# Quickstart

Get started with Kopai in 5 minutes

Get up and running with Kopai in under 5 minutes.

## Prerequisites

- Node.js v22.13.0+ installed

## Step 1: Start Kopai

Run the local backend — this starts an OTEL collector on port `4318` and an API server on port `8000`:

**npm:**

```bash
npx @kopai/app start
```

**pnpm:**

```bash
pnpm dlx @kopai/app start
```

**yarn:**

```bash
yarn dlx @kopai/app start
```

Your app's telemetry will be sent to `http://localhost:4318` and you can query it or view the dashboard at `http://localhost:8000`.

## Step 2: Instrument Your Application

See the integration guides for instrumentation examples for your programming language/runtime:

- [Node.js](/integration/languages/node)
- [JavaScript in the browser](/integration/languages/browser)
- [Python](/integration/languages/python)
- [Go](/integration/languages/go)
- [Java](/integration/languages/java)
- [.NET](/integration/languages/dotnet)
- [Ruby](/integration/languages/ruby)
- [PHP](/integration/languages/php)
- [Rust](/integration/languages/rust)
- [C++](/integration/languages/cpp)
- [Erlang](/integration/languages/erlang)

When running the app set the following env var to make the apps send telemetry to `@kopai/app` on localhost

```
export OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT=http://localhost:4318
```

## Step 3: Verify that your application instrumentation works as expected

Open `@kopai/app` web interface on `http://localhost:8000`

and inspect the Logs, Metrics and Traces

## Step 4: Go multiplayer -> sign up for a Kopai account

([sign up for free beta here](https://kopai.app))

## Step 5: Get Your Backend Token

1. Go to **Settings** → **Access Tokens** in your `kopai.app` dashboard
2. Click **Generate Token**
3. Copy the token (it won't be shown again)

## Step 6: Point Your App to Kopai Cloud

Set your Kopai endpoint and backend token as env vars for your instrumented app:

```bash
export OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT="https://otlp-http.kopai.app"
export OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_HEADERS="Authorization=Bearer YOUR_BACKEND_TOKEN"
```

## Step 7: Invite your team

1. Go to **Team** in your `kopai.app` dashboard
2. Click **Invite Member**

## Step 8: Authenticate the CLI

Every team member can create their own CLI token to query traces, logs, and metrics sent to `kopai.app`:

1. Go to **Settings** → **Access Tokens** in your `kopai.app` dashboard
2. Click **Generate Token** and select **CLI** as the token type
3. Copy the token

Then log in:

**npm:**

```bash
npx @kopai/cli login
```

**pnpm:**

```bash
pnpm dlx @kopai/cli login
```

**yarn:**

```bash
yarn dlx @kopai/cli login
```

Paste the CLI token at the prompt. See [Authentication](/authentication/#cli-authentication) for full details.