# Quickstart

Activate your account, connect the CLI and create your first resource.

> Section: Getting Started

## 1. Activate your account

After a successful payment you receive an activation email. The link is valid for 48 hours and can be used once. Choose a username and a password. Your first project is created automatically, and your account receives Admin plus ownership of that project.

## 2. Connect the CLI

Install the CLI with Node.js and authenticate against your dashboard host. Replace APP_BASE_URL with your dashboard address. Any HTTPS host is allowed; http:// is only accepted on loopback.

```bash
npm install -g veltic-cli
veltic target https://APP_BASE_URL
veltic auth
veltic projects list
```

## 3. Create your first resource

Open your project in the dashboard and create a PostgreSQL database, or follow the application deployment guide. Note the project ID for CLI commands. Credentials belong in environment variables, never in your repository.

## 4. Verify before you rely on it

Create a backup and restore it into a scratch database. Deploy the application and watch the HTTP probe succeed. Tail the logs. Doing this once on day one is worth more than any documentation promise.