# Getting started with HarborFM

This guide walks you through first-time setup, creating your admin account, and making your first podcast and episode.

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## 1. Open the one-time setup URL

When you start a new HarborFM instance (Docker, Terraform, or local), the server prints a **one-time setup URL** to the console. You must open this URL in your browser to initialize the server.

Example from the logs:

```
Open this URL to initialize the server (runs once):

  /setup?id=oFwK--nBt8YloIVABKA4nOmYy_Kbx7PS
```

- **Docker:** Run `docker logs harborfm` (or your container name) and look for this message.
- **Local:** Check the terminal where you ran `pnpm run dev` or the server process.
- **Terraform:** After the VM boots, the setup URL may appear in user-data logs or you may need to open your domain and check the server response; the main [README](../blob/main/README.md) describes where to find it. You have the option of pre-configuring the setup and admin information using Terraform.

Open the full URL in your browser (e.g. `https://your-domain.com/setup?id=...`). If you lose the URL, restart the server to see it again; the token is regenerated only if the secrets file is missing.

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## 2. Create the admin account

On the setup page you will:

1. Enter the **admin email** and **password** for the first (admin) account.
2. Choose whether to **allow account registration** (so others can sign up).
3. Choose whether to **enable public feeds** (so podcast and episode pages are visible to listeners).

Click through to complete setup. This step runs only once per instance.

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## 3. Sign in

After setup, sign in with the email and password you just set. You’ll land on the **dashboard**, which lists your podcast shows (empty at first).

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## 4. Create your first show

1. From the dashboard, create a **new podcast** (e.g. “New podcast” or similar button).
2. Give it a name and any details you want.
3. Open the show to configure **artwork**, **description**, and other settings. See [Creating a show](Podcasts.md#creating-a-show) and [Show settings and artwork](Podcasts.md#show-settings-and-artwork).

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## 5. Create your first episode

1. Open your show and go to the **Episodes** section.
2. Create a **new episode** (e.g. “New episode”).
3. Open the episode to enter the **episode editor**, where you build the episode from segments.

See [Creating episodes](Episodes.md#creating-episodes) and [Episode editor overview](Episodes.md#episode-editor-overview).

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## 6. Build the episode from segments

In the episode editor you can:

- **Record** a new segment (in-browser recording).
- **Upload** an existing audio file as a segment.
- **Insert from library** - add intros, outros, or bumpers you’ve uploaded to your library.

Reorder segments, trim or split them, remove silence, and when ready click **Make Final Episode** to generate the final audio file. See [Segments](Segments.md) for details.

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## Next steps

- **[Podcasts](Podcasts.md)** - Configure your show, collaborators, and permissions.
- **[Episodes](Episodes.md)** - Manage episodes and the editor.
- **[Segments](Segments.md)** - Recording, library inserts, trimming, transcripts, and making the final episode.
- **[Library](Library.md)** - Upload and manage reusable audio.
- **[Export and delivery](Export-and-delivery.md)** - Deploy your RSS and audio to S3, FTP, or other targets.

For installation and server configuration, see the main [README](../blob/main/README.md) and [Deployment](Deployment.md).