# Getting Started

Here’s a refreshed and clear **"Getting Started"** section for your GitBook:

***

Welcome to Aether, a framework designed for building decentralized AI systems. This guide will walk you through everything you need to get up and running, from installation to your first working project.

***

#### **Step 1: Prerequisites**

Before you begin, make sure you have the following installed and configured:

1. **Python 3.9 or higher**\
   [Download Python](https://www.python.org/downloads/)
2. **Redis** (for task queues and consensus mechanisms)\
   Install Redis using your system's package manager or via [Redis installation guide](https://redis.io/docs/getting-started/installation/).
3. **Blockchain Node Access**
   * Ethereum RPC URL (e.g., Infura or Alchemy)
   * Solana CLI and wallet configuration
4. **IPFS Daemon** (optional but recommended)\
   [IPFS Installation Guide](https://docs.ipfs.tech/install/)
5. **Git** (for cloning the repository)\
   [Download Git](https://git-scm.com/)

***

#### **Step 2: Install Aether**

1.  Clone the Aether repository:

    ```bash
    git clone https://github.com/<your-repo>/aether.git
    cd aether
    ```
2.  Install required Python dependencies:

    ```bash
    pip install -r requirements.txt
    ```
3.  (Optional) Set up a virtual environment for isolated dependency management:

    ```bash
    python -m venv venv
    source venv/bin/activate  # For Linux/Mac
    venv\Scripts\activate     # For Windows
    ```

***

#### **Step 3: Configure Aether**

1.  **Environment Variables**\
    Create a `.env` file in the root directory to securely store configuration details:

    ```env
    SOLANA_WALLET_PATH=/path/to/solana-wallet.json
    ETHEREUM_WALLET_PRIVATE_KEY=your_private_key_here
    ETHEREUM_RPC_URL=https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/<your-project-id>
    REDIS_HOST=localhost
    REDIS_PORT=6379
    IPFS_API_URL=http://127.0.0.1:5001
    ```
2.  **Update the Configuration File**\
    Edit the `config.yaml` file to specify runtime parameters:

    ```yaml
    blockchain:
      solana:
        wallet_env_var: "SOLANA_WALLET_PATH"
      ethereum:
        wallet_env_var: "ETHEREUM_WALLET_PRIVATE_KEY"
        rpc_url_env_var: "ETHEREUM_RPC_URL"

    swarm:
      consensus_threshold: 3
    ```

***

#### **Step 4: Test Your Setup**

1.  Run the basic setup test to ensure all dependencies and configurations are correct:

    ```bash
    python tests/setup_test.py
    ```
2.  Verify Redis is running:

    ```bash
    redis-cli ping
    ```

    You should see `PONG`.
3.  Test IPFS connection (if enabled):

    ```bash
    ipfs swarm peers
    ```

***

#### **Step 5: Build Your First Swarm**

1.  Create and initialize a swarm with agents:

    ```python
    from src.swarm.advanced_swarm_behavior import Swarm

    swarm = Swarm(10)  # Create a swarm with 10 agents
    swarm.simulate(3)  # Simulate for 3 rounds
    ```
2.  Log tasks on the blockchain:

    ```python
    from src.utils.blockchain_manager import BlockchainManager

    blockchain = BlockchainManager()
    blockchain.log_task("Analyze trends", "Completed successfully")
    ```
3.  Share data via IPFS:

    ```python
    from src.utils.ipfs_client import IPFSClient

    ipfs = IPFSClient()
    cid = ipfs.upload_file("data.json")
    print(f"File uploaded to IPFS with CID: {cid}")
    ```

***

#### **Step 6: Explore the Modules**

1. **Swarm Consensus**\
   Learn how agents collaborate and reach agreements through voting.\
   Swarm Consensus Documentation →
2. **Blockchain Integration**\
   Use Ethereum and Solana for on-chain decision-making.\
   Blockchain Integration Documentation →
3. **AI Agent Capabilities**\
   Build agents with multi-modal processing, reinforcement learning, and more.\
   AI Agent Documentation →

***

####
