific node:

    ```bash theme={null}
    np node get my-first-node
    ```

    Run the printed SSH command to connect to your node:

    ```bash theme={null}
    ssh nodepick@<hostname> -p <port>
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Clean Up">
    When you finish, delete the node to terminate billing immediately:

    ```bash theme={null}
    np node delete my-first-node
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Command Cheat Sheet

```bash theme={null}
# Authenticate
np auth save --api-key YOUR_API_KEY
np auth test

# Register SSH Key
np ssh add --name dev-key --file ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

# Manage Nodes
np node create --name dev-server --cpu 2 --memory 1024
np node list
np node get dev-server
np node shutdown dev-server
np node boot dev-server
np node delete dev-server
```

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="CLI Reference" icon="terminal" href="/cli-reference/overview">
    Explore all CLI subcommands, global options, and output formats.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quick Start (API)" icon="code" href="/quickstart-api">
    Learn how to manage compute nodes programmatically using Python SDK or HTTP API.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>