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

# Guides Overview

> A practical map of the AI Stats Guides, from zero-credit free-model start to production operations.

Use this page to choose the shortest path for what you need right now.

## Fastest path

1. [Quickstart](../quickstart.mdx): get a successful request in minutes.
2. [Authentication](../developers/authentication.mdx): lock down key handling.
3. [Examples](./examples.mdx): copy working request patterns.

<Note>
  You can call `:free` models without depositing credits. Paid models still require available wallet balance.
</Note>

## Build features

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Routing and Fallbacks" icon="git-branch" href="./routing-and-fallbacks.mdx">
    Control provider order, failover behavior, and reliability tradeoffs.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tool Calling" icon="wrench" href="./tool-calling.mdx">
    Implement function tools, safety checks, and stable tool loops.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Structured Outputs" icon="braces" href="./structured-outputs.mdx">
    Use schemas for predictable machine-readable responses.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Streaming" icon="radio" href="./streaming.mdx">
    Ship low-latency responses with SSE and production guardrails.
  </Card>
</Columns>

## Production operations

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Error Handling" icon="triangle-alert" href="../developers/error-handling.mdx">
    Debug by status code, error shape, and retry strategy.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Gateway Rollout Checklists" icon="list-checks" href="./gateway-rollout-checklists.mdx">
    Operational checklists for provider activation, async endpoints, metadata rollout, and validation hygiene.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Rate Limits" icon="gauge" href="../developers/rate-limits.mdx">
    Plan for throughput and backoff under load.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Best Practices" icon="shield-check" href="../developers/best-practices.mdx">
    Hardening checklist for reliability and safety.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Management API Keys" icon="key-round" href="../developers/management-api-keys.mdx">
    Automate key lifecycle and environment isolation.
  </Card>
</Columns>