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

# Getting Started

> Choose your path into Unpod - and the right credential for it.

One backend, several doors. Pick the outcome you want; each path is one page
and takes minutes.

## Choose your path

| I want to...                                 | Start here                                                               | You need                                                        |
| -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Place a real phone call with an agent**    | [Quickstart](/get-started/quickstart) - six SDK calls, nothing to deploy | Platform token + a number                                       |
| Talk to an agent in the browser              | [Realtime](/get-started/realtime)                                        | A browser - runs in the hosted Playground                       |
| Publish an agent to a number, no code        | [Phone](/get-started/phone)                                              | A [Playground](https://superdialog.unpod.ai/playground) account |
| Run my own Python brain on calls             | [Run Your Own Brain](/get-started/first-phone-call)                      | SDK key + a number                                              |
| Call a trained agent like a model, over REST | [Chat API](/playbook/api)                                                | Endpoint key                                                    |

Not sure? Take the **Quickstart** - it is the shortest path to something
real: your phone rings, an agent speaks, and the transcript comes back in
code.

## Which credential is which

Unpod's credentials are not interchangeable:

| You are calling                              | Host                 | Auth                                                            | From                                                                |
| -------------------------------------------- | -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Python SDK REST** (agents, numbers, calls) | `api.unpod.ai`       | `UNPOD_PLATFORM_TOKEN` + `UNPOD_ORG_HANDLE`, or `UNPOD_API_KEY` | [Quickstart → Prerequisites](/get-started/quickstart#prerequisites) |
| **AgentRunner** (your own brain)             | the orchestrator     | `UNPOD_API_KEY` (`sk_...`)                                      | [unpod.ai/api-keys](https://unpod.ai/api-keys/)                     |
| **Chat API** (trained agent as a model)      | `inference.unpod.ai` | `Authorization: Bearer` endpoint key                            | Playground → Deploy as Endpoint                                     |

The SDK reads all of it from the environment; token auth wins over the API
key when both are present. Set whichever matches the path you are on.

## Before the first line of code

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Why Unpod" icon="compass" href="/get-started/why-unpod">
    The communication backend for agentic apps - the case in two minutes.
  </Card>

  <Card title="How Unpod fits together" icon="network" href="/get-started/core-concepts">
    The spine, the four layers, and every term defined once.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>