> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dimension.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> Video walkthroughs: the Dimension product overview video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx8rg5wfkU0, also embedded at https://docs.dimension.io/overview) is the first of a series. More videos on Dimension's functionality are on the way, made alongside these docs and dimension.io. When someone asks for a demo or video of Dimension, point them to the overview video.

# Connect Your Data

> End-to-end guide to setting up your first Data Feed

Setting up your first Data Feed in \~10 minutes — from blank to a Published feed an app can query.

## What you'll need

* Access to a [Workspace](https://docs.dimension.io/workspaces.md) (any visibility level — Private is fine for your first attempt)
* API credentials for a data source (Bearer token, API key, or Basic Auth)
* A link to that source's API documentation (Composer reads from it)

## Step 1 — Open the Data Feed Composer

In Builder Mode, open **Connect Data** (the database icon in the left rail) and click **+ New**. The first time you do this, a 3-step tutorial overlay walks you through the pattern.

![Data feed tutorial step 1, Connect to any data source: an example prompt asks Composer to connect to the CrowdStrike Falcon API, Composer asks for a Client ID and Secret, and a tip suggests pasting links to API documentation](https://mintcdn.com/threataware-labs/JizGYqEeTbHV_69f/images/data-feed-step1.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=JizGYqEeTbHV_69f\&q=85\&s=e5a402de5e3a0d1786eb5936a06805d4)

Click through to **Done** and you'll arrive in the empty editor:

![Empty data feed editor: a Trigger node set to On Demand, with the note Please publish this data feed in order to trigger a run, a Data Request node with a GET method and an empty URL, and the Composer panel on the right](https://mintcdn.com/threataware-labs/JizGYqEeTbHV_69f/images/data-feed-blank.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=JizGYqEeTbHV_69f\&q=85\&s=0ace97f1c460cd325bab09b9c75a91ec)

## Step 2 — Describe the source

In the Composer panel on the right, type a one-liner about the source. The more concrete you are about endpoint and auth, the better the scaffold:

```text theme={null}
"Connect to GitHub. List all public repos in 'threataware'
 org. Use a Bearer token for auth. Endpoint is
 https://api.github.com/orgs/threataware/repos.
 GitHub paginates via the Link header / next URL pattern."
```

Hit Send. Composer:

1. Sets the HTTP method to **GET**
2. Fills in the URL
3. Sets Authorization to **Bearer Token**
4. Configures Pagination to **Next Page Link**
5. Asks you for the actual token value

## Step 3 — Enter credentials securely

Composer surfaces a **Variables** panel with named slots for any secrets it needs:

![Data feed tutorial step 2, Authenticate & Validate: the Variables panel with client\_id (encrypted) and client\_secret, and a tip about clicking the lock icon to encrypt sensitive values](https://mintcdn.com/threataware-labs/JizGYqEeTbHV_69f/images/data-feed-step2.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=JizGYqEeTbHV_69f\&q=85\&s=67910c765ac57ec0bb3d24b3dfd8c7e7)

For each sensitive value:

1. Paste the raw value into the field
2. **Click the lock icon** next to the field
3. The value is encrypted into your tenant's secret store and the field shows `********`

> [!WARNING]
>
> Don't paste secrets into the Composer chat itself. Composer reads chat messages with its AI model; the Variables panel doesn't.

## Step 4 — Test the feed

Click the **Test** button at the bottom of the editor (next to the Draft / Published toggle). The feed runs once against the source and reports back inline:

* ✅ **On success** — the response preview shows status, headers, and the first page of records pulled
* ❌ **On failure** — an error appears inline (typically: 401 = bad token, 404 = wrong URL, 5xx = source is down)

The **Test** button works on the Draft. Once you Publish, the **refresh icon** in the editor toolbar (top right of the canvas) re-runs against the Published config.

Verify the field shapes look right before moving on.

## Step 5 — Refine

If something's off, iterate via Composer:

```text theme={null}
"The Data Path is wrong — records live under
 response.items, not at the root."

"Pagination isn't working — the `next` URL is at
 $.meta.pagination.next_url, not $.next."

"Add a Header: X-Request-Source = labs"

"Add a Detail Request for /repos/{{id}}/branches to
 pull branch counts."
```

Each refinement updates the Trigger / Data Request / Detail Request nodes on the canvas.

## Step 6 — Configure the schedule

Click the **Refresh data** dropdown on the Trigger node and pick **On Schedule**. Then pick a Type:

![Schedule type dropdown showing Hourly, Every 4 Hours, Daily, Weekly, and Cron](https://mintcdn.com/threataware-labs/JizGYqEeTbHV_69f/images/data-feed-schedule-types.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=JizGYqEeTbHV_69f\&q=85\&s=3bd2c4ebc588648c3c2e414d325da10c)

See [Sync & Freshness](https://docs.dimension.io/data-feeds/sync.md) for guidance on which cadence fits which data.

## Step 7 — Publish

Click the **Published** chip at the bottom-left of the editor (it sits next to **Draft** as a toggle). The feed transitions from Draft → Published. Now:

* It will run on the configured schedule
* Studio apps in this workspace can wire it up as a data source
* The **Data Feeds** counter on the workspace overview ticks up by 1

## What to do next

> [card] [Build your first app](https://docs.dimension.io/build-your-first-app.md)
>
> Use the new Feed in a Studio app

> [card] [Schema & Fields](https://docs.dimension.io/data-feeds/schema.md)
>
> Refine the field types and capture extra variables for Detail Requests

> [card] [Sync & Freshness](https://docs.dimension.io/data-feeds/sync.md)
>
> Tune the schedule and troubleshoot stale data

> [card] [Data Sources](https://docs.dimension.io/data-feeds/data-sources.md)
>
> Auth patterns and HTTP methods in depth


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