# Get Started with Confluent Cloud for Government

Confluent Cloud for Government is a data streaming service based on Apache Kafka® and delivered as a
fully-managed, cloud-native service. Use Confluent Cloud for Government to collect real-time data from
multiple sources and put it in motion. Confluent Cloud for Government provides multiple interfaces to manage your data
streams, including a web interface, a command-line interface, and APIs.

Use this quick start to create a Kafka [cluster](../_glossary.md#term-Kafka-cluster) and
a [topic](../_glossary.md#term-Kafka-topic). Connect a self-managed data source to the cluster and [produce](../_glossary.md#term-producer)
data to the topic. Then use the Cloud Console to review the incoming data, similar to
how a self-managed client would [consume](../_glossary.md#term-consumer) the data you’re producing. This quick start lists all the
interfaces available to complete a step, but you should only use the interface that best
fits your needs.

## Prerequisites

You must contact Confluent to setup a Confluent Cloud for Government organization before you can use the service.

<a id="gov-cloud-qs-create-kafka-cluster"></a>

## Step 1: Create a Kafka cluster in Confluent Cloud for Government

In this step, you create an environment , select a region, and then create and launch a dedicated Kafka cluster
inside your new environment.

### Confluent Cloud for Government Console

1. Log into the Confluent Cloud for Government Console. For more information, see [Log in to Confluent Cloud for Government](tasks.md#gov-cloud-sign-on).
2. From **Home**, click **View environments**, and select the environment where you want to
   create a cluster, or click **Add cloud environment** and enter a name to create a new environment.
3. Click **Add cluster**. If this is your fist cluster, click **Create cluster**.
4. In **Dedicated**, leave **Price as sized** set to 1 CKU and click **Begin configuration**.
5. Select the **Region** for the cluster, leave **Availability** set to Single zone, and click **Continue**.
6. Select Internet and click **Continue**
7. Specify Automatic security and click **Continue**.
8. Specify **Cluster name**, review the details of your configuration, then click **Launch cluster**.

### Confluent CLI

1. Log in to Confluent Cloud for Government:

   Log in:
   ```none
   confluent login --us-gov
   ```
2. Create a Kafka cluster:
   ```none
   confluent kafka cluster create <name> [flags]
   ```

   For example:
   ```none
   confluent kafka cluster create quickstart_cluster --cloud "aws" --region "us-gov-west-1" --type dedicated --cku 1
   ```

### Confluent Cloud APIs

Create a Kafka cluster.

Request:

```none
POST /cmk/v2/clusters
Host: api.confluentgov.com

{
   "spec": {
      "display_name": "quickstart_cluster",
      "availability": "SINGLE_ZONE",
      "cloud": "AWS",
      "region": "us-gov-west-1",
      "config": {
         "kind": "Dedicated",
         "cku": 1
      },
      "environment": {
         "id": "env-000000"
      }
   }
}
```

Response:

```none
{
   "api_version": "cmk/v2",
   "id": "lkc-12345",
   "kind": "Cluster",
   "metadata": {
      "created_at": "2023-06-02T20:59:25.078112Z",
      "resource_name": "crn://confluent.cloud/organization=11cd2222-a214-4b44-8fae-d4cc6example/environment=env-00000/cloud-cluster=lkc-12345/kafka=lkc-12345",
      "self": "https://api.confluentgov.com/cmk/v2/clusters/lkc-12345",
      "updated_at": "2023-06-02T20:59:25.077444Z"
   },
   "spec": {
      "api_endpoint": "",
      "availability": "SINGLE_ZONE",
      "cloud": "AWS",
      "config": {
            "cku": 1,
            "kind": "Dedicated",
            "zones": [
               "usgw1-az3"
            ]
      },
      "display_name": "quickstart_cluster",
      "environment": {
            "api_version": "org/v2",
            "id": "env-00000",
            "kind": "Environment",
            "related": "https://api.confluentgov.com/org/v2/environments/env-00000",
            "resource_name": "crn://confluent.cloud/organization=11cd2222-a214-4b44-8fae-d4cc6example/environment=env-12345"
      },
      "http_endpoint": "",
      "kafka_bootstrap_endpoint": "",
      "region": "us-gov-west-1"
   },
   "status": {
      "cku": 1,
      "phase": "PROVISIONING"
   }
}
```

<a id="gov-cloud-cloud-quick-create-topic"></a>

## Step 2: Create a Kafka topic

In this step, you create a topic. A Kafka *topic*
is a unit of organization for a cluster, and is essentially an append-only log.
For more about topics, see [What is Apache Kafka](https://developer.confluent.io/what-is-apache-kafka/).

### Cloud Console

1. From the cluster you just created, click **Topics**, and then click **Create topic**. If you already
   have a topic, click **Add topic**.
2. Type a name in **Topic name** and click **Create with defaults**.

The topic is created on the Kafka cluster and is available for use by producers and consumers.

### Confluent CLI

Create a topic:

```none
confluent kafka topic create <name> [flags]
```

For example:

```none
confluent kafka topic create my-topic --cluster lkc-12345
```

### Confluent Cloud APIs

Create a topic:

Request:

```none
POST /kafka/v3/clusters/{cluster_id}/topics
Host: pkc-{00000}.{region}.aws.confluentgov.com

{
   "topic_name": "my-topic",
   "partitions_count": 6,
   "replication_factor": 3,
   "configs": [{
         "name": "cleanup.policy",
         "value": "delete"
      },
      {
         "name": "compression.type",
         "value": "gzip"
      }
   ]
}
```

Response:

```none
{
   "kind": "KafkaTopic",
   "metadata": {
      "self": "https://pkc-abc45.us-gov-west-1.aws.confluentgov.com/kafka/v3/clusters/lkc-12345/topics/users",
      "resource_name": "crn:///kafka=lkc-12345/topic=my-topic"
   },
   "cluster_id": "lkc-12345",
   "topic_name": "my-topic",
   "is_internal": false,
   "replication_factor": 3,
   "partitions_count": 6,
   "partitions": {
      "related": "https://pkc-abc45.us-gov-west-1.aws.confluentgov.com/kafka/v3/clusters/lkc-12345/topics/my-topic/partitions"
   },
   "configs": {
      "related": "https://pkc-abc45.us-gov-west-1.aws.confluentgov.com/kafka/v3/clusters/lkc-12345/topics/my-topic/configs"
   },
   "partition_reassignments": {
      "related": "https://pkc-abc45.us-gov-west-1.aws.confluentgov.com/kafka/v3/clusters/lkc-12345/topics/my-topic/partitions/-/reassignment"
   },
   "authorized_operations": []
}
```

<a id="gov-cloud-qs-create-producer"></a>

## Step 3: Create a self-managed producer

You write Kafka client applications to connect to Confluent Cloud for Government in any supported
language. Configure the clients using the Confluent Cloud for Government cluster credentials.

Federal Information Processing Standard [(FIPS)](https://www.nist.gov/itl/current-fips) is a U.S. government
computer security standard used to validate and certify software cryptographic modules. Confluent has
tested implementations of the following clients for FIPS-compliance:

- [Java](https://docs.confluent.io/clients-kafka-java/current/overview.html)
- [Python](https://github.com/confluentinc/confluent-kafka-python)

### Cloud Console

1. Select **Clients** from the navigation menu.
2. Select the language you are using for your client application.
3. After you select a language, create a Kafka cluster API key.
4. Copy and paste the displayed configuration into your client application source code.
5. Create a producer and produce to the topic you created in the previous step.

### Confluent CLI

1. Run the following command to create the API key and secret, using the ID (`<cluster-id>`).
   ```bash
   confluent api-key create --resource <cluster-id>
   ```

   Your output should resemble:
   ```none
   It may take a couple of minutes for the API key to be ready.
   Save the API key and secret. The secret is not retrievable later.
   +---------+------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | API Key | ABC123xyz                                                        |
   | Secret  | 123xyzABC123xyzABC123xyzABC123xyzABC123xyzABC123xyzABC123xyzABCx |
   +---------+------------------------------------------------------------------+
   ```
2. Set the API key to use for Confluent CLI commands, using the ID (`<cluster-id>`).
   ```none
   confluent api-key use <api-key> --resource <cluster-id>
   ```
3. Run the following command to create a client configuration file for the language of your choice:
   ```bash
   confluent kafka client-config create <language-id> \
      --environment <env-id> \
      --cluster <cluster-id> \
      --api-key <api-key> --api-secret <api-secret>
   ```

   Use a `<language-id>` from the table below to specify a language:

   | Language   | Language ID   | Examples                                                                                                        |
   |------------|---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
   | Java       | `java`        |                                                                                                                 |
   | Python     | `python`      | [confluent-kafka-python//examples](https://github.com/confluentinc/confluent-kafka-python/tree/master/examples) |
4. Copy and paste the displayed configuration into your client application source code.

For more information, see [confluent kafka client-config create](https://docs.confluent.io/confluent-cli/current/command-reference/kafka/client-config/index.html#confluent-kafka-client-config).

## Step 4: Consume messages

Your new topic is now consuming messages. Use Confluent Cloud Console to see the data.

1. From the navigation menu, select **Topics** to show the list of topics in your cluster.
2. Select the topic you created.
3. In the topic detail page, select **Messages** to view the messages being produced to the topic.
4. Use the producer  you created to produce messages to the topic. The message viewer only shows messages
   produced since you loaded the page.

## Step 5: Clean up

Delete the topic you created to avoid unexpected charges to your account.

### Cloud Console

1. From the navigation menu, click **Topics**, select the **users** topic, and then choose the **Configuration** tab.
2. Click **Delete topic**, enter the topic name (`users`), and select **Continue**.

### Confluent CLI

Delete the topic:

```none
confluent kafka topic delete <topic name> [flags]
```

For example:

```none
confluent kafka topic delete users --cluster lkc-12345
```

### Confluent Cloud APIs

Delete a topic:

```none
DELETE /kafka/v3/clusters/{kafka_cluster_id}/topics/{topic_name}
Host: pkc-{0000}.{region}.aws.confluentgov.com
```

<a id="gov-cloud-qs-next-steps"></a>

## Related content

- [Use AWS PrivateLink with Confluent Cloud](/cloud/current/networking/private-links/aws-privatelink.html)
- [Encrypt Confluent Cloud Dedicated Kafka Clusters using Self-Managed Keys on AWS](/cloud/current/clusters/byok/byok-aws.html)
- [Configure Multi-Node Environment](/platform/current/kafka/multi-node.html)
- [Try out the Confluent Cloud Demos and Examples](/platform/current/tutorials/examples/ccloud/docs/ccloud-demos-overview.html)
- Learn how serverless infrastructure is built and use this in your own projects,
  see [Cloud-Native Apache Kafka: Designing Cloud Systems for Speed and Scale](https://developer.confluent.io/learn/cloud-native-kafka/)