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

# Getting Started with Gas Station API

> Quick start guide for using the Altude Gas Station API

# Getting Started with Gas Station API

The Altude Gas Station API provides a simple, powerful way to interact with the Solana blockchain. Whether you're building a mobile app, web application, or backend service, our API handles the complexity of blockchain interactions so you can focus on building great user experiences.

## What is the Gas Station API?

The Gas Station API is a RESTful web service that abstracts away the complexities of direct Solana blockchain interaction. It provides:

* **Account Management**: Create, query, and manage Solana accounts
* **Transaction Processing**: Send individual or batch transactions
* **Balance Queries**: Check token balances across different mints
* **Transaction History**: Retrieve detailed account transaction history
* **Simplified Authentication**: Easy API key-based authentication

## Quick Setup

### Step 1: Create Your Account

Before you can use the API, you'll need to register for an account and get your API credentials:

1. **Visit the Website**: Go to [https://altude.so](https://altude.so)
2. **Register Your Account**: Fill out the registration form with your details
3. **Verify Your Email**: Check your email and verify your account
4. **Access Your Account**: Log in to your new account
5. **Create an App**: Register your application to get API credentials
6. **Get Your API Key**: Copy your unique API key for authentication

<Note>
  **Important**: Keep your API key secure and never expose it in client-side code.
</Note>

### Step 2: Make Your First API Call

Once you have your API key, you can start making requests to the Gas Station API:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST "https://api.altude.so/api/Account/balance" \
  -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "accountAddress": "YOUR_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS",
    "mintAddress": "EPjFWdd5AufqSSqeM2qN1xzybapC8G4wEGGkZwyTDt1v"
  }'
```

### Step 3: Explore the Endpoints

The Gas Station API is organized into two main categories:

* **[Account Operations](/api-reference/altude-api/account/balance)**: Manage accounts, check balances, and view history
* **[Transaction Operations](/api-reference/altude-api/transaction/send)**: Send transactions and batch operations

## Authentication

All API requests require authentication using your API key in the X-API-Key header:

```
X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY
```

## Base URL

All API requests should be made to:

```
https://api.altude.so/api
```

## Common Use Cases

### Check Account Balance

Perfect for wallet applications and balance displays:

```javascript theme={null}
const response = await fetch('https://api.altude.so/api/Account/balance', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': 'YOUR_API_KEY',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    accountAddress: 'your_account_address',
    mintAddress: 'EPjFWdd5AufqSSqeM2qN1xzybapC8G4wEGGkZwyTDt1v' // USDC
  })
});
```

### Send a Transaction

For payment processing and token transfers:

```javascript theme={null}
const response = await fetch('https://api.altude.so/api/Transaction/send', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': 'YOUR_API_KEY',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    signedTransaction: 'base64_encoded_signed_transaction'
  })
});
```

### Batch Transactions

For efficient bulk operations:

```javascript theme={null}
const response = await fetch('https://api.altude.so/api/Transaction/sendbatch', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': 'YOUR_API_KEY',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    signedTransaction: 'base64_encoded_batch_transaction'
  })
});
```

## Error Handling

The API uses standard HTTP status codes and returns JSON error responses:

```json theme={null}
{
  "error": "Invalid account address",
  "code": 400,
  "details": "The provided account address is not a valid Solana public key"
}
```

Common status codes:

* `200`: Success
* `400`: Bad Request (invalid parameters)
* `401`: Unauthorized (invalid API key)
* `404`: Not Found (resource doesn't exist)
* `500`: Internal Server Error

## Rate Limits

The API includes rate limiting to ensure fair usage:

* **Default**: 1000 requests per minute
* **Burst**: Up to 100 requests per second

Rate limit headers are included in all responses:

* `X-RateLimit-Limit`: Requests allowed per window
* `X-RateLimit-Remaining`: Requests remaining in current window
* `X-RateLimit-Reset`: Time when the rate limit resets

## SDKs Available

While you can use the API directly with HTTP requests, we also provide SDKs for easier integration:

* **[Android/Kotlin SDK](/SDKs/solana/android-kotlin)**: Native Android development
* **TypeScript/JavaScript**: Coming soon
* **Python**: Coming soon
* **Unity**: Coming soon

## Next Steps

1. **[Explore Account Endpoints](/api-reference/altude-api/account/balance)**: Learn about account management operations
2. **[Explore Transaction Endpoints](/api-reference/altude-api/transaction/send)**: Discover transaction processing capabilities
3. **[Converting from Kinetic](/api-reference/gas-station/converting-from-kinetic)**: If you're migrating from Kinetic API

## Need Help?

* **Documentation**: Explore the detailed API reference for each endpoint
* **Support**: Contact us at [andrew@altude.so](mailto:andrew@altude.so)
* **Community**: Join our [Discord](https://discord.gg/9gPsQeZD7x) for developer support

Ready to build? [Get your API key today](https://altude.so) and start integrating with the Solana blockchain in minutes!