# Installing the CLI

## Prerequisites

* **Python 3.7 or newer** — required for both the CLI and the Python API.
* **A Nuvolos API key** — see below.

## Create an API key

An API key is a long, randomly generated string that acts like a password. When the CLI or the Python API sends a request to Nuvolos, it includes this key so the server knows the request comes from you — without you having to type your username and password every time.

1. Open [**User Settings → API ACCESS**](https://app.nuvolos.cloud/user/settings/api-access).
2. Click **+ ADD NEW API KEY**.
3. Copy the key and store it somewhere safe (e.g. a password manager).

{% hint style="warning" %}
The API key is only displayed once, at creation time. If you lose it, you will need to generate a new one.
{% endhint %}

The key is automatically configured for every Nuvolos application you start — no extra setup is needed if you only use the CLI inside Nuvolos.

## Install the CLI

Run the following command in a terminal:

```bash
pip install -U nuvolos-cli
```

Verify the installation:

```bash
nuvolos info
```

This prints your current user, organisation, and API key status.

## Configure a local installation

If you installed the CLI on your own computer (outside a Nuvolos application), you need to tell it which API key to use:

```bash
nuvolos config --api-key <YOUR_API_KEY>
```

Replace `<YOUR_API_KEY>` with the key you copied earlier. After this, all CLI commands will authenticate against your Nuvolos account.

## Install the Python API

If you prefer to work in Python scripts or notebooks rather than the shell, install the Python client instead of (or alongside) the CLI:

```bash
pip install -U nuvolos-client-api
```

The Python API uses the same API key. Inside a Nuvolos application the key is detected automatically; on your local machine, pass it when creating a client instance (see the [nuvolos-client-api README](https://github.com/nuvolos-cloud/nuvolos-client-api) for details).


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