# Install and sign in

## Install

```bash
pip install https://runcompute.cloud/sdk/runcompute-0.2.0-py3-none-any.whl
runcompute --version
```

The package has no dependencies outside the Python standard library.

## Create an API key

Open the [console](/console), enter your email address and select
**Create key**. Keys start with `rc_`. The console shows the key once on the
**API keys** page; copy it somewhere safe.

## Sign in from a terminal

```bash
runcompute login
```

Paste the key when asked. The command checks it against the API and saves it
to `~/.runcompute/credentials.json` with permissions `600`.

For scripts, pass it directly:

```bash
runcompute login --key "$RUNCOMPUTE_API_KEY"
```

## Use a key without saving it

The client reads keys in this order:

| Source | Example |
| --- | --- |
| `api_key` argument | `runcompute.Client(api_key="rc_...")` |
| `RUNCOMPUTE_API_KEY` environment variable | `export RUNCOMPUTE_API_KEY=rc_...` |
| Saved login | `~/.runcompute/credentials.json` |

Set `RUNCOMPUTE_HOME` to keep credentials somewhere other than `~/.runcompute`.

## Other deployments

The client talks to `https://runcompute.cloud` by default. Point it elsewhere
with `base_url=`, `RUNCOMPUTE_BASE_URL`, or `runcompute --base-url`. A login
made with `--base-url` remembers that address.

## Sign out

```bash
runcompute logout
```