---
updatedAt: 2026-10-13T12:42:30.000Z
agentTools:
  projectIndex: https://docs.hud.io/llms.txt
---

# Quick start

<Image align="center" border={false} src="https://files.readme.io/cf564ce0c97b6761ec17873c8505f58ce4784ff24df576dc24e1ca495c394496-image.png" />

<br />

Get Hud running on your first service in four steps.

<Cards columns={4}>
  <Card title="1. Create an account" href="/docs/installation-guide#1-create-an-account">
    Sign up and get your API key
  </Card>

  <Card title="2. Add the SDK to a service" href="/docs/installation-guide#2-add-the-sdk-to-a-service">
    Start counting every call to every function
  </Card>

  <Card title="3. Connect your coding agent" href="/docs/installation-guide#3-connect-your-coding-agent">
    Let it check how every function runs in production
  </Card>

  <Card title="4. See it work" href="/docs/installation-guide#4-see-it-work">
    Send some traffic, then ask your agent and open the web app
  </Card>
</Cards>

***

## 1. Create an account

Start by setting up your Hud workspace (*Signup is required to generate your workspace's API keys*).

* **Sign up on the web**\
  Create your account at hud.io using your business email account.
* **Name your account**\
  Choose a name which will appear in your team’s workspace.

<br />

## 2. Add the SDK to a service

Add the SDK, Hud's runtime code sensor, to one of your backend services. It instruments your code automatically, with minimal overhead. Check [Where Hud runs](/docs/where-hud-runs) first to make sure your service is supported.

You'll need the API key for the service's environment, such as production or staging, from the [API Keys page](https://www.app.hud.io/api-keys). Then follow the guide for your language:

* [Node.js · Install](/docs/nodejs-installation-guide)
* [Python · Install](/docs/hud-python-installation)
* [Java · Install](/docs/java-installation)

<br />

## 3. Connect your coding agent

Connect your coding agent to Hud MCP, so it can check how code runs in production before it changes it. Hud hosts the server, so there's nothing to install. You sign in with your Hud account.

**Cursor:** add this to `~/.cursor/mcp.json`, then turn on **hud** in **Cursor Settings → Tools & MCP**. Cursor opens a browser tab to sign you in.

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "hud": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.hud.io/mcp",
      "auth": {
        "CLIENT_ID": "XyvD6NaPGbrpOL9mxglq7KUYuPXbyNB4"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

**Claude Code:** run this in your terminal, then run `/mcp` in Claude Code to sign in.

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user -t http hud \
  --client-id XyvD6NaPGbrpOL9mxglq7KUYuPXbyNB4 \
  --callback-port 2425 \
  https://mcp.hud.io/mcp
```

For other clients, and for agents that run in CI or the cloud, see [MCP · Connect](/docs/remote-mcp).

<br />

## 4. See it work

Start your service and send it some traffic. Then ask your agent "What can Hud tell me about my-service?" (use your service's name) and open the [web app](https://www.app.hud.io) to see your endpoints and functions.

## Optional: see Hudders in your editor

Install the [Hud IDE extension](/docs/install-ide-extension) for Cursor, VS Code or JetBrains IDEs. Hudders then show how each function behaves in production, right above it in your code.