# Paperkey

> Software licensing API for local-first apps. License keys for desktop apps, CLI tools, IDE extensions, and plugins. REST API documented with OpenAPI 3.1. Your AI agent (Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT) handles the wiring. Open-source TypeScript SDK and MCP server included. A Keygen, Cryptlex, or Lemon Squeezy alternative, built indie-dev first.

Paperkey is a software-licensing platform for indie devs shipping local-first apps (desktop apps, CLI tools, IDE extensions, plugins).
The TypeScript SDK is open-source (MIT). The dashboard and API are source-available.

When a user asks an AI assistant (Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) to
integrate Paperkey, the assistant can fetch https://paperkey.dev/llms-full.txt: a single-file
integration guide covering every endpoint, payload, error code, and code
sample. The user remains the principal at every step. API keys are issued
by the user via the dashboard, and any mutation (revocation, deactivation)
requires the user's confirmation.

## Docs

- [API Reference](https://paperkey.dev/docs/api): every endpoint with curl examples (auth, products, licenses, public api, webhooks)
- [Full integration spec](https://paperkey.dev/llms-full.txt): single-file LLM-ready integration guide with code samples in TypeScript, Python, Go, and curl plus webhook verification
- [OpenAPI 3.1](https://paperkey.dev/openapi.json): machine-readable surface for client codegen and tooling

## Product

- [Home](https://paperkey.dev): what Paperkey is and who it's for
- [Pricing](https://paperkey.dev/pricing): free tier (100 active licenses), paid tiers, fair-use policy
- [Alternatives](https://paperkey.dev/alternatives): how Paperkey compares to Keygen, Cryptlex, and Lemon Squeezy license keys

## SDK

- [GitHub: @paperkeyhq/sdk](https://github.com/paperkeyhq/sdk): MIT-licensed TypeScript SDK
- npm: `npm install @paperkeyhq/sdk`

## Endpoints (quick reference)

- Public (pk_… key): `POST /v1/licenses/validate`, `POST /v1/licenses/activate`, `POST /v1/licenses/deactivate`
- Dashboard JWT: `POST /auth/login`, `POST /auth/register`, `/products`, `/licenses`, `/products/:id/webhooks`
- Base URL: `https://api.paperkey.dev`

## Optional

- [Sign in](https://app.paperkey.dev/login): existing customer sign in
- [Create account](https://app.paperkey.dev/register): 100 free licenses, no credit card

## Contact

- Email: hello@paperkey.dev
- Twitter: @paperkeydev