path: root/apps/docs/memory-graph/quick-start.mdx

---
title: "Quick Start"
description: "Build your first knowledge graph in 5 minutes"
sidebarTitle: "Quick Start"
---

Get your first interactive memory graph up and running in just a few minutes.

<Warning>
**Security First**: Never expose your Supermemory API key in client-side code. Always use a backend proxy to authenticate requests.
</Warning>

## Step 1: Create Backend Proxy

Create an API route in your backend that authenticates users and proxies requests to the Supermemory API.

<CodeGroup>

```typescript Next.js App Router
// app/api/supermemory-graph/route.ts
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server'

export async function GET(request: Request) {
  // Add your authentication logic here
  const user = await getAuthenticatedUser(request)
  if (!user) {
    return NextResponse.json(
      { error: 'Unauthorized' },
      { status: 401 }
    )
  }

  try {
    const response = await fetch(
      'https://api.supermemory.ai/v3/documents/documents',
      {
        method: 'POST',
        headers: {
          'Content-Type': 'application/json',
          'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.SUPERMEMORY_API_KEY}`,
        },
        body: JSON.stringify({
          page: 1,
          limit: 500,
          sort: 'createdAt',
          order: 'desc',
          // Optional: Filter by user-specific container
          containerTags: [user.id],
        }),
      }
    )

    if (!response.ok) {
      throw new Error('Failed to fetch documents')
    }

    const data = await response.json()
    return NextResponse.json(data)
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching graph data:', error)
    return NextResponse.json(
      { error: 'Failed to fetch data' },
      { status: 500 }
    )
  }
}
```

```typescript Next.js Pages Router
// pages/api/supermemory-graph.ts
import type { NextApiRequest, NextApiResponse } from 'next'

export default async function handler(
  req: NextApiRequest,
  res: NextApiResponse
) {
  // Add your authentication logic here
  const user = await getAuthenticatedUser(req)
  if (!user) {
    return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Unauthorized' })
  }

  try {
    const response = await fetch(
      'https://api.supermemory.ai/v3/documents/documents',
      {
        method: 'POST',
        headers: {
          'Content-Type': 'application/json',
          'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.SUPERMEMORY_API_KEY}`,
        },
        body: JSON.stringify({
          page: 1,
          limit: 500,
          sort: 'createdAt',
          order: 'desc',
          containerTags: [user.id],
        }),
      }
    )

    const data = await response.json()
    res.status(200).json(data)
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching graph data:', error)
    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to fetch data' })
  }
}
```

</CodeGroup>

<Tip>
Use `containerTags` to filter documents by user in multi-user applications. This ensures users only see their own data.
</Tip>

## Step 2: Create Frontend Component

Create a component that fetches data and renders the graph.

```tsx GraphComponent.tsx
'use client' // Required for Next.js App Router

import { MemoryGraph } from '@supermemory/memory-graph'
import { useState, useEffect } from 'react'
import type { DocumentWithMemories } from '@supermemory/memory-graph'

export default function GraphComponent() {
  const [documents, setDocuments] = useState<DocumentWithMemories[]>([])
  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true)
  const [error, setError] = useState<Error | null>(null)

  useEffect(() => {
    fetch('/api/supermemory-graph')
      .then(async (res) => {
        if (!res.ok) {
          throw new Error('Failed to fetch documents')
        }
        return res.json()
      })
      .then((data) => {
        setDocuments(data.documents)
        setIsLoading(false)
      })
      .catch((err) => {
        setError(err)
        setIsLoading(false)
      })
  }, [])

  return (
    {/* CRITICAL: Container must have explicit width and height */}
    <div style={{ width: '100%', height: '100vh' }}>
      <MemoryGraph
        documents={documents}
        isLoading={isLoading}
        error={error}
      >
        {/* Custom empty state when no documents exist */}
        <div style={{
          display: 'flex',
          flexDirection: 'column',
          alignItems: 'center',
          justifyContent: 'center',
          height: '100%',
          gap: '1rem'
        }}>
          <h2>No memories yet</h2>
          <p>Start adding content to see your knowledge graph</p>
        </div>
      </MemoryGraph>
    </div>
  )
}
```

<Warning>
**Container Sizing**: The graph component requires its parent container to have explicit width and height. Without this, the canvas will have 0 dimensions and won't render.
</Warning>

## Step 3: Add to Your Page

Use the component in your page:

<CodeGroup>

```tsx Next.js App Router
// app/graph/page.tsx
import GraphComponent from '@/components/GraphComponent'

export default function GraphPage() {
  return (
    <main style={{ height: '100vh' }}>
      <GraphComponent />
    </main>
  )
}
```

```tsx Next.js Pages Router
// pages/graph.tsx
import GraphComponent from '@/components/GraphComponent'

export default function GraphPage() {
  return (
    <div style={{ height: '100vh' }}>
      <GraphComponent />
    </div>
  )
}
```

```tsx React SPA
// src/App.tsx
import GraphComponent from './components/GraphComponent'

function App() {
  return (
    <div className="App" style={{ height: '100vh' }}>
      <GraphComponent />
    </div>
  )
}

export default App
```

</CodeGroup>

## Complete Example

Here's a complete, production-ready example with proper error handling and loading states:

```tsx
'use client'

import { MemoryGraph } from '@supermemory/memory-graph'
import { useState, useEffect } from 'react'
import type { DocumentWithMemories } from '@supermemory/memory-graph'

export default function GraphDashboard() {
  const [documents, setDocuments] = useState<DocumentWithMemories[]>([])
  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true)
  const [error, setError] = useState<Error | null>(null)

  useEffect(() => {
    const fetchData = async () => {
      try {
        const response = await fetch('/api/supermemory-graph')

        if (!response.ok) {
          throw new Error(`HTTP ${response.status}: ${response.statusText}`)
        }

        const data = await response.json()
        setDocuments(data.documents || [])
      } catch (err) {
        console.error('Failed to fetch graph data:', err)
        setError(err instanceof Error ? err : new Error('Unknown error'))
      } finally {
        setIsLoading(false)
      }
    }

    fetchData()
  }, [])

  return (
    <div className="dashboard" style={{
      width: '100%',
      height: '100vh',
      position: 'relative'
    }}>
      <MemoryGraph
        documents={documents}
        isLoading={isLoading}
        error={error}
        variant="console"
      >
        <div className="empty-state">
          <h2>No memories yet</h2>
          <p>Start adding content to visualize your knowledge graph</p>
          <button onClick={() => window.location.href = '/add-memory'}>
            Add Your First Memory
          </button>
        </div>
      </MemoryGraph>
    </div>
  )
}
```

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="API Reference" icon="book" href="/memory-graph/api-reference">
    Explore all props and customization options
  </Card>

  <Card title="Examples" icon="code" href="/memory-graph/examples">
    See advanced patterns like pagination and highlighting
  </Card>

  <Card title="Troubleshooting" icon="wrench" href="/memory-graph/troubleshooting">
    Solve common issues
  </Card>
</CardGroup>