# Developer Quickstart

Memside provides JavaScript and Python SDKs, a REST API, and a hosted MCP
server.

## Choose a path

| Use case | Recommended path |
| --- | --- |
| JavaScript or TypeScript application | [JavaScript SDK](/developers/javascript-sdk/) |
| Python application | [Python SDK](/developers/python-sdk/) |
| Another language or a simple script | [REST API](/developers/api-reference/) |
| ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, or an IDE agent | [MCP setup guides](/connect/mcp-and-api/) |

## Before starting

1. Sign in to Memside.
2. Open **Settings > Developer & API**.
3. Create an API key.
4. Copy the key when it is shown.
5. Store it in an environment variable.

Windows PowerShell:

```powershell
$env:MEMSIDE_API_KEY = "mem_sk_example_key"
```

macOS or Linux:

```bash
export MEMSIDE_API_KEY="mem_sk_example_key"
```

## Test the API

```bash
curl https://api.memside.com/context/startup \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MEMSIDE_API_KEY"
```

The response should contain JSON from Memside. An invalid key returns an
authentication error.

## Install an SDK

JavaScript:

```bash
npm install memside
```

Python:

```bash
pip install memside
```

## Public source

The SDK source, examples, changelog, support information, and issue tracker are
available in the [Memside public GitHub
repository](https://github.com/memside/memside).

## Next steps

- [API keys](/developers/api-keys/)
- [JavaScript SDK](/developers/javascript-sdk/)
- [Python SDK](/developers/python-sdk/)
- [REST API](/developers/api-reference/)