{"title":"Quick Start (Human)","slug":"quick-start","category":"getting-started","summary":"Register an account, create your first mind, store a memory — all in 5 minutes.","audience":["human"],"tags":["quickstart","human","register","mind-key"],"difficulty":"beginner","updated":"2026-06-27","word_count":365,"read_minutes":2,"lang":"en","translated":true,"requested_lang":"en","content_markdown":"\n# Quick Start (Human)\n\nThis guide walks you through getting a Synapse account, your first Mind Key,\nand storing your first memory. Total time: ~5 minutes.\n\n## Step 1: Register an Account\n\nOpen the Synapse API and create an account:\n\n```bash\ncurl -X POST https://synapse.schaefer.zone/register \\\n -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n -d '{\n \"email\": \"you@example.com\",\n \"password\": \"your-secure-password\"\n }'\n```\n\nResponse:\n\n```json\n{\n \"jwt\": \"eyJhbGci...\",\n \"user\": { \"id\": \"u_abc123\", \"email\": \"you@example.com\" }\n}\n```\n\n> [!TIP]\n> Save the JWT somewhere safe — you'll need it to create minds. The JWT expires\n> after 7 days; re-login with the same endpoint to refresh.\n\n## Step 2: Create Your First Mind\n\nA \"mind\" is an isolated memory scope. Most users start with one mind, but you can\nhave multiple (e.g. \"work\", \"personal\", \"project-x\"). Each mind has its own\nunique Mind Key.\n\n```bash\ncurl -X POST https://synapse.schaefer.zone/minds \\\n -H \"Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT\" \\\n -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n -d '{\n \"name\": \"My First Mind\",\n \"description\": \"Personal assistant memory\"\n }'\n```\n\nResponse:\n\n```json\n{\n \"id\": \"m_xyz789\",\n \"name\": \"My First Mind\",\n \"mind_key\": \"mk_aBcDeFgHiJkLmNoPqRsTuVwXyZ0123456789\",\n \"created_at\": \"2026-06-27T...\"\n}\n```\n\n> [!CRITICAL]\n> **Save the `mind_key` immediately.** It is shown only once and cannot be\n> retrieved later. If you lose it, you'll need to create a new mind.\n\n## Step 3: Store Your First Memory\n\nNow use the Mind Key to store a memory:\n\n```bash\ncurl -X POST https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory \\\n -H \"Authorization: Bearer YOUR_MIND_KEY\" \\\n -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n -d '{\n \"category\": \"identity\",\n \"key\": \"user_name\",\n \"content\": \"My name is Michael\",\n \"tags\": [\"personal\", \"identity\"],\n \"priority\": \"critical\"\n }'\n```\n\nResponse:\n\n```json\n{\n \"id\": \"mem_001\",\n \"status\": \"stored\",\n \"mind_id\": \"m_xyz789\"\n}\n```\n\n## Step 4: Recall All Memories\n\nTo retrieve everything you've stored:\n\n```bash\ncurl -H \"Authorization: Bearer YOUR_MIND_KEY\" \\\n https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory/recall\n```\n\nResponse (plain text, optimized for LLM consumption):\n\n```\nMind: My First Mind\nMemories: 1 total (1 verified)\n\n[001] identity (CRITICAL)\n user_name\n My name is Michael\n Tags: personal, identity\n Stored: 2026-06-27\n```\n\n## Step 5: Search Memories\n\nFind specific memories by keyword:\n\n```bash\ncurl -H \"Authorization: Bearer YOUR_MIND_KEY\" \\\n \"https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory/search?q=michael\"\n```\n\n## Step 6: Connect Your LLM\n\nThe easiest way to give your LLM access to Synapse is via MCP:\n\n- [Claude Desktop setup](/docs/mcp/claude-desktop) — 2-minute config\n- [Claude Code setup](/docs/mcp/claude-code) — terminal integration\n- [Cursor setup](/docs/mcp/cursor) — IDE integration\n\nAfter setup, your LLM will automatically call `memory_recall` at the start of\nevery session and persist new facts via `memory_store`.\n\n## Memory Categories\n\nSynapse supports 8 categories — pick the most specific one:\n\n| Category | Use Case |\n|----------|----------|\n| `identity` | User name, role, contact info |\n| `preference` | Likes, dislikes, working style |\n| `fact` | Verifiable facts (project details, dates) |\n| `project` | Project status, milestones, todos |\n| `skill` | Things the user is good at |\n| `mistake` | Past errors — avoid repeating |\n| `context` | Session-relevant context |\n| `note` | Misc notes |\n\n## Priority Levels\n\n- `low` — nice to know\n- `normal` — default\n- `high` — important\n- `critical` — must never forget (user identity, legal info)\n\n## Next Steps\n\n- [Authentication deep-dive](/docs/getting-started/authentication)\n- [Mind Key vs JWT](/docs/getting-started/mind-key-vs-jwt)\n- [Memory API reference](/docs/api/memory)\n- [MCP integration](/docs/mcp/what-is-mcp)\n","content_html":"

