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This guide will get you set up and ready to make your first API call in just a few minutes. Follow these simple steps to begin integrating with our platform.

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Step 1: Sign Up and Get Your API Key

Before you can interact with our APIs, you’ll need to sign up for an account and obtain your unique API key.
  1. Sign Up: If you haven’t already, create an account here.
  2. Access Dashboard: Once signed in, navigate to the settings section of the dashboard (near the bottom!)
  3. Generate API Key: In the settings, look for the area titled “API Keys.” Generate a new API key.
  • Important: Keep your API key secure and do not share it publicly. Treat it like a password. When interacting with most of our general APIs, you will typically pass this key in an X-API-KEY header.

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Step 2: Choose Your Preferred Language/Tool

Our API is designed to be language-agnostic, meaning you can use it with any programming language or tool that can send HTTP requests. Here are some common options:
  • cURL: For quick command-line testing.
  • Python: Ideal for scripting and backend applications.
  • JavaScript (Node.js/Browser): Great for web applications.

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Step 3: Make Your First API Call

Let’s make a simple call to verify your setup. We’ll use the /api/account/get-display-name endpoint as an example, which retrieves the display name of the currently authenticated user.

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Using cURL (Command Line)

Open your terminal or command prompt and run the following command. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with the actual API key you obtained in Step 1. 
curl -X GET \
  'https://theslow.net/api/account/get-display-name' \
  -H 'X-API-KEY: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json'

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Using Python

Create a new Python file (e.g., first_call.py) and add the following code: 
import requests

API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY" # Replace with your actual API key
BASE_URL = "https://theslow.net/api" # All APIs are accessible via this base URL

headers = {
    "X-API-KEY": API_KEY,
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

try:
    response = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/account/get-display-name", headers=headers)
    response.raise_for_status() # Raise an exception for HTTP errors (4xx or 5xx)
    print("API Call Successful!")
    print(response.json())
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
    print(f"An error occurred: {e}")
    if response:
        print(f"Response status code: {response.status_code}")
        print(f"Response body: {response.text}")
Run the Python script: 
python first_call.py

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Using JavaScript (Browser fetch)

This example demonstrates how to call the API from a web application using fetch. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your actual API key. 
async function getDisplayName() {
  const API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY"; // Replace with your actual API key
  const BASE_URL = "https://theslow.net/api"; // All APIs are accessible via this base URL

  try {
    const response = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/account/get-display-name`, {
      method: 'GET',
      headers: {
        'X-API-KEY': API_KEY, // Pass API key in header
        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
      }
    });

    if (!response.ok) {
      // Handle HTTP errors (e.g., 401 Unauthorized, 500 Internal Server Error)
      const errorData = await response.json();
      console.error('API Call Failed:', response.status, errorData.error);
      return null;
    }

    const data = await response.json();
    console.log('Display Name:', data.display_name);
    return data.display_name;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('An unexpected error occurred:', error);
    return null;
  }
}

// Example usage:
// getDisplayName();

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Expected Response

If the call is successful and a display name is available, you should receive a JSON response similar to this: 
{
  "display_name": "John Doe"
}
Or, in case of an authorization error (e.g., invalid API key): 
{
  "error": "Unauthorized"
}

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What’s Next?

Congratulations! You’ve successfully made your first API call using your API key. Now you’re ready to:
  • Explore the API Reference: Dive deeper into all available API endpoints.
  • Read Guides: Learn about specific use cases and advanced topics in our Guides section.
  • Understand Core Concepts: Get a better grasp of our platform’s underlying principles.

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Need Further Assistance?

If you have any questions or encounter issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team.