# Getting Started

This section covers everything you need to start building automation functions on Mimic Protocol. It is organized into two skills that you can work through in order.

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### What you need

* [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/) 18 or later
* A package manager: `npm`, `yarn`, or `pnpm`
* A Mimic account and API key — get one from the [Mimic explorer](https://protocol.mimic.fi/) under account settings

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### The two skills

| Skill                                                                   | What you will learn                                                                              |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [CLI](https://docs.mimic.fi/skills/skill-cli)                           | Install and use the Mimic CLI to scaffold, build, and deploy functions                           |
| [Writing a Mimic Function](https://docs.mimic.fi/skills/skill-function) | Understand the function anatomy, library APIs, intents, queries, logging, and persistent storage |

***

### Development workflow at a glance

```
npx @mimicprotocol/cli init my-function   # scaffold project
cd my-function
yarn mimic codegen                         # generate types from manifest
# ... write your function logic ...
yarn mimic compile                         # compile to WASM
yarn mimic deploy                          # upload to IPFS registry
```

After deploying, open the [explorer](https://protocol.mimic.fi/), find your function, create a trigger, and sign it with your wallet. Relayers will pick it up and execute it automatically.

***

### Next steps

* [CLI skill](https://docs.mimic.fi/skills/skill-cli) — start here if you are new to the toolchain
* [Function skill](https://docs.mimic.fi/skills/skill-function) — learn how to write function logic using the library
* [Examples](https://docs.mimic.fi/examples/build-a-simple-function) — end-to-end walkthroughs for common automation patterns