Quick Start (Human)

\n

This guide walks you through getting a Synapse account, your first Mind Key,\nand storing your first memory. Total time: ~5 minutes.

\n

Step 1: Register an Account

\n

Open the Synapse API and create an account:

\n
curl -X POST https://synapse.schaefer.zone/register \\\n  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \\\n  -d '{\n    "email": "you@example.com",\n    "password": "your-secure-password"\n  }'

Response:

\n
{\n  "jwt": "eyJhbGci...",\n  "user": { "id": "u_abc123", "email": "you@example.com" }\n}
Save the JWT somewhere safe — you'll need it to create minds. The JWT expires\nafter 7 days; re-login with the same endpoint to refresh.

Step 2: Create Your First Mind

\n

A "mind" is an isolated memory scope. Most users start with one mind, but you can\nhave multiple (e.g. "work", "personal", "project-x"). Each mind has its own\nunique Mind Key.

\n
curl -X POST https://synapse.schaefer.zone/minds \\\n  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT" \\\n  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \\\n  -d '{\n    "name": "My First Mind",\n    "description": "Personal assistant memory"\n  }'

Response:

\n
{\n  "id": "m_xyz789",\n  "name": "My First Mind",\n  "mind_key": "mk_aBcDeFgHiJkLmNoPqRsTuVwXyZ0123456789",\n  "created_at": "2026-06-27T..."\n}
**Save the `mind_key` immediately.** It is shown only once and cannot be\nretrieved later. If you lose it, you'll need to create a new mind.

Step 3: Store Your First Memory

\n

Now use the Mind Key to store a memory:

\n
curl -X POST https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory \\\n  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_MIND_KEY" \\\n  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \\\n  -d '{\n    "category": "identity",\n    "key": "user_name",\n    "content": "My name is Michael",\n    "tags": ["personal", "identity"],\n    "priority": "critical"\n  }'

Response:

\n
{\n  "id": "mem_001",\n  "status": "stored",\n  "mind_id": "m_xyz789"\n}

Step 4: Recall All Memories

\n

To retrieve everything you've stored:

\n
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_MIND_KEY" \\\n     https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory/recall

Response (plain text, optimized for LLM consumption):

\n
Mind: My First Mind\nMemories: 1 total (1 verified)\n\n[001] identity (CRITICAL)\n  user_name\n  My name is Michael\n  Tags: personal, identity\n  Stored: 2026-06-27

Step 5: Search Memories

\n

Find specific memories by keyword:

\n
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_MIND_KEY" \\\n     "https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory/search?q=michael"

Step 6: Connect Your LLM

\n

The easiest way to give your LLM access to Synapse is via MCP:

\n\n

After setup, your LLM will automatically call memory_recall at the start of\nevery session and persist new facts via memory_store.

\n

Memory Categories

\n

Synapse supports 8 categories — pick the most specific one:

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
CategoryUse Case
identityUser name, role, contact info
preferenceLikes, dislikes, working style
factVerifiable facts (project details, dates)
projectProject status, milestones, todos
skillThings the user is good at
mistakePast errors — avoid repeating
contextSession-relevant context
noteMisc notes
\n

Priority Levels

\n\n

Next Steps

\n\n","urls":{"html":"/docs/getting-started/quick-start","text":"/docs/getting-started/quick-start?format=text","json":"/docs/getting-started/quick-start?format=json","llm":"/docs/getting-started/quick-start?format=llm"},"translations_available":["en","zh","hi","es","fr","ar","pt","ru","ja","de","it","ko","nl","pl","tr","sv","vi","th","id","uk"]}