/setup-fal.en

description: "Lesson command"
duration: "~10 min"
prerequisites: ["Browser available", "Have a GitHub or Google account"]
level: "beginner"
tags: ["setup", "fal", "api", "video", "image"]
nonInteractiveMode: incompatible

fal.ai API Setup

Step 0: Check Setup Progress

**What the AI auto-runs:** 1. Run `uv run python tools/setup_progress.py show --current setup-fal` to display progress 2. Auto-detect existing API key:

• Run `uv run python tools/credential_manager.py status`
• If FAL_KEY is already set, you can just run Step 4 (test) and mark it as complete
• If a plaintext key exists in `.env`, suggest migrating it to the credential store

What You'll Do in This Session

| Item | Details | |------|---------| | Goal | Get an API key from fal.ai and save it to the Credential Store so you can use AI features like video and image generation | | Duration | ~10 minutes | | Prerequisites | A GitHub or Google account, and a browser available | | Skill Level | Mostly AI auto-run (only one manual command in a separate terminal for API key storage) |

**What is fal.ai:** A platform that provides unified access to AI engines for video generation (Kling, Veo, etc.), image generation, lip sync (Fabric), music generation (Suno), and more. One API key gives you access to multiple AI models.

**Session flow:** 1. Open fal.ai in the browser (AI opens the browser automatically) 2. Create an account and get your API key (just click buttons on screen) 3. Save the API key securely to the Credential Store (run a command in a separate terminal) 4. Functionality test (AI runs automatically)

> **Hint**: If the AI's response stops midway, type "please continue" or "it stopped" to resume.

---

Readiness Check

**AskQuestion configuration:**

{
  "title": "Pre-session confirmation",
  "questions": [{
    "id": "readiness",
    "prompt": "Are you ready?",
    "options": [
      {"id": "ready", "label": "Ready! Let's start"},
      {"id": "chrome", "label": "Automate browser operations with /chrome"},
      {"id": "check_prereq", "label": "I want to check the prerequisites"},
      {"id": "different_lesson", "label": "I want to go to a different lesson"}
    ]
  }]
}

(ready -> Proceed to Step 1) (chrome -> After opening the browser in Step 1, follow the "Automating with Chrome integration" section for automatic execution) (check_prereq -> Guide: "You can sign up with a GitHub or Google account. If you can log in via browser, you're ready.") (different_lesson -> Display module list)

---

Step 1: Open fal.ai in the Browser and Create an Account

**What the AI does:** 1. Auto-detect the OS (Mac / Windows / Linux) 2. Run the following command to open the browser automatically:

# Mac:
open https://fal.ai
# Windows:
start https://fal.ai
# Linux:
xdg-open https://fal.ai

**After the browser opens, display the following AskQuestion:**

{
  "title": "Step 1: Create a fal.ai account",
  "questions": [{
    "id": "account_status",
    "prompt": "Did the browser open? Follow these steps to create your account:\n\n1. Click 'Sign Up' or 'Login' in the top right\n2. Authenticate with GitHub or Google account\n3. Once the dashboard is displayed, you're done\n\nAre you logged in?",
    "options": [
      {"id": "logged_in", "label": "I'm logged in!"},
      {"id": "browser_not_open", "label": "The browser didn't open"},
      {"id": "signup_issue", "label": "I can't sign up"},
      {"id": "already_have_account", "label": "I already have an account"}
    ]
  }]
}

(logged_in -> Proceed to Step 2) (browser_not_open -> Guide: "Open this URL directly in your browser: https://fal.ai") (signup_issue -> Guide: "Try authenticating with your GitHub account. If that fails, try with your Google account.") (already_have_account -> Proceed to Step 2)

---

Automating with Chrome Integration (`/chrome` mode)

**Prerequisite:** The "Claude in Chrome" extension (v1.0.36+) must be installed in Chrome, and you must have launched with `claude --chrome` or run `/chrome` in the session.

**What the AI auto-runs with Chrome integration:** 1. Open https://fal.ai in the browser 2. Use Chrome integration to perform the following operations in order:

• Click the "Sign Up" or "Login" button
• Authenticate with GitHub or Google account (wait for user's action)
• After login, navigate to https://fal.ai/dashboard/keys
• Click the "Create Key" or "Add Key" button

3. Once the API key is displayed, tell the user "Please copy the API key" 4. Proceed to Step 3

**Note:** Do not read the API key value from the browser screen. The user copies it manually.

If Chrome integration is not available, follow the steps below manually.

---

Step 2: Get Your API Key

**What the AI does:** 1. Open the API key management page in the browser:

# Mac:
open https://fal.ai/dashboard/keys
# Windows:
start https://fal.ai/dashboard/keys
# Linux:
xdg-open https://fal.ai/dashboard/keys

**After the browser opens, display the following AskQuestion:**

{
  "title": "Step 2: Get your API key",
  "questions": [{
    "id": "key_status",
    "prompt": "Did the API key management page open? Follow these steps to get your API key:\n\n1. Click the 'Create Key' or 'Add Key' button\n2. Copy the displayed API key\n   (The key may only be shown once. Make sure to copy it.)\n\nDid you copy the API key?",
    "options": [
      {"id": "copied", "label": "I copied the API key!"},
      {"id": "page_not_found", "label": "I can't find the key management page"},
      {"id": "no_create_button", "label": "I can't find the 'Create Key' button"},
      {"id": "key_already_exists", "label": "I already have an existing key"}
    ]
  }]
}

(copied -> Proceed to Step 3) (page_not_found -> Guide: "Open this URL directly in your browser: https://fal.ai/dashboard/keys Make sure you're logged in.") (no_create_button -> Guide: "Wait for the page to fully load. Look for 'Keys' or 'API Keys' in the left sidebar