# Quickstart

> Set up the fern folder

Configuring Fern starts with the `fern` folder, the root directory that contains
your API definitions, generators, and your CLI version.

## Set up the fern folder

<Steps>
  ### Install the Fern CLI

  Run the following command to install the CLI tool or update it to the latest version:

  ```bash
  npm install -g fern-api
  ```

  ### Initialize the Fern Folder

  You can initialize your fern folder with either a Fern Definition or OpenAPI specification.

  <Tip>
    You can always convert a [Fern Definition to OpenAPI](/api-definitions/ferndef/export-openapi) or OpenAPI to a Fern Definition later on.
  </Tip>

  <AccordionGroup>
    <Accordion title="Option 1: OpenAPI">
      Initialize the fern folder using your OpenAPI Specification. Fern can
      handle both JSON and YML formats for OpenAPI specifications and the
      `--openapi` flag accepts either format, so you can use whichever format your
      API spec is available in.

      Run one of the following commands based on your spec's location:test

      <CodeBlocks>
        <CodeBlock title="Local file">
          ```bash
          fern init --openapi path/to/openapi.yml \
          --organization <YourOrganization>
          ```
        </CodeBlock>

        <CodeBlock title="Web-hosted file">
          ```bash
          fern init --openapi https://api.example.com/openapi.yml \
          --organization <YourOrganization>
          ```
        </CodeBlock>
      </CodeBlocks>

      `--organization <YourOrganization>` configures your organization name in
      `fern.config.json`. This is required in order to successfully generate your
      SDK.

      This creates a `fern` folder in your current directory with the OpenAPI Specification. The exact folder structure might look different depending on your initial input files.

      ```bash
      fern/
        ├─ fern.config.json # root-level configuration
        └─ api/ # your API
          ├─ generators.yml # generators you're using
          └─ openapi/
            ├─ openapi.yml  # API-level configuration
      ```
    </Accordion>

    <Accordion title="Option 2: Fern Definition">
      1. Initialize the fern folder using the Fern Definition by running the following command:

         ```bash
         fern init --organization <YourOrganization>
         ```

         `--organization <YourOrganization>` configures your organization
         name in `fern.config.json`. This is required in order to successfully
         generate your SDK.

         This creates a `fern` folder in your current directory with the Fern Definition.

         ```bash
         fern/
           ├─ fern.config.json # root-level configuration
           ├─ generators.yml # generators you're using
           └─ definition/
             ├─ api.yml  # API-level configuration
             └─ imdb.yml # endpoints, types, and errors
         ```

         <Note>
            

           `imdb.yml`

            contains an example movies API. If you’re just
           generating an SDK for test purposes, you can leave this file as it is. To
           generate an SDK for your own API instead of the example movies API,
           replace 

           `imdb.yml`

            with your own endpoints, types, and errors before
           proceeding with the rest of this page. 
         </Note>

      {/* TODO: show what generators.yml looks like, link out to configuration.md */}
    </Accordion>

    {/*     <Accordion title="Option 3: AsyncAPI">
           Initialize the fern folder using your AsyncAPI Specification. Run one of the following commands based on your spec's location.
     
           <Tip>
           Fern can handle both JSON and YML formats for AsyncAPI specifications, and the --openapi flag accepts either format, so you can use whichever format your API spec is available in.
           </Tip>
     
           <Info>
          `--organization <YourOrganization>` configures your organization name in `fern.config.json`. This is required in order to successfully generate your SDK. 
           </Info>
     
          <CodeBlocks>
     
         <CodeBlock title="Local file">
           ```bash
           fern init --asyncapi path/to/asyncapi.yml --organization <YourOrganization>
           ```
         </CodeBlock>
     
         <CodeBlock title="Web-hosted file">
           ```bash
           fern init --asyncapi https://api.example.com/asyncapi.yml --organization <YourOrganization>
           ```
         </CodeBlock>
     
       	</CodeBlocks>
     
           This creates a `fern` folder in your current directory with the AsyncAPI Specification. The exact folder structure might look different depending on your initial input files. 
     
           ```bash
           fern/
             ├─ fern.config.json # root-level configuration
             └─ api/ # your API
               ├─ generators.yml # generators you're using
               └─ openapi/
                 ├─ openapi.yml  # API-level configuration
           ```
         </Accordion> */}
  </AccordionGroup>

  ### Next: Set up your repository structure

  Now that you have your `fern` folder initialized, [learn how to organize your repositories for SDK generation](/sdks/overview/project-structure).
</Steps>