# Getting started

## What needs configuration?

The web workspace needs an account and sufficient credit. It does not require an upstream provider key. External tools need your U9 AI API key, this site's API address and an available model ID. Your U9 account and balance are independent of other sites.

## Before the first request

1. [Register or sign in](/en/app) on this site.
2. Open Wallet. Contact support for a recharge or select a deposit network currently shown there. See [deposit rules](/en/docs/billing).
3. Open API keys, create a dedicated key for your tool and save it when displayed. Revoked or expired keys cannot be reused.
4. Select a model from your account's live model list. A display name is not necessarily the API model ID.

| Setting | Value |
| --- | --- |
| OpenAI-compatible base URL | https://u9ai.ai/v1 |
| Claude Code gateway root | https://u9ai.ai |
| Credential | Your own U9 AI API key |
| Model | An available API model ID for the required protocol |

## Verify authentication first

Set U9AI_API_KEY locally to your own key, then run the read-only request below. Do not paste keys into tickets, Markdown files or source control. This request checks authentication and model discovery; it does not prove generation or tool calling works.

```bash
curl --fail-with-body -sS "https://u9ai.ai/v1/models" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $U9AI_API_KEY"
```

```powershell
Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "https://u9ai.ai/v1/models" -Headers @{Authorization="Bearer $env:U9AI_API_KEY"}
```

## Next step

Use the [web workspace guide](/en/docs/playground), [API protocol guide](/en/docs/api), [Claude Code guide](/en/docs/claude-code) or [Codex guide](/en/docs/codex). Download [agent handoff files](/en/docs/agent-files) if another developer or AI tool will configure your project.