> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://sequinstream.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Get started with Sequin Stream
> Build exactly-once processing pipelines for Postgres changes without additional infrastructure. Learn about Sequin's native stream with an HTTP interface.
In this quickstart, you'll create a real-time data pipeline that streams changes from a Postgres database to a [Sequin Stream](/reference/sinks/sequin-stream). Sequin Stream is a Postgres-based message stream, native to Sequin.
You'll:
* Boot Sequin
* Connect to a sample playground database
* Create a Sequin Stream to receive database changes
* See your changes flow in real-time
By the end, you'll have hands-on experience setting up Postgres change data capture (CDC) with Sequin and Sequin Stream.
This is the quickstart for streaming Postgres to Sequin Stream. See the [how-to guide](/how-to/stream-postgres-to-sequin-stream) for an explanation of how to use the Sequin Stream sink or the [reference](/reference/sinks/sequin-stream) for details on all configuration options.
The easiest way to get started with Sequin is with our [Docker Compose file](https://github.com/sequinstream/sequin/blob/main/docker/docker-compose.yaml). This file starts a Postgres database, Redis instance, and Sequin server.
1. Download [sequin-docker-compose.zip](https://github.com/sequinstream/sequin/releases/latest/download/sequin-docker-compose.zip).
2. Unzip the file.
3. Navigate to the unzipped directory and start the services:
```bash theme={null}
cd sequin-docker-compose && docker compose up -d
```
```bash theme={null}
curl -L https://github.com/sequinstream/sequin/releases/latest/download/sequin-docker-compose.zip -o sequin-docker-compose.zip \
&& unzip sequin-docker-compose.zip && rm sequin-docker-compose.zip
cd sequin-docker-compose && docker compose up -d
```
```bash theme={null}
git clone git@github.com:sequinstream/sequin.git
cd sequin/docker
docker compose up -d
```
Check that Sequin is running using `docker ps`:
```bash theme={null}
docker ps
```
You should see output like the following:
```
CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS PORTS NAMES
bd5c458cabde sequin/sequin:latest "/scripts/start_comm…" 11 seconds ago Up 9 seconds 4000/tcp, 0.0.0.0:7376->7376/tcp sequin-sequin-1
3bacd89765e7 grafana/grafana "/run.sh" 11 seconds ago Up 11 seconds 0.0.0.0:3000->3000/tcp sequin-sequin_grafana-1
3ad41319a66c postgres:16 "docker-entrypoint.s…" 11 seconds ago Up 11 seconds (healthy) 0.0.0.0:7377->5432/tcp sequin-sequin_postgres-1
6139a5fc4e80 redis:7 "docker-entrypoint.s…" 11 seconds ago Up 11 seconds 0.0.0.0:7378->6379/tcp sequin-sequin_redis-1
7e07a5b052de prom/prometheus "/bin/prometheus --c…" 11 seconds ago Up 11 seconds 0.0.0.0:9090->9090/tcp sequin-sequin_prometheus-1
```
Sequin, Postgres, Redis, Prometheus, and Grafana should be up and running (status: `Up`).
The Docker Compose file automatically configures Sequin with an admin user and a playground database.
Let's log in to the Sequin web console:
After starting the Docker Compose services, open the Sequin web console at [http://localhost:7376](http://localhost:7376):
Use the following default credentials to login:
* Email:
```
admin@sequinstream.com
```
* Password:
```
sequinpassword!
```
To get you started quickly, Sequin's Docker Compose file creates a logical database called `sequin_playground` with a sample dataset in the `public.products` table.
Let's take a look:
In the Sequin web console, click **Databases** in the sidebar.
Click on the pre-configured `sequin-playground` database:
The database "Health" should be green.
Let's get a sense of what's in the `products` table. Run the following command:
```bash theme={null}
docker exec -i sequin-sequin_postgres-1 \
psql -U postgres -d sequin_playground -c \
"select id, name, price from products;"
```
This command connects to the running Postgres container and runs a `psql` command.
You should see a list of the rows in the `products` table:
```
id | name | price
----+-----------------------+-------
1 | Avocados (3 pack) | 5.99
2 | Flank Steak (1 lb) | 8.99
3 | Salmon Fillet (12 oz) | 14.99
4 | Baby Spinach (16 oz) | 4.99
5 | Sourdough Bread | 6.99
6 | Blueberries (6 oz) | 3.99
(6 rows)
```
We'll make modifications to this table in a bit.
With the playground database connected, you can create a [sink](/reference/sinks/overview). This sink will send changes to the `products` table to a Sequin Stream:
Click "Sinks" in the sidebar navigation, then click "Create Sink".
Select "Sequin Stream" as the sink type and click "Continue".
In the "Source" card, note that the `sequin-playground` database is selected and all schemas and tables are included. Leave these defaults:
In the `Inital backfill` card, select the `public.products` table to initate a backfill when the sink is created.
You can leave the rest of the defaults. As configured, the Sequin Stream will first receive a backfill of all rows currently in the `products` table. Then, it will receive all changes to the `products` table in real-time.
Click "Create Sink" to finish setting up your Sequin Stream.
On the new sink's overview page, you should see the "Health" status turn green, indicating data is flowing to your stream.
Let's confirm messages are flowing:
Click the "Messages" tab. You'll see a bunch of messages are available, pending delivery:
Sequin indicates it backfilled the `products` table to your stream.
Using the Sequin Stream API, let's receive some messages. Copy the curl command from the "Overview" tab:
In your terminal, run the `curl` command. You'll receive a response with a single message from the initial backfill of the `products` table:
```json theme={null}
{
"data": [
{
"ack_id": "MTYyeJ7abUjl1pO",
"record": {
"id": 1,
"name": "Avocados (3 pack)",
"price": 6.99
},
"action": "read",
"metadata": {
"table_schema": "public",
"table_name": "products",
"commit_timestamp": "2024-03-20T15:30:00Z",
"commit_lsn": 123456789,
"commit_idx": 1,
"database_name": "myapp-prod",
"consumer": {
"id": "f47ac10b-58cc-4372-a567-0e02b2c3d479",
"name": "products-stream",
"annotations": {}
},
"database": {
"id": "12345678-9abc-def0-1234-56789abcdef0",
"name": "myapp-prod",
"annotations": {},
"database": "myapp-prod",
"hostname": "db.example.com"
}
}
}
]
}
```
If you run the `curl` command again, you'll receive a different message. That's because Sequin Stream only re-delivers messages after the visibility timeout expires.
Messages are flowing from Sequin to your stream.
Let's make some changes to the `products` table and see them flow to your stream.
In your terminal, run the following command to insert a new row into the `products` table:
```bash theme={null}
docker exec -i sequin-sequin_postgres-1 \
psql -U postgres -d sequin_playground -c \
"insert into products (name, price) values ('Organic Honey (16 oz)', 12.99);"
```
Receive messages from your stream again to see the new change. This time, include the `?batch_size=10` parameter to receive multiple messages at once, like so:
```bash theme={null}
curl -X GET "http://localhost:7376/api/http_pull_consumers/products_sink/receive?batch_size=10" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN"
```
Feel free to try other changes:
```bash theme={null}
docker exec -i sequin-sequin_postgres-1 \
psql -U postgres -d sequin_playground -c \
"update products set price = 7.99 where name = 'Avocados (3 pack)';"
```
```bash theme={null}
docker exec -i sequin-sequin_postgres-1 \
psql -U postgres -d sequin_playground -c \
"update products set name = 'Organic Avocados (3 pack)' where name = 'Avocados (3 pack)';"
```
```bash theme={null}
docker exec -i sequin-sequin_postgres-1 \
psql -U postgres -d sequin_playground -c \
"delete from products where name = 'Blueberries (6 oz)';"
```
Each change will appear in your stream within a few seconds.
You can acknowledge messages to ensure they're not delivered again:
```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST "http://localhost:7376/api/http_pull_consumers/products_sink/ack" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"ack_ids": ["MTYyeJ7abUjl1pO"]}'
```
Great work!
You've successfully:
* Set up a complete Postgres change data capture pipeline
* Loaded existing data through a backfill
* Made changes to the `products` table
* Verified changes are flowing to your Sequin Stream
## Ready to stream
Now you're ready to connect your own database to Sequin and start streaming changes:
Connect your Postgres database to Sequin.
Setup a Sequin Stream sink to process changes with exactly-once delivery.