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

# Quickstart

> Your first run: the setup wizard, signing in, and starting a chat.

This page covers your first run. If you have not installed Alkera yet, start with [Installation](/installation).

## First run

The first time you open Alkera, a setup wizard walks you through your preferences, such as the theme, sets up your initial [Plugins & Connections](/foundations/plugins-and-connections), and signs you in.

On first run, Alkera creates a `.alkera` directory at your project root. It holds your chat history, your connection settings, and credentials.

<Warning>
  Add `.alkera/` to your `.gitignore`. Never commit it.
</Warning>

How you open Alkera and start a chat depends on whether you use the IDE extension or the CLI.

## IDE extension

Open your data project folder in your IDE. Click the Alkera logo in the left side bar to open Alkera.

You can also open it from the command palette. Press <kbd>Cmd</kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>P</kbd> on macOS, or <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>P</kbd> on Windows and Linux, then run **Open Alkera**.

Drag the Alkera logo to any side of the IDE to reposition the panel.

On first run, Alkera opens the setup wizard. This involves configuring [Plugins & Connections](/foundations/plugins-and-connections). Once it finishes, you can start a chat in the panel by selecting the model and typing within the chat composer.

## CLI

Sign in first:

```bash theme={null}
alkera login
```

Alkera prints a sign-in URL and opens your browser. If the browser does not open, for example when you are working over SSH, navigate to the URL yourself. You can approve on any device.

Running `alkera` with no arguments opens the chat. Run it from the root directory of your data project:

```bash theme={null}
cd ❮project path❯
alkera
```

Alkera uses the current directory as the project root by default. To point it at another project, pass the path:

```bash theme={null}
alkera -p ❮project path❯
```

The initial setup wizard will guide you through configuring [Plugins & Connections](/foundations/plugins-and-connections). Once past initial setup, use `/model` to select your desired model and effort for your new chat. Then, enter a prompt into the chat composer to begin a new chat.

## Learn more

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Agent & Tools" icon="robot" href="/foundations/agent-and-tools">
    Permission modes and effects, and what the agent is allowed to do.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Plugins & Connections" icon="plug" href="/foundations/plugins-and-connections">
    How Alkera reaches your data stack, and what each integration can do.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Data Lineage" icon="diagram-project" href="/foundations/lineage">
    How your data is produced, and what breaks if you change it.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Knowledge Base" icon="book-open" href="/foundations/knowledge-base">
    What your data means, and what your team decided about it.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Teams" icon="users" href="/foundations/teams">
    Organizations, teams, members, and roles.
  </Card>
</Columns>