# Start here

> Where to begin with NeuroChain — pick a path for using the wallet, building dApps and contracts, running a node, or contributing to the protocol.

Source: https://docs.nro.world/learn/start-here

> Pick the path that matches what you want to do with NeuroChain.

These docs follow the CosmWasm / Cosmos SDK layout: **Learn → Build → Reference → Operate**, plus the part only NeuroChain has — the **NeuroWASM AI host APIs** and the **AI & Security** layer.

::: warning Under active development
NeuroChain is in development. Interfaces, default values and parameters still change, and some features are experimental or have known issues — pages say so where it matters. Check the repository for the current state before relying on a detail.
:::

::: info Network status
The public network is not running yet. Every example in these docs targets a **local stack** — a node and a gateway on your own machine. See [Run a node](/operate/node) to start one; the examples assume:

```bash
export NODE_RPC=http://localhost:9933   # node RPC (NEUROCHAIN_RPC_PORT)
export GATEWAY=http://localhost:3000    # gateway REST + WebSocket
```

Public endpoints will be listed here once the network launches.
:::

## What do you want to do?

| Goal | Go to |
|------|--------|
| Understand the chain | [Overview](./overview) · [Addresses](./addresses) · [Gas & fees](./gas) · [Consensus](./consensus) |
| Hold, stake and vote | [Wallet](./wallet) · [Staking & delegation](./staking) · [Governance](./governance) |
| Ship something fast | [Quickstart](/build/quickstart) · [JavaScript SDK](/build/sdk) · [AI agents (MCP)](/build/mcp) |
| Look up an API | [REST](/reference/rest) · [WebSocket](/reference/websocket) · [Examples](/reference/examples) |
| Write a WASM contract | [NeuroWASM](/neurowasm/) · [ABI & call data](/build/abi) · [Deploy contracts](/build/deploy) |
| Use the AI security layer | [VMGuardian](/ai/vmguardian) · [Sentinel](/ai/sentinel) · [Account abstraction](/ai/account-abstraction) · [Identity](/ai/identity) |
| Run infrastructure | [Run a node](/operate/node) · [Gateway](/operate/gateway) · [Environment](/operate/env) · [IBC v2 & sharding](/operate/ibc) |

## Recommended path for new developers

1. Read the [Overview](./overview) — what NeuroChain is and how a transaction moves through it.
2. Read [Addresses](./addresses) and [Gas & fees](./gas) — every API speaks in `neuro:` addresses and uNRO.
3. Start a [local node](/operate/node), then follow the [Quickstart](/build/quickstart): balance, signed transfer, contract call.
4. Read the [NeuroWASM overview](/neurowasm/) before writing a `no_std` contract.
5. Read [VMGuardian](/ai/vmguardian) — every contract deploy passes its audit gate.

## Status labels

Features carry one of these labels wherever their state matters:

| Label | Meaning |
|-------|---------|
| <Badge type="tip" text="live" /> | Implemented and switched on in the node or gateway. |
| <Badge type="warning" text="off by default" /> | Implemented and tested, enabled by a governance parameter or environment variable. |
| <Badge type="warning" text="experimental" /> | Implemented, still being validated; the page says how it is tested. |
| <Badge type="info" text="planned" /> | Specified, not wired into the node yet. |

The design of the contract API lives in the repository at `docs/neuro-wasm-spec.md`.