Chainlink Runtime Environment (CRE)

Getting Started Guide

Build your first workflow step by step: run on a schedule, call an API, read a contract, and write the result onchain.

Install the CLI

Install the `cre` command-line tool on macOS, Linux, or Windows.

Browse Templates

Start from a working workflow, such as a custom data feed, liquidation protection, or a keeper bot, and adapt it.

Run a Demo Workflow

Run the Custom Data Feed template end to end, from API call to onchain write.

Build with AI

Use the CRE agent skill for Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex, or prompt LLMs to generate and debug workflows.

Create Your Account

Sign up at app.chain.link, create or join an organization, and set up two-factor authentication.

Triggers

Start a workflow on a cron schedule, an HTTP request, or an onchain event.

HTTP

Call any API from every node in the DON and reach consensus on the result.

Confidential HTTP

Call APIs from inside a secure enclave, keeping credentials and responses hidden from node operators.

EVM Read & Write

Read contract state and write consensus-verified results to EVM chains.

Solana Write

Write consensus-verified results to Solana programs.

Supported Networks

Every EVM and Solana network CRE can read from and write to, with required CLI and SDK versions.

Key Terms and Concepts

Workflows, handlers, triggers, callbacks, capabilities, DONs, and consensus defined.

Consensus Computing

How Byzantine Fault Tolerance keeps every workflow operation secure and tamper-resistant.

Finality and Confidence Levels

Understand finality guarantees and confidence levels for onchain reads and writes.

Avoiding Non-Determinism

Write deterministic callbacks so all DON nodes reach the same consensus result.

Confidential Workflows

Run sensitive logic inside a secure enclave (TEE), hidden from node operators.

Organizations

How accounts, members, and linked wallet keys are grouped under an organization.