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

# Getting Started with CloudQuant Data Liberator for Python

> Learn how to set up and configure the CloudQuant Data Liberator Python library to connect to CloudQuant's data platform.

# Getting started with CloudQuant Data Liberator for Python

This guide introduces the CloudQuant Data Liberator library, available across multiple programming languages via the CloudQuant API platform.

## Basic setup

### Quick start

For environments where CloudQuant Data Liberator is pre-installed, simply use:

```python theme={null}
import liberator
```

### Installation steps

If adding CloudQuant Data Liberator to your own Python environment (local installation, Jupyter, or IDE):

1. Download the required files from your Liberator Profile page
2. Install dependencies:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Conda theme={null}
  conda create -n liberator python=3.7
  conda activate liberator
  conda install -c anaconda requests pyopenssl cryptography six pytz
  conda install pandas
  conda install -c conda-forge httpx async_generator pyarrow=8.0.0
  ```

  ```bash pip theme={null}
  python -m venv liberator
  source liberator/bin/activate  # Windows: liberator\Scripts\activate
  pip install requests pandas httpx async_generator "pyarrow==8.0.0" pyOpenSSL cryptography six pytz
  ```
</CodeGroup>

3. Place files in either:
   * The same folder as your code, **or**
   * A central Python location (`liberator.py` only — see note below)

<Note>
  Putting `liberator.py` in `site-packages` lets you `import liberator` from anywhere, but `liberator.json` is still read from your working directory unless you set `liberator.auth = '/path/to/liberator.json'`.
</Note>

To find your Python's site-packages directory:

```python theme={null}
import site
print(site.getsitepackages())
```

### Required files

| File             | Purpose                                                        |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `liberator.py`   | The Python library                                             |
| `liberator.json` | Pre-populated credentials (username and token)                 |
| `liberator.pfx`  | Security certificate (only required for releases prior to 2.0) |

<Note>
  As of release version 2.0, `liberator.pfx` is no longer required. If you are on a release prior to 2.0, you must also include `liberator.pfx`.
</Note>

## Server configuration

Files downloaded from your Liberator Profile page include the correct server URL preconfigured in the client.

### Override server URL

To connect to a different instance, set the URL explicitly:

```python theme={null}
liberator.url = 'https://mywidgets.cloudquant.ai/'
liberator.url = 'http://10.10.56.127:47753/'
```

<Note>
  Use `https://` for domain names and `http://` for direct IP addresses. Specify port numbers as shown above when required.
</Note>

Once your client is configured, you are ready to begin pulling data.