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

# Getting Started

> Learn two easy ways to explore and build with Open Finance APIs — using the Postman Collection or the Hackathon Starter Kit.

Hackathon teams have **two easy ways** to test, learn, and build with the **Open Finance APIs**:

1. **Postman Collection** — explore and send example API requests.
2. **Hackathon Starter Kit** — run a full-stack sandbox app that demonstrates secure Open Finance usage.

***

## 🧰 Option 1: Postman Collection

The **Postman Collection** gives you a quick, hands-on way to experience the Open Finance API workflows.

It includes a **series of pre-configured requests** that walk you through:

* Creating consents
* Exchanging tokens
* Accessing account, payment, and product data

You can view request–response examples step by step to understand how each Open Finance capability works in practice.

📘 See setup instructions in the [Postman Guide](/getting-started/postman/).

***

## 💻 Option 2: Hackathon Starter Kit

For those who want to **build and test full applications**, the **Starter Kit** provides a complete development environment.

This starter kit gives teams a fast, full-stack head start for building applications with Open Finance APIs.\
It includes:

* A **Node.js backend** (Express.js) for API routing
* Secure handling of sensitive data using `crypto-js` and `jose` (for JWTs and encryption)
* **Axios utilities** for making API requests
* A **Vite-based frontend** for interactive testing and visualization

You can run the kit locally, explore sample integrations, and extend it with your own ideas.

📘 Follow the setup steps in the [Starter Kit Guide](/getting-started/starter-kit/).

***

## 💡 Recommendation

If you’re **new to Open Finance**, start with the **Hackathon Starter Kit**.\
It’s the easiest way to see the end-to-end flow, understand how authentication and API calls work together, and start building something real.

Once you’re comfortable, use the **Postman Collection** to explore the APIs in more depth.

***

<Note>
  💡 **Tip:** Both tools use the same Open Finance Sandbox — choose the one that fits your workflow best!
</Note>