10/15/25, 7:49 PM Installation & Setup - Chutes Documentation
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Welcome Getting Started Installation
Installation & Setup
This guide will walk you through installing the Chutes
SDK and setting up your development environment.
Prerequisites
Before installing Chutes, ensure you have:
Python 3.10+ (Python 3.11 or 3.12
recommended)
pip package manager
A Bittensor wallet (required for
authentication)
Installing the Chutes SDK
Option 1: Install from PyPI
(Recommended)
pip install chutes
Option 2: Install from Source
git clone https://github.com/rayonlabs/ch
cd chutes
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pip install -e .
Verify Installation
Check that Chutes was installed correctly:
chutes --help
You should see the Chutes CLI help menu.
Setting Up Authentication
Chutes uses Bittensor for secure authentication.
You'll need a Bittensor wallet with a hotkey.
Creating a Bittensor Wallet
If you don't already have a Bittensor wallet:
Option 1: Automatic Setup
(Recommended)
Visit chutes.ai and create an account. The platform
will automatically create and manage your wallet for
you.
Option 2: Manual Setup
If you prefer to manage your own wallet:
1. Install Bittensor (older version required):
pip install 'bittensor<8'
2. Create a coldkey and hotkey:
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# Create a coldkey (your main wallet)
btcli wallet new_coldkey --n_words 24
# Create a hotkey (for signing transa
btcli wallet new_hotkey --wallet.name
Registering with Chutes
Once you have a Bittensor wallet, register with the
Chutes platform:
chutes register
Follow the interactive prompts to:
1. Enter your desired username
2. Select your Bittensor wallet
3. Choose your hotkey
4. Complete the registration process
After successful registration, you'll find your
configuration at ~/.chutes/config.ini .
Configuration
Your Chutes configuration is stored in
~/.chutes/config.ini :
[auth]
user_id = your-user-id
username = your-username
hotkey_seed = your-hotkey-seed
hotkey_name = your-hotkey-name
hotkey_ss58address = your-hotkey-address
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[api]
base_url = https://api.chutes.ai
Environment Variables
You can override configuration with environment
variables:
export CHUTES_CONFIG_PATH=/custom/path/to
export CHUTES_API_URL=https://api.chutes
export CHUTES_DEV_URL=http://localhost:80
Creating API Keys
For programmatic access, create API keys:
Full Admin Access
chutes keys create --name admin-key --adm
Limited Access
# Access to specific chutes (requires act
chutes keys create --name my-app-key --ch
# Access to images only (requires action
chutes keys create --name image-key --ima
Using API Keys
Use your API keys in HTTP requests:
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curl -H "Authorization: Bearer cpk_your_a
https://api.chutes.ai/chutes/
Or in Python:
import aiohttp
headers = {"Authorization": "Basic cpk_yo
async with aiohttp.ClientSession() as se
async with session.get("https://api.
data = await resp.json()
Developer Deposit (Optional)
To create and deploy your own chutes and images,
you'll need to make a developer deposit. This is a
refundable security deposit to prevent spam.
Check Required Deposit
curl -s https://api.chutes.ai/developer_d
Get Your Deposit Address
curl -s https://api.chutes.ai/users/me \
-H 'authorization: Basic cpk_your_api_
Return Your Deposit
After 7 days, you can request your deposit back:
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curl -XPOST https://api.chutes.ai/return_
-H 'content-type: application/json' \
-H 'authorization: Basic cpk_your_api_
-d '{"address": "your-deposit-address"
IDE Setup
VS Code
For the best development experience with VS Code:
1. Install the Python extension
2. Set up your Python interpreter to use the
environment where you installed Chutes
3. Add this to your .vscode/settings.json :
{
"python.linting.enabled": true,
"python.linting.pylintEnabled": true
"python.formatting.provider": "black"
"python.analysis.typeCheckingMode": "
}
PyCharm
For PyCharm users:
1. Configure your Python interpreter
2. Add Chutes to your project dependencies
3. Enable type checking for better IntelliSense
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
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"Command not found: chutes"
Make sure your Python Scripts directory is
in your PATH
Try python -m chutes instead
"Invalid hotkey" during registration
Ensure your Bittensor wallet is properly
created
Check that you're using the correct wallet and
hotkey names
"Permission denied" errors
You might need to use sudo on some
systems
Consider using a virtual environment
"API connection failed"
Check your internet connection
Verify the API URL in your config
Ensure you have the latest version of Chutes
Getting Help
If you encounter issues:
1. Check the FAQ
2. Search existing GitHub issues
3. Join our Discord community
4. Email [email protected]
Next Steps
Now that you have Chutes installed and configured:
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1. Quick Start Guide - Deploy your first chute in
minutes
2. Your First Chute - Build a complete application
from scratch
3. Core Concepts - Understand the
fundamentals
Ready to build something amazing? Let's move on to
the Quick Start Guide!
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