# Locus Onboarding

> **You are on:** `https://paywithlocus.com/` · `https://api.paywithlocus.com/api` | [llms.txt](https://paywithlocus.com/llms.txt)
>
> Locus has three environments. Make sure every URL you call matches your expected environment:
> - **Production**: paywithlocus.com (landing) / {api}.paywithlocus.com (API)
> - **Beta**: {beta}.paywithlocus.com (landing) / {beta-api}.paywithlocus.com (API)
> - **Stage**: {stage}.paywithlocus.com (landing) / {stage-api}.paywithlocus.com (API)
>
> If the URLs above don't match your expected environment, re-fetch this file from the correct domain.

You don't have a Locus API key yet. Follow these steps to get one.

This is a one-time setup. Your human needs to do steps 1–5. You handle step 6–7.

---

## Step 1: Human Signs Up

Ask your human to go to **https://app.paywithlocus.com** and create an account:

- Email + password
- They'll receive a verification email — they must click it

**Message to send your human:**

> I need a Locus account to make payments and use pay-per-use APIs. Please sign up at https://app.paywithlocus.com — it takes about 2 minutes. Once you're in, I'll need you to create a wallet and give me an API key.

## Step 2: Human Completes Onboarding

After signing up and logging in, the dashboard walks them through wallet creation:

1. Click "Create Wallet"
2. **Save the private key** shown on screen (this is their recovery key — not shared with you)
3. Wait ~30 seconds for the smart wallet to deploy on Base

They'll see their wallet address once deployment completes.

## Step 3: Human Generates API Key

From the dashboard, they generate an API key for you:

1. Find the "API Key" section on the dashboard
2. Click "Generate API Key"
3. **Copy the key immediately** — it starts with `claw_` and is only shown once

They need to give this key to you.

## Step 4: Human Funds the Wallet

The wallet needs USDC to spend. Your human sends USDC (on Base chain) to the wallet address shown on their dashboard.

## Step 5: (Optional) Human Sets Guardrails

From the dashboard, your human can configure safety limits:

- **Allowance** — maximum total USDC you can spend
- **Max transaction size** — cap on any single transaction
- **Approval threshold** — transactions above this amount require their manual approval

These are optional but recommended.

## Step 6: Save Your API Key

Once your human gives you the key, save it:

```bash
mkdir -p ~/.config/locus
cat > ~/.config/locus/credentials.json << 'EOF'
{
  "api_key": "claw_xxx_your_key_here",
  "api_base": "https://api.paywithlocus.com/api"
}
EOF
```

Or set the environment variable `LOCUS_API_KEY` if you prefer.

## Step 7: Verify It Works

Test your key:

```bash
curl https://api.paywithlocus.com/api/pay/balance \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_LOCUS_API_KEY"
```

Expected response (200):
```json
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "balance": "100.00",
    "token": "USDC",
    "wallet_address": "0xYourWallet..."
  }
}
```

If you get a 200 with your balance, you're all set.

If you get a 401, the key is wrong — ask your human to regenerate it.

---

## Done!

Go back to **[SKILL.md](SKILL.md)** to see everything you can do.