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

# Quickstart

> Begin working with the MetaCogna Suite - a system for thinking about thinking

## Welcome to MetaCogna

We build systems that think about thinking. The MetaCogna Suite is a collection of cognitive tools, architectures, and agents designed to augment human reasoning through structured intelligence.

Our work begins with a simple question: **Why?**

## Start Here

Choose your entry point based on what you're building:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Gateway API" icon="route" href="/gateway-api/overview">
    Central authentication and routing for all MetaCogna services. Start here if you're integrating with our infrastructure.
  </Card>

  <Card title="MetaCogna RAG" icon="brain" href="/metacogna-rag/overview">
    Retrieval-Augmented Generation system with knowledge graphs, document management, and multi-agent reasoning.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Parti Architecture" icon="sitemap" href="/parti-architecture/overview">
    Prompt-driven architecture generation using AI agents to design complete system architectures from natural language.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Design System" icon="palette" href="/design/system">
    Paper UI design system documentation. Digital Paper, Hard Edges, High Contrast.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Development Setup

### Prerequisites

* **Node.js 19+** or **Bun** (recommended)
* Git
* Cloudflare account (for deploying workers)

### Installation

Clone the MetaCogna Suite repository:

```bash theme={null}
git clone https://github.com/metacogna-lab/metacogna-suite.git
cd metacogna-suite
```

### Running Documentation Locally

This documentation site runs on Mintlify. To preview changes:

```bash theme={null}
# Install Mintlify CLI
npm i -g mint

# Navigate to docs directory
cd docs

# Start development server
mint dev
```

Your documentation will be available at `http://localhost:3000`.

<Tip>
  The preview updates automatically as you edit files. No refresh needed.
</Tip>

## Core Concepts

Before diving deeper, understand these foundational ideas:

### Systems, Not Personalities

We treat thinking as a **system**, not a personality trait. Our architectures, agents, and tools are designed to augment cognitive processes through structured interactions.

### Paper UI Philosophy

Our design system follows three principles:

1. **Digital Paper** - Elements are physical sheets layered on a surface
2. **Hard Edges** - Minimal border radius (max 2px)
3. **High Contrast** - Strict polarity between Ink (dark) and Paper (light)

### Multi-Agent Architecture

Many MetaCogna systems use agent-based architectures where specialized agents coordinate, critique, and synthesize information—mirroring human metacognitive processes.

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Explore Gateway API" icon="key" href="/gateway-api/api/authentication">
    Learn how authentication and routing work across MetaCogna services.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Understand RAG" icon="database" href="/metacogna-rag/backend/worker">
    Deep dive into our Retrieval-Augmented Generation implementation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Study Design System" icon="brush" href="/design/guide">
    Learn how to use Paper UI components and design patterns.
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Reference" icon="code" href="/api-reference/introduction">
    Browse the complete API documentation with interactive examples.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Philosophy

MetaCogna Labs is intentionally small. That is not a limitation; it is a feature. It allows fast iteration without institutional drag, and lets ideas be tested before they harden into dogma.

We are motivated by:

* The quiet awe of the universe
* The strange joy of discovering how things really behave
* The belief that better thinking leads to better outcomes

<Note>
  If you're looking for quick answers, start with the [Gateway API overview](/gateway-api/overview) or [MetaCogna RAG overview](/metacogna-rag/overview). For deeper understanding, explore the architecture and design system documentation.
</Note>