Palantir Install & Auth
Overview
Set up the Palantir Foundry Platform SDK (Python or TypeScript) and configure authentication using either bearer tokens for development or OAuth2 client credentials for production. Covers both the Platform SDK for direct API access and the OSDK for Ontology-based workflows.
Prerequisites
- Python 3.9+ or Node.js 18+
- A Palantir Foundry enrollment with API access enabled
- A third-party application registered in Developer Console (for OAuth2)
- Your Foundry hostname (e.g.,
mycompany.palantirfoundry.com)
Instructions
Step 1: Install the SDK
Python (Platform SDK):
set -euo pipefail
pip install foundry-platform-sdk
python -c "import foundry; print(f'foundry-platform-sdk {foundry.__version__} installed')"
Python (OSDK for Ontology access):
set -euo pipefail
pip install palantir-sdk
python -c "import palantir; print('palantir-sdk installed')"
TypeScript (OSDK):
set -euo pipefail
npm install @osdk/client @osdk/oauth
npx tsc --version
Step 2: Configure Environment Variables
# .env — never commit this file
FOUNDRY_HOSTNAME=mycompany.palantirfoundry.com
# Option A: Bearer token (development only)
FOUNDRY_TOKEN=eyJhbGciOiJS...
# Option B: OAuth2 client credentials (production)
FOUNDRY_CLIENT_ID=abc123
FOUNDRY_CLIENT_SECRET=secret456
Step 3: Initialize with Bearer Token (Development)
import os
import foundry
client = foundry.FoundryClient(
auth=foundry.UserTokenAuth(
hostname=os.environ["FOUNDRY_HOSTNAME"],
token=os.environ["FOUNDRY_TOKEN"],
),
hostname=os.environ["FOUNDRY_HOSTNAME"],
)
# Verify connection — list datasets
datasets = client.datasets.Dataset.list()
for ds in datasets:
print(f"Dataset: {ds.rid}")
Step 4: Initialize with OAuth2 (Production)
import os
import foundry
auth = foundry.ConfidentialClientAuth(
client_id=os.environ["FOUNDRY_CLIENT_ID"],
client_secret=os.environ["FOUNDRY_CLIENT_SECRET"],
hostname=os.environ["FOUNDRY_HOSTNAME"],
scopes=["api:read-data", "api:write-data"],
)
auth.sign_in_as_service_user()
client = foundry.FoundryClient(
auth=auth,
hostname=os.environ["FOUNDRY_HOSTNAME"],
)
# Verify — fetch ontology metadata
ontologies = client.ontologies.Ontology.list()
for ont in ontologies:
print(f"Ontology: {ont.api_name} (rid={ont.rid})")
Step 5: TypeScript OSDK Setup
import { createClient } from "@osdk/client";
import { createConfidentialOauthClient } from "@osdk/oauth";
const oauthClient = createConfidentialOauthClient(
process.env.FOUNDRY_CLIENT_ID!,
process.env.FOUNDRY_CLIENT_SECRET!,
`https://${process.env.FOUNDRY_HOSTNAME}/multipass/api/oauth2/token`,
);
const client = createClient(
`https://${process.env.FOUNDRY_HOSTNAME}`,
"<your-ontology-rid>",
oauthClient,
);
Step 6: Generate Credentials via Developer Console
1. Navigate to https://<hostname>/workspace/developer-console
2. Create a new application > select "Server application"
3. Grant scopes: api:read-data, api:write-data, api:ontology-read
4. Copy client_id and client_secret
5. For quick testing: generate a personal access token under Settings > Tokens
Output
- SDK installed and importable (
foundry-platform-sdkor@osdk/client) - Environment variables configured for your Foundry enrollment
- Authenticated client verified against the Foundry API
- Ontology or dataset listing confirms read access
Error Handling
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|-------|-------|----------|
| 401 Unauthorized | Token expired or invalid | Regenerate token in Developer Console |
| 403 Forbidden | Insufficient scopes | Add required scopes: api:read-data |
| ConnectionError | Wrong hostname | Verify FOUNDRY_HOSTNAME has no https:// prefix |
| ModuleNotFoundError: foundry | SDK not installed | pip install foundry-platform-sdk (full name) |
| SSL certificate verify failed | Corporate proxy/VPN | Set REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE env var |
Examples
SDK Comparison
| SDK | Package | Use Case |
|-----|---------|----------|
| Platform SDK | foundry-platform-sdk | Direct REST: datasets, branches, files, builds |
| Python OSDK | palantir-sdk | Ontology objects, actions, queries, links |
| TypeScript OSDK | @osdk/client | Frontend/Node.js Ontology access |
Resources
Next Steps
Proceed to palantir-hello-world for your first Ontology query, or palantir-local-dev-loop for development workflow.