> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.somewear.app/developer-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.somewear.app/developer-docs/beam/quick-start-linux-mac.md).

# Quick Start - Linux / Mac

## 1. Install

<pre class="language-bash" data-overflow="wrap" data-full-width="false"><code class="lang-bash"><strong>curl -fsSL https://get.somewear.app/beam/install-beam.sh | bash
</strong></code></pre>

This script will download the Beam binary, make it executable, and verify it's on your path.&#x20;

After a successful installation, you'll see Beam's help printed out.

## 2. Set up an API key

### Create an API Key

An API key can be provisioned from the Somewear Grid Web App within your organization admin portal. You will find API key management under the "API Keys" section at <https://somewear.app/app/settings/organization/integrations>.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you do not have access to the "Integrations" page or "API Keys" section, please reach out to the Somewear team to have this activated
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/izVnn4dqJijqyjZ18zEO" alt=""><figcaption><p>Click "Create API Key" to provision an API key for Beam</p></figcaption></figure>

Copy and paste your API key into a safe spot like a password manager.

### Activate this key for a Workspace

Before this API key can start sending & receiving data, you need to add it to a Workspace. Click on the gear icon to on the right side of your new API key.

<figure><img src="/files/Bj4nh2PjngjesUng1dHP" alt=""><figcaption><p>Click on the gear icon to add the API key to a Workspace.</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/eULF0lsA6jzgDq9O1XXZ" alt=""><figcaption><p>Toggle the Workspace you want this API key to be a member of.</p></figcaption></figure>

Beam will automatically activate the first Workspace that you joined. You can see your list of Workspaces and activate a different workspace with `beam workspace activate`.

## 4. Beam Up

Run `sudo beam up` to connect your machine to Somewear. On first usage, you'll be prompted for your API key.  Paste in the API key from earlier. This will create a config file for you at `~/.config/somewear/beam.properties`.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
`beam up` keeps Beam running in the background as a daemon service. Most commands will require that you have the Beam daemon service running.
{% endhint %}

## 5. Send a Message

A core feature of Somewear is chat. Beam allows you to send chat messages from the command line:

`beam message send --content 'Hello from Beam'`