> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://glu.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://glu.gitbook.io/docs/get-started/getting-started.md).

# Getting started

### API Overview

The Glu API is a RESTful API, you can use it to help manage gift cards and membership. 

Glu offers two distinct APIs, the first is the [Organisation API](/docs/api-reference/organisation-api.md) sometimes referred to as a backoffice API and allows operations that work across the entire organisations data, common uses are for bulk data extraction, reporting and analytics and syncing between third-party systems and services. 

The second is the [Store API](/docs/api-reference/store-api.md) which accepts OAuth authentication on behalf of a member, the use cases for this API include offering a headless members area backed by the Glu platform. 

[Get started by creating your API key.](/docs/get-started/authentication/api-key.md)

### Using AI &  Model Context Protocol (MCP)

These guides and the reference documentation are available as an MCP server. These provide tools and guidance to AI agents on how to interact with the Glu API.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="VS Code" %} <a href="vscode:mcp/install?%7B%22name%22%3A%22API%20Documentation%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fglu.gitbook.io%2Fdocs%2F~gitbook%2Fmcp%22%7D" class="button primary" data-icon="vscode">Connect</a>&#x20;

Clicking connect will open up a new tab and prompt you to open VS Code and add the MCP automatically.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Claude Code" %}
{% code overflow="wrap" expandable="true" %}

```shellscript
claude mcp add api-documentation --scope user --transport http https://glu.gitbook.io/docs/~gitbook/mcp
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Codex" %}
{% code overflow="wrap" expandable="true" %}

```shellscript
codex mcp add api-documentation --url https://glu.gitbook.io/docs/~gitbook/mcp
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Other" %}
Use the url: <https://glu.gitbook.io/docs/~gitbook/mcp>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

<h2 align="center">Walkthrough our most common uses</h2>

<p align="center">Use our organisation API and learn how to implement Glu seamlessly.</p>

<table data-column-title-hidden data-view="cards" data-search="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Accept your gift cards as payment at the checkout</strong></td><td>Implement a simple gift card search and redemption into your own platform or checkout.</td><td><a href="/pages/rCdZhwlX9mnMauCiSNol">/pages/rCdZhwlX9mnMauCiSNol</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Register a new member</strong></td><td>Build your own enrollment form and sign up members into a membership.</td><td><a href="/pages/Q9oS01TPzg3NNCPoUG74">/pages/Q9oS01TPzg3NNCPoUG74</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Create a single unified login for your customers</strong></td><td>Implemet our OAuth and create one unified login for your customers that uses their data.</td><td><a href="/pages/a0zSBEHnMMk2v9dub3Qf">/pages/a0zSBEHnMMk2v9dub3Qf</a></td></tr></tbody></table>