# Quick Start Guide

> Get TraceKit running with your application in just a few minutes.

- Canonical: https://tracekit.dev/docs/quickstart

Get TraceKit running with your application in just a few minutes.

You don't need an SDK. Point your existing OTLP exporter directly at TraceKit:

```text
Traces:  https://app.tracekit.dev/v1/traces
Metrics: https://app.tracekit.dev/v1/metrics
Header:  X-API-Key: your_api_key_here
```

That's it -- your traces and metrics will appear in the dashboard immediately. The SDK is only needed for features outside the OTel spec: [dynamic logs](/docs/code-monitoring), automatic PII scrubbing, and [LLM instrumentation](/docs/languages/go#llm-instrumentation).

## Step 1: Generate an API Key

Every application sending traces to TraceKit needs an API key for authentication.

1. Navigate to [API Keys](https://app.tracekit.dev/api-keys) in the dashboard
2. Click "Generate New Key"
3. Give your key a descriptive name (e.g., "Production Backend")
4. **Copy the key immediately** -- you won't see it again!

Store your API key securely. Never commit it to version control. Use environment variables instead.

## Step 2: Install SDK

Select your application's programming language and install the SDK:

### Node.js SDK

Official SDK for Node.js and TypeScript applications.

```bash
npm install @tracekit/node-apm
```

**Features:**
- Express & Fastify middleware
- Full TypeScript support
- Automatic batching & retry

[View Documentation](/docs/languages/nodejs) | [GitHub](https://github.com/Tracekit-Dev/node-apm) | [npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@tracekit/node-apm)

### Python SDK

Official SDK for Python 3.8+ applications.

```bash
pip install tracekit-apm
```

**Features:**
- Flask, Django & FastAPI middleware
- Type hints support
- Context managers for tracing

[View Documentation](/docs/languages/python) | [GitHub](https://github.com/Tracekit-Dev/python-apm) | [PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/tracekit-apm/)

### Go SDK

Official SDK for Go applications.

```bash
go get github.com/Tracekit-Dev/go-sdk
```

**Features:**
- Goroutine-safe logging
- Automatic batching & retry
- Context support for tracing

[View Documentation](/docs/languages/go) | [GitHub](https://github.com/Tracekit-Dev/go-sdk) | [pkg.go.dev](https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/Tracekit-Dev/go-sdk)

### PHP SDK

Official SDK for PHP 8.1+ applications.

```bash
composer require tracekit/php-apm
```

**Features:**
- Symfony & PSR-15 middleware
- Strict types & enums
- Auto-shutdown handling

[View Documentation](/docs/languages/php) | [GitHub](https://github.com/Tracekit-Dev/php-apm) | [Packagist](https://packagist.org/packages/tracekit/php-apm)

### Java SDK

Official SDK for Java & Kotlin applications.

```xml
<dependency>
  <groupId>dev.tracekit</groupId>
  <artifactId>tracekit-core</artifactId>
</dependency>
```

**Features:**
- Spring Boot auto-configuration
- Kotlin coroutine support
- Annotation-based tracing

[View Documentation](/docs/languages/java) | [GitHub](https://github.com/Tracekit-Dev/java-sdk) | [Maven Central](https://central.sonatype.com/artifact/dev.tracekit/tracekit-core)

### C# / .NET SDK

Official SDK for .NET 8+ applications.

```bash
dotnet add package TraceKit.AspNetCore
```

**Features:**
- ASP.NET Core middleware
- Dependency injection support
- Minimal API integration

[View Documentation](/docs/languages/dotnet) | [GitHub](https://github.com/Tracekit-Dev/dotnet-sdk) | [NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/TraceKit.AspNetCore)

### Laravel SDK

First-class Laravel integration package.

```bash
composer require tracekit/laravel-apm
```

**Features:**
- Auto-discovery & zero config
- Queue & job tracing
- Blade directive support

[View Documentation](/docs/frameworks/laravel) | [GitHub](https://github.com/Tracekit-Dev/laravel-apm) | [Packagist](https://packagist.org/packages/tracekit/laravel-apm)

### Ruby SDK

Official SDK for Ruby 2.7+ and Rails applications.

```bash
bundle add tracekit
```

**Features:**
- Rails Railtie auto-configuration
- Sidekiq & Redis tracing
- Security scanning built-in

[View Documentation](/docs/languages/ruby) | [GitHub](https://github.com/Tracekit-Dev/ruby-sdk) | [RubyGems](https://rubygems.org/gems/tracekit)

## Step 3: Configure OTLP Endpoint

All language integrations send traces to the same endpoint:

```text
Endpoint: https://app.tracekit.dev/v1/traces
Header: X-API-Key: ctxio_your_api_key_here
```

Once configured, your traces will start appearing in the TraceKit dashboard automatically.

## Next Steps

- **[Code Monitoring](/docs/code-monitoring)** -- Add dynamic logs and capture live variable snapshots without redeploying
- **[Custom Metrics](/docs/metrics)** -- Track counters, gauges, and histograms with SDK-native methods
- **[Set Up Alerts](/docs/alerts)** -- Get notified when your services experience issues
- **[Notification Channels](/docs/channels)** -- Configure Slack and Telegram notifications