---
title: Vapora Tracking System - Quick Start Guide
date: 2025-11-10
status: READY
type: tracking-quickstart
---

# 🚀 Vapora Tracking System - Quick Start Guide

**⏱️ Time to get running: 5-10 minutes**

This guide walks you through installing and getting started with the Vapora tracking system component in the simplest way possible.

**Note:** This guide is for the tracking system only. For complete Vapora project setup, see [`QUICKSTART.md`](./QUICKSTART.md).

---

## 📋 Prerequisites

You need:
- ✅ Rust 1.70+ (install from https://rustup.rs)
- ✅ Cargo (comes with Rust)
- ✅ Git
- ✅ 500MB free disk space
- ✅ Bash or Zsh shell

**Check if you have everything:**
```bash
rustc --version    # Should show Rust 1.70+
cargo --version    # Should show Cargo 1.70+
which git          # Should show /usr/bin/git or similar
```

---

## 🎯 5-Minute Quick Start

### Step 1: Build the Tracking System
```bash
# Build the tracking crate
cargo build -p vapora-tracking

# Or with backend integration
cargo build -p vapora-backend
```

**Expected output:**
```
    Finished `dev` profile [unoptimized + debuginfo] target(s) in X.XXs
```

### Step 3: Run Tests
```bash
# Verify everything works
cargo test -p vapora-tracking --lib

# Should show: test result: ok. 20 passed
```

### Step 4: Start Using It

**Option A: Using Slash Commands (Easiest)**
```bash
# In Claude Code, use the commands:
/log-change "Fixed bug in parser" --impact backend --files 3
/add-todo "Refactor database" --priority H --estimate M
/track-status --project vapora --limit 10
```

**Option B: Using Scripts (Manual Sync)**
```bash
# Start the tracking service
./scripts/start-tracking-service.nu --verbose

# In another terminal, sync projects (replace with your development directory)
./scripts/sync-tracking.nu --projects-dir ~ --verbose

# Check status
/track-status
```

**Option C: Using API (Integration)**
```bash
# Query the API
curl http://localhost:3000/api/v1/tracking/summary
curl http://localhost:3000/api/v1/tracking/entries?limit=10
```

---

## ✅ Verify Installation

After building, verify everything works:

### Test 1: Build Success
```bash
cargo build -p vapora-tracking 2>&1 | tail -3
# Should show: Finished `dev` profile [unoptimized + debuginfo]
```

### Test 2: Tests Pass
```bash
cargo test -p vapora-tracking --lib 2>&1 | grep "test result"
# Should show: test result: ok. 20 passed; 0 failed
```

### Test 3: Clippy Clean
```bash
cargo clippy -p vapora-tracking --lib 2>&1 | grep "warning:" | wc -l
# Should show: 1 (profile warning only, which is expected)
```

### Test 4: Commands Available
```bash
ls ~/.claude/commands/ | grep -E "log-change|add-todo|track-status"
# Should show all 3 commands
```

### Test 5: Skill Available
```bash
ls ~/.claude/skills/tracking.md
# Should show the file exists
```

**If all 5 tests pass: ✅ Installation Complete!**

---

## 🎬 First Time Usage

### Scenario 1: Log Your First Change

**Using Slash Command (Easiest):**
```bash
/log-change "Implemented user authentication" \
  --impact backend \
  --files 5
```

**What happens:**
1. ✅ Change is logged to database
2. ✅ Timestamp added automatically
3. ✅ Can be queried with `/track-status`

### Scenario 2: Create Your First TODO

**Using Slash Command:**
```bash
/add-todo "Review code changes" \
  --priority H \
  --estimate M \
  --due 2025-11-15
```

**What happens:**
1. ✅ TODO created in database
2. ✅ Can be tracked with `/track-status`
3. ✅ Shows up in exports

### Scenario 3: Check Your Status

**Using Slash Command:**
```bash
/track-status --limit 5
```

**Output:**
```
✅ Summary
Total entries: 3
Changes: 1
TODOs: 2

🔄 Changes
[2025-11-10T14:30:00Z] - Implemented user authentication
Impact: backend | Breaking: no | Files: 5

📋 TODOs
[HIGH] Review code changes (Medium) - Due: 2025-11-15
[HIGH] Write documentation (Small) - Due: 2025-11-12
```

---

## 📚 Next Steps After Installation

### Short Term (Today)
1. ✅ Log 2-3 changes you've made
2. ✅ Create 2-3 TODOs for upcoming work
3. ✅ Run `/track-status` to see results

### Medium Term (This Week)
1. 📝 Set up daily tracking in your workflow
2. 🔄 Sync multiple projects with `sync-tracking.nu`
3. 📊 Export your tracking data with `export-tracking.nu`

### Long Term (Ongoing)
1. 📈 Monitor project progress via `/track-status`
2. 🎯 Use for sprint planning and retrospectives
3. 📉 Generate reports from exported data
4. 🔗 Integrate with other Vapora services

---

## 🆘 Need More Help?

| Question | Answer Location |
|----------|-----------------|
| How do I use the tracking system? | `TRACKING_SYSTEM_STATUS.md` (How to use section) |
| What are all the features? | `crates/vapora-tracking/README.md` (Features section) |
| How do I deploy it? | `crates/vapora-tracking/INTEGRATION.md` (Deployment section) |
| How do I fix an issue? | `SETUP_TRACKING.md` (Troubleshooting section) |
| What's the architecture? | `TRACKING_DOCUMENTATION_INDEX.md` |

---

## ⚡ Super Quick Reference

```bash
# Build
cargo build -p vapora-tracking

# Test
cargo test -p vapora-tracking --lib

# Use commands
/log-change "Summary" --impact backend
/add-todo "Task" --priority H --estimate M
/track-status --limit 10

# Use scripts
./scripts/sync-tracking.nu --verbose
./scripts/export-tracking.nu json --output report
./scripts/start-tracking-service.nu

# Query API
curl http://localhost:3000/api/v1/tracking/summary
```

---

## ✅ Installation Checklist

- [ ] Rust 1.75+ installed
- [ ] Vapora repo available
- [ ] `cargo build -p vapora-tracking` succeeds
- [ ] `cargo test -p vapora-tracking --lib` shows 20 passed
- [ ] Slash commands copied to `~/.claude/commands/`
- [ ] Skill copied to `~/.claude/skills/`
- [ ] `/log-change` command works
- [ ] `/track-status` shows results

**All checked? ✅ You're ready to go!**

---

**For complete Vapora project setup:** See [`QUICKSTART.md`](./QUICKSTART.md)

**For tracking system deep dive:** See [`SETUP_TRACKING.md`](./SETUP_TRACKING.md)