> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.perceptron.inc/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get started

> Install the Perceptron Python SDK, configure credentials, and send your first request.

## Install and verify

Install the SDK. Note that Python 3.9+ is required.

```bash theme={null}
uv pip install perceptron
```

Confirm the version with `pip show perceptron`.

Next, configure credentials and run a simple query.

```python theme={null}
import perceptron
from perceptron import perceive, image, text

perceptron.configure(
    provider="perceptron", # "perceptron" or "fal"
    api_key="<your_api_key_here>",
)

@perceive(model="perceptron-mk1")
def caption(image_path):
    return image(image_path) + text("Describe the primary object in this photo.")

result = caption("drone.png")
print(result.text)
```

The decorator compiles the Task JSON, sends the request, and returns a `PerceiveResult` object containing `text`, optional `points`, `parsed` segments, any `errors`, and the raw provider payload. Call `result.points_to_pixels(width, height)` when you need pixel-space coordinates from the normalized 0–1000 grid (more on this [here](/perceptron-mk1/concepts/coordinates)).

## First-run checklist

* `caption("drone.png").text` returns content with no exception.
* `caption("drone.png").errors` is empty (or populated with expected warnings).
* Outbound network access to `https://api.perceptron.inc` succeeds.
* Logs show retries or timeouts only when expected.

## Troubleshooting reference

| Symptom               | Fix                                                                                         |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `AuthError`           | Recheck environment variables, or pass `api_key` directly to `perceptron.configure`.        |
| `TimeoutError`        | Allowlist the hostname or route through your proxy; bump `timeout` via `perceptron.config`. |
| SSL certificate error | Point `PERCEPTRON_BASE_URL` at the TLS endpoint your network trusts.                        |

<Callout type="tip">
  Looking for other languages or SDKs? Tell us in <a href="https://discord.gg/fgBeaACQzE">Discord</a> so we can prioritize official releases.
</Callout>