# Getting Started

This guide explains how to **install and configure** the Claude Code Plugin for EventSourcingDB. At the end, you will have the plugin installed and connected to your EventSourcingDB instance.

> **Before You Begin**
>
> You need a **running EventSourcingDB instance** and a **valid API token** for it. If you haven't set one up yet, see **[Running EventSourcingDB](/docs/eventsourcingdb/running-eventsourcingdb)**. Alternatively, once the plugin is installed, it can start a **local development instance** for you using Docker – see **[Available Skills](/docs/eventsourcingdb/claude-code-plugin/available-skills)**.

## Adding the Marketplace

The plugin is distributed through the **thenativeweb plugin marketplace**. Add it to Claude Code:

```
/plugin marketplace add thenativeweb/claude-plugins
```

You only need to do this once. The marketplace will be available in all future Claude Code sessions.

## Installing the Plugin

Install the EventSourcingDB plugin from the marketplace:

```
/plugin install esdb@thenativeweb
```

## Configuring the Connection

The plugin reads two environment variables to connect to your EventSourcingDB instance:

| Variable | Description | Default |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **`ESDB_URL`** | The base URL of your EventSourcingDB instance. | `http://localhost:3000` |
| **`ESDB_API_TOKEN`** | The API token used to authenticate with EventSourcingDB. | Claude will ask you if not set. |

In addition, two optional environment variables control how Claude constructs events. Skills that write events or register schemas need a consistent **event source** and a common **reverse-domain prefix** for event types, so that all events created in a session share a uniform format:

| Variable | Description | Default |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **`ESDB_SOURCE`** | The `source` to use for new events, as a URI (e.g., `https://library.example.io`). See **[Sources](/docs/eventsourcingdb/sources)**. | Claude will ask you once per session if not set. |
| **`ESDB_EVENT_TYPE_PREFIX`** | The reverse-domain prefix for new event types (e.g., `io.example.library`). See **[Event Types](/docs/eventsourcingdb/event-types)**. | Claude will ask you once per session if not set. |

Set the variables in your shell before starting Claude Code:

```bash
export ESDB_URL="http://localhost:3000"
export ESDB_API_TOKEN="your-api-token"
export ESDB_SOURCE="https://library.example.io"
export ESDB_EVENT_TYPE_PREFIX="io.example.library"
```

## Verifying the Connection

To verify that the plugin is installed and can reach your EventSourcingDB instance, type:

```
/esdb:ping
```

Claude will send a ping request to your EventSourcingDB instance and confirm whether the connection is healthy.

For a list of all available Skills and what they do, see **[Available Skills](/docs/eventsourcingdb/claude-code-plugin/available-skills)**.