# 🚀 Getting Started with CCP: Run, Understand, Extend

Welcome!  
the Getting Started guide is for users who want to **run methods** on the CCP platform — whether you're analyzing data, exploring results, or curious about how CCP works under the hood.

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## 🧠 What Is CCP?

The **Cloud Computing Platform (CCP)** is an environment designed to execute containerized methods (scripts, models, pipelines...) in the cloud.

Each method:

- Can be **run via a graphical form**, with a user-friendly interface
- Or **triggered programmatically** via REST API — for integration in custom systems

CCP handles:

- Parameter validation and form rendering
- Input and output file management
- Container-based execution (Docker)
- Metadata tracking and logging

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## 🧩 Who Is This Guide For?

This section is designed for:

- **Users** who want to run methods from the GUI
- **Analysts** who want to understand outputs and execution history
- **Developers** who want to use CCP methods programmatically
- **Curious users** who may want to define their own methods

You don’t need to be a developer to get started — but we’ll show you how to go deeper if you want.

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## ∑ Navigating the Analytics Engine

The Analytics Engine includes different tools and pages, each with a specific purpose — from browsing methods to editing or executing them.

If you’re new to the interface, start from here:

1. 🚀 **[Getting Started with the Analytics Engine](01_analytics_engine_overview)**  
   Understand the main components and how they fit together
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## ⚙️ Want to Execute a Method?

This section includes:

2. ▶️ **[How to execute a method](02_executing_methods)**  
   Step-by-step: choose a method, fill the form, run it, get results.

3. 📦 **[Understanding outputs and metadata](03_understanding_outputs_and_metadata)**  
   Where files go, how they're structured, and how provenance is tracked.

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## 👀 Want to Build Your Own Method?

CCP allows you to define new methods from your own code — even starting from a simple script.

4. 🐣 **[Concepts for Beginners](04_concepts_for_beginners)**  
   Key concepts to grasp when defining a method

5. 👨‍💻 **[What it takes to build a method](05_building_simple_method)**  
   Understand what’s behind the form and what you’d need to define your own

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## 🧪 Want to Interact Programmatically?

If you prefer automation or want to embed CCP in your own workflow:

- Every method and execution is accessible via **REST APIs**
- You can create executions, track progress, and download results
- Authentication is handled via tokens or credentials


1. **[Generate execution code](06_generate_execution_code)** 
   Learn how generate the code to invoke methods and specific executions by shell scripts, Python, R etc

👉 Learn more in the 🧩 [REST API Guide](/03_execution/06_rest_api)
Let’s begin.