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

# Quick Start

## **Welcome to KubeMQ!**

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to install KubeMQ into your Kubernetes cluster.

Before we can do anything, we need to ensure you have access to a Kubernetes cluster running 1.16 or later, and a functioning kubectl command on your local machine. (One easy option is to run Kubernetes on your local machine. We suggest [Docker Desktop](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop) or [Minikube](https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/tools/install-minikube/), but there are [many options](https://kubernetes.io/docs/setup/).)

## Step 0:

### Obtain KubeMQ License Key

1. Please visit: <https://account.kubemq.io/login/register> and register for a license token.
2. Wait for an email confirmation with your license Key

## Step 1:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Kubernetes" %}
Run:

```bash
kubectl apply -f https://deploy.kubemq.io/init
```

```bash
kubectl apply -f https://deploy.kubemq.io/key/<license-key>
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Docker" %}
Run with default configuration:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
docker run -d -p 8080:8080 -p 50000:50000 -p 9090:9090 -e KUBEMQ_TOKEN=<license-key> kubemq/kubemq
```

{% endcode %}

Run with configuration file:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```docker
docker run -d -p 8080:8080 -p 50000:50000 -p 9090:9090 -v $(pwd)/config.yaml:/kubemq/config.yaml -e KUBEMQ_TOKEN=<license-key> kubemq/kubemq
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Step 2:

### Install kubemqctl CLI tool

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="MacOS/Linux" %}

```bash
sudo curl -sL https://get.kubemq.io/install | sudo sh
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Windows" %}

### Option 1:

* [Download the latest kubemqctl.exe](https://github.com/kubemq-io/kubemqctl/releases/download/latest/kubemqctl.exe).
* Place the file under e.g. `C:\Program Files\kubemqctl\kubemqctl.exe`
* Add that directory to your system path to access it from any command prompt

### Option 2:

Run in PowerShell as administrator:

```bash
New-Item -ItemType Directory 'C:\Program Files\kubemqctl'
Invoke-WebRequest https://github.com/kubemq-io/kubemqctl/releases/download/latest/kubemqctl.exe -OutFile 'C:\Program Files\kubemqctl\kubemqctl.exe'
$env:Path += ';C:\Program Files\kubemqctl'
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Step 3:

### Send 'Hello World'

```bash
kubemqctl queue send my-queue hello-world
```

### Get 'Hello World'

```bash
kubemqctl queue receive my-queue
```

## Step 4:

### Load KubeMQ Dashboard

```
kubemqctl get dashboard
```

<figure><img src="/files/5riu7aI1QcXwuJtnTHwf" alt=""><figcaption><p>KubeMQ Dashboard</p></figcaption></figure>

## What's Next

### Build & Deploy KubeMQ Components

{% content-ref url="/pages/-MWP24uegQ6bh8ETRcg-" %}
[Build & Deploy](/getting-started/build-and-deploy.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

### Learn KubeMQ Basics

{% content-ref url="/pages/-M5BqjqW8R8x68vh-n2n" %}
[Channels](/learn/the-basics/channels.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/-M5BqgWsRfPs91A4K0DS" %}
[Smart Routing](/learn/the-basics/smart-routing.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/-M5Bqsvnragk0WQuBtth" %}
[Grouping](/learn/the-basics/grouping.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

### Learn KubeMQ Message Patterns

{% content-ref url="/pages/-M2clgwqsGCW43aC4qnq" %}
[Queues](/learn/message-patterns/queue.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/-M2clgwroApsZRGCi0uK" %}
[Pub/Sub](/learn/message-patterns/pubsub.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/-M2clgwsLv3HWbyFDwex" %}
[RPC](/learn/message-patterns/rpc.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

### Get started with KubeMQ message patterns

{% content-ref url="/pages/-M2i3niMmvjC6dV1P-Wi" %}
[Queues](/getting-started/message-patterns/queues.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/-M2iGpq7h8lmsbXHVK5g" %}
[Pub/Sub](/getting-started/message-patterns/pubsub.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/-M2iGpq8Alv86AVbJCQ6" %}
[RPC](/getting-started/message-patterns/rpc.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}