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

# Quickstart

> Send your first chat on Foundry — under 2 minutes, no setup.

## 1. Open Foundry

Head to [chat.ironlabs.ai](https://chat.ironlabs.ai) and sign in.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/ironaai/jz9FK1T3e0dey9ma/foundry/images/intro/home.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=jz9FK1T3e0dey9ma&q=85&s=2f326a314d9418c717be8f0a1fb5228e" alt="Foundry chat home, signed in." width="3456" height="1872" data-path="foundry/images/intro/home.png" />
</Frame>

## 2. Type a question

Anything — *"explain merge sort to a 12-year-old"*, *"summarize the latest Anthropic research"*, *"write a launch email"*. Hit **Enter**.

## 3. Watch the routing

Look at the footer of the reply. You'll see something like:

```
Routed via Anthropic / Claude 3.5 Sonnet
```

That's Foundry telling you which model it picked for this turn. Different prompt → different model. You didn't have to choose.

## 4. Add a source

Type `@` to open the **Sources menu**. Pick **Web**, **Deep Research**, **Reddit**, or **X**. Your next question gets grounded in live results — with citations under the reply.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/ironaai/jz9FK1T3e0dey9ma/foundry/images/sources/menu.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=jz9FK1T3e0dey9ma&q=85&s=9373066f2ea7b77c1b2df0746dcc8bf0" alt="Sources menu open — Web Search, Reddit Search, Academic Search, GitHub Search, X Search, Prediction Markets, Schedule." width="3456" height="1872" data-path="foundry/images/sources/menu.png" />
</Frame>

## 5. Switch modes

Type `/` to open the mode switcher:

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/ironaai/jz9FK1T3e0dey9ma/foundry/images/modes/switcher.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=jz9FK1T3e0dey9ma&q=85&s=aa77b6f852c430276278148484ea615c" alt="Mode switcher — Deep Research, Agent Mode, Image Gen, Chat Mode (Active)." width="3456" height="1872" data-path="foundry/images/modes/switcher.png" />
</Frame>

| Mode              | What you'll get                                     |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| **Chat**          | Default. Text in, text out.                         |
| **Agent**         | Foundry can use Skills + Connectors to take action. |
| **Deep Research** | Multi-step web research with citations.             |
| **Image Gen**     | Generate images with Nano Banana 2 and friends.     |

The composer also has shortcut **tabs** at the bottom for **3D Website (Beta) / Video / Image** so you can switch modes without typing `/`.

## What you just did

* Sent a routed chat (no model picking).
* Grounded a reply in live web sources.
* Saw the model decision in the footer.

## Next up

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Interface tour" icon="map" href="/foundry/get-started/interface-tour">
    Every button labeled.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Try Image Mode" icon="image" href="/foundry/modes/image">
    Generate your first image.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connectors" icon="plug" href="/foundry/connectors/overview">
    Plug in Exa, ElevenLabs, Gamma, more.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Schedule a Task" icon="clock" href="/foundry/tasks/scheduled">
    Run a prompt on a cron.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>