---
title: Getting Started
description: This guide is the fastest way to run DSAR locally, inspect the HTTP
  contract, and make your first request through the runtime.
group: guides
---
> ⚠️ **Warning:** **Alpha**
> DSAR is currently in alpha. APIs, package surfaces, configuration, and documentation may change as the project evolves.

This guide is the fastest way to run DSAR locally, inspect the HTTP contract,
and make your first request through the runtime.

## Prerequisites

* Bun `1.3+`
* A local checkout of this workspace
* One terminal for the runtime and one for callers such as the CLI or examples

## Fastest Local Path

The quickest way to see the full surface is the kitchen-sink runtime plus the
dashboard and subject-portal examples.

```sh
bunx turbo run dev --filter=./examples/kitchen-sink --filter=./examples/dashboard --filter=./examples/subject-portal
```

Supporting example READMEs:

* `examples/kitchen-sink/README.md`
* `examples/dashboard/README.md`
* `examples/subject-portal/README.md`

## Verify the Runtime

Once the runtime is up, inspect these endpoints:

* `GET /status` for health
* `GET /spec.json` for the generated OpenAPI document
* `GET /docs` for interactive HTTP reference

If you mount DSAR at a base path such as `/api/v1`, the same endpoints become
`/api/v1/status`, `/api/v1/spec.json`, and `/api/v1/docs`.

## Create Your First Request

### CLI

```sh
dsar requests create --api-url http://kitchen-sink.localhost:1355/api/v1
```

Use `DSAR_API_TOKEN` when your runtime expects machine access credentials.

### Node SDK

```ts
import { createNodeSdk } from "@dsar/node-sdk";

const client = createNodeSdk({
	baseUrl: "http://kitchen-sink.localhost:1355/api/v1",
	token: process.env.DSAR_API_TOKEN,
});

const created = await client.requests.create({
	intakeSource: {
		channel: "api",
		rawText: "Please provide my personal data.",
		receivedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
	},
	jurisdiction: "eu",
});

created.unwrap();
```

## Choose the Right Runtime Surface

* `@dsar/backend`: embed the HTTP runtime into your own service
* `@dsar/node-sdk`: call DSAR from server-side application code
* `@dsar/cli`: script or explore the HTTP surface from the terminal
* `@dsar/core`: select `managed`, `self-hosted`, `custom`, or `offline` client
  modes behind a stable application-facing contract

See [SDK and Runtime Modes](../reference/developer/sdk-and-runtime.md) for the comparison.

## Next Steps

* Read [Request Lifecycle](./request-lifecycle.md) for the end-to-end workflow
* Use [API Reference](../reference/api) for endpoint details
* Use [Integration Guides](../integrations/integrations) to wire auth, storage, and
  inbound/outbound adapters