---
title: "Getting Started"
description: "Learn how to set up and start using XI Objects for content provenance and verification."
published: 2026-02-18T18:06:33.462653+00:00
updated: 2026-02-18T18:06:33.462653+00:00
url: https://xiobjects.com/docs/xio/getting-started
source: XI Objects
---

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# Getting Started with XI Objects

Welcome to XI Objects! This guide will help you get started with the platform, from understanding the tooling to resolving your first `.xio` domain query.

## Prerequisites

- .NET 10.0 or later
- Access to an Orbital endpoint

## The `xi` CLI Tool

The fastest way to explore XI Objects is with the **`xi` command-line tool**, a Spectre.Console-powered TUI and CLI for interacting with the Orbital network.

### Installation

The `xi` tool is distributed as a self-contained .NET executable. Build from source:

```bash
cd src/tools/Xio.Cli
dotnet publish -c Release
```

### Configure a Connection

```bash
# Add an Orbital endpoint profile
xi config add my-orbital -e https://orbital.example.com

# Set it as active
xi config use my-orbital

# Verify the connection
xi orbital status
```

Configuration is stored at `~/.xio/config.json`.

### Interactive Mode

Launch `xi` with no arguments to enter the interactive TUI, a dashboard with Orbital status, peer network visualization, query interface, and key management.

```bash
xi
```

### CLI Commands

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `xi config add <name> -e <url>` | Add a connection profile |
| `xi config list` | List all profiles |
| `xi config use <name>` | Switch active profile |
| `xi config show` | Show current configuration |
| `xi config rm <name>` | Remove a profile |
| `xi orbital status` | Orbital sync, hydration, and peer status |
| `xi orbital diag` | Full diagnostics |
| `xi orbital peers` | List peer Orbitals |
| `xi cluster instances` | List active cluster instances |
| `xi cluster status` | Cluster health summary |

Output formats: `table` (default), `json`, `yaml`.

## Using the Client Library

For programmatic integration, reference the **Xio.Client** library in your .NET project:

```csharp
using Xio.Client;

// Register via dependency injection
services.AddXioClient(options =>
{
    options.OrbitalEndpoints = new[] { "https://orbital.example.com" };
    options.EnableCaching = true;
    options.EnableProofVerification = true;
});
```

### Resolve a `.xio` Domain

```csharp
// Inject IXioResolverService
var request = new XioResolveRequest("example.xio", XioRecordType.XSIGN);
var response = await resolver.ResolveAsync(request);

// Response includes records and Sparse Merkle proofs
foreach (var record in response.Records)
{
    // Process signing metadata, fingerprints, etc.
}
```

The client handles protocol encoding, caching, and automatic Sparse Merkle proof verification.

## Core Libraries

XI Objects is composed of several .NET libraries, each with a focused responsibility:

| Library | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| **Xio.Client** | SDK for resolving `.xio` domains: wire protocol, caching, proof verification |
| **Xio.Crypto** | Cryptographic primitives: Ed25519 signatures, BLAKE3 hashing, SMT proofs |
| **Xio.Protocol** | Wire protocol definitions: message format, record types, serialization |
| **Xio.Trust** | Trust block signing and verification: canonicalization, Ed25519 + BLAKE3 |
| **Xio.Verification** | Unified verification: document trust block verification, PKI chain validation, media fingerprint verification, and Orbital search matching |
| **Xio.ImageFingerprint.LWA** | Luminance Waveform Analysis: forensic image fingerprinting (waveform coherence, manipulation detection) and discriminative identity fingerprinting (pHash, color, spatial, block-level analysis) |
| **Xio.VideoFingerprint** | Dual-track video fingerprinting: visual (2D FFT) and audio (STFT/MFCC) waveforms with hierarchical aggregation, discriminative identity matching, forensic analysis, and manipulation detection |
| **Xio.Serialization** | XION document parsing and serialization: Markdown, JSON, Flat formats |
| **Xio.Distillation** | Schema-driven fact extraction with provenance from signed content |
| **Xio.Storage** | Sparse Merkle Tree storage |

## Services

| Service | Purpose |
|---------|--------|
| **Xio.Orbital** | The distributed verification network: wire protocol queries, record storage, peer sync, fingerprint search |
| **Xio.Control** | Certificate authority module: leaf certificate issuance and revocation (runs within Orbital) |
| **Xio.Forensics.Lab** | Media forensics laboratory: upload, fingerprint, register, compare, verify, and manipulation-test images and videos with full attribution resolution |

## Next Steps

- [Core Concepts](/docs/xio/concepts): Understand trust chains, the wire protocol, and fingerprinting
- [Certificates & Trust](/docs/xio/concepts/certificates): Learn about the certificate hierarchy
- [API Reference](/docs/xio/api): Full client library and protocol documentation
- [Guides](/docs/xio/guides): Step-by-step integration guides
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