---
title: Install an Amplitude server SDK
description: "Install and initialize the Amplitude SDK for Node.js or Python, then send your first event from your backend."
product: general
lang: en
last_updated: 2026-10-21
token_estimate: 485
---
# Install an Amplitude server SDK

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This quickstart installs an Amplitude SDK on a server so your backend can send events. Pick your language: Node.js or Python. Each language takes three steps: install, initialize, and track your first event.

To send events without an SDK, use the [HTTP API Quickstart](https://amplitude.com/docs/apis/analytics/http-api-quickstart).

## Prerequisites

- An Amplitude project and its API key. Create a [free Amplitude account](https://app.amplitude.com/signup) if you need one.
- Access to your server codebase.

## Install the SDK

#### Node.js

1. **Install the package**

   ```bash
   npm install @amplitude/analytics-node
   ```
2. **Initialize Amplitude at startup**

   ```javascript
   import { init, track } from "@amplitude/analytics-node";

   init("AMPLITUDE_API_KEY");
   ```
3. **Track your first event**

   ```javascript
   track("Button Clicked", undefined, { user_id: "user@example.com" });
   ```

For full configuration options, refer to [Node.js SDK](https://amplitude.com/docs/sdks/analytics/node/node-js-sdk).

#### Python

1. **Install the package**

   ```bash
   pip install amplitude-analytics
   ```
2. **Initialize the client**

   ```python
   from amplitude import Amplitude, BaseEvent

   amplitude = Amplitude("AMPLITUDE_API_KEY")
   ```
3. **Track your first event**

   ```python
   amplitude.track(BaseEvent(
       event_type="Button Clicked",
       user_id="user@example.com"
   ))
   ```

For full configuration options, refer to [Python SDK](https://amplitude.com/docs/sdks/analytics/python/python-sdk).

## Confirