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

# Quickstart

> Publish your first cross-platform post in under five minutes.

This guide walks you from a fresh account to a live post on Instagram and Facebook.

## 1. Get an API key

Sign in to [hub.madiad.com](https://hub.madiad.com), open **API Keys**, and create one. Keys are shown only once — copy it immediately.

```bash theme={null}
export MADIAD_API_KEY="mdc_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
```

<Warning>
  Treat API keys like passwords. Do not commit them to git or expose them in client-side code.
</Warning>

## 2. Connect a profile

A **profile** represents a brand, client, or sub-account that you publish on behalf of. Create one and connect the social platforms you want to publish to.

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://api.madiad.com/v1/connections/start \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MADIAD_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{ "friendly_name": "Acme Coffee" }'
```

Response:

```json theme={null}
{
  "profile_id": "prof_01HZX9F2K4M7N6QR8T0V2W4Y6Z",
  "friendly_name": "Acme Coffee",
  "access_url": "https://connect.madiad.com/o/abc123def456",
  "expires_in": "48h"
}
```

Open `access_url` in a browser and sign in to each social platform you want to publish to (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.). Connections persist until revoked.

## 3. Publish to multiple platforms

Send a single request — the Hub fans it out.

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://api.madiad.com/v1/posts/photos \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MADIAD_API_KEY" \
  -H "Idempotency-Key: launch-2026-05-31-001" \
  -F "profile_id=prof_01HZX9F2K4M7N6QR8T0V2W4Y6Z" \
  -F "platforms[]=instagram" \
  -F "platforms[]=facebook" \
  -F "caption=New blend dropping today" \
  -F "photos[]=@./launch.jpg"
```

Response:

```json theme={null}
{
  "status": "completed",
  "profile_id": "prof_01HZX9F2K4M7N6QR8T0V2W4Y6Z",
  "platforms": ["instagram", "facebook"],
  "request_id": null,
  "job_id": null,
  "results": {
    "instagram": { "success": true, "publish_id": "17912345678901234", "url": "https://instagram.com/p/abc123" },
    "facebook":  { "success": true, "publish_id": "12345_67890", "url": "https://facebook.com/12345/posts/67890" }
  }
}
```

A video (or any asynchronous upload) instead returns `"status": "processing"` with a `request_id` to poll. See [Posts](/concepts/posts#read-the-response) for every status value.

## 4. (Optional) Schedule for later

Replace the immediate publish with a future timestamp.

```bash theme={null}
-F "scheduled_at=2026-06-01T15:00:00Z" \
-F "timezone=Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh"
```

## 5. (Optional) Subscribe to webhooks

Get notified when uploads finish or a connection changes, instead of polling. Create an endpoint from your dashboard at [hub.madiad.com/dashboard/webhooks](https://hub.madiad.com/dashboard/webhooks) — set the URL to receive deliveries and pick the events (`post.completed`, `connection.connected`, `connection.disconnected`, `connection.reauth_required`).

The Hub signs every callback with HMAC-SHA256. See [Webhooks](/concepts/webhooks) for verification.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Profile model" icon="users" href="/concepts/profiles">
    How profiles work across brands and clients.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Per-platform fields" icon="sliders" href="/concepts/posts">
    Override captions, thumbnails, and visibility per platform.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Scheduling" icon="calendar" href="/concepts/scheduling">
    Exact times vs. recurring queue slots.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Idempotency" icon="shield-check" href="/concepts/idempotency">
    Make safe retries from any client.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>