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

# Quickstart

> Install the Paubox Python SDK and send your first HIPAA-compliant email in minutes.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install the SDK">
    ```bash theme={null}
    pip3 install paubox-python3
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set your credentials">
    Export your API key and endpoint host as environment variables:

    ```bash theme={null}
    export PAUBOX_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"
    export PAUBOX_HOST="https://api.paubox.net/v1/YOUR_USERNAME"
    ```

    Replace `YOUR_USERNAME` with your Paubox API endpoint username. To obtain credentials, see [Authentication](/python-sdk/authentication).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send your first email">
    Create `send.py`:

    ```python theme={null}
    from paubox import PauboxApiClient
    from paubox.helpers.mail import Mail

    client = PauboxApiClient()

    mail = Mail(
        from_      = 'sender@yourdomain.com',
        subject    = 'Your first Paubox email',
        recipients = ['recipient@example.com'],
        content    = {'text/plain': 'This message was sent with the Paubox Python SDK.'}
    )

    response = client.send(mail.get())

    print('Status:', response.status_code)
    print('Response:', response.to_dict)
    ```

    Run it:

    ```bash theme={null}
    python3 send.py
    ```

    The response dict contains `sourceTrackingId`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check delivery status">
    ```python theme={null}
    tracking_id = response.to_dict['sourceTrackingId']

    disposition = client.get(tracking_id)
    print(disposition.to_dict)
    ```

    The response includes `message_deliveries` with per-recipient status.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Next steps

* [Email client](/python-sdk/email-client): add HTML, attachments, CC/BCC, and handle errors
* [Forms client](/python-sdk/forms-client): retrieve form schemas and submit responses