> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.captar.aurat.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installation

> Add the Captar SDK, prepare environment variables, and set up the base project shape.

# Installation

Use Captar when you want runtime controls inside your application rather than a
proxy or gateway layer.

The install footprint is intentionally small: the SDK, your provider client, and
whatever exporter configuration you choose for traces.

<Tabs items={["pnpm", "npm", "yarn"]}>
  <Tab>
    ```bash theme={null}
    pnpm add @captar/sdk openai
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab>
    ```bash theme={null}
    npm install @captar/sdk openai
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab>
    ```bash theme={null}
    yarn add @captar/sdk openai
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Environment

<Files>
  <Folder name="your-app" defaultOpen>
    <File name=".env" />

    <Folder name="src" defaultOpen>
      <File name="captar.ts" />
    </Folder>
  </Folder>
</Files>

```bash theme={null}
OPENAI_API_KEY=...
CAPTAR_INGEST_URL=http://localhost:3000/api/ingest
CAPTAR_INGEST_API_KEY=
```

## Base runtime

```ts theme={null}
import { createCaptar } from "@captar/sdk";

export const captar = createCaptar({
  project: "support-bot",
  exporter: {
    url: process.env.CAPTAR_INGEST_URL!,
    apiKey: process.env.CAPTAR_INGEST_API_KEY,
  },
});
```

## After install

1. Create a runtime module you can import anywhere in your app.
2. Store project defaults in one place, not inline in every request handler.
3. Decide whether exporter settings come from environment variables or code.
4. Start with one session path, then add policies and tool tracking.

<Callout type="success" title="OpenAI-compatible v1">
  Captar v1 is intentionally optimized for OpenAI and OpenAI-compatible request
  flows. Other provider integrations should stay out of scope for now.
</Callout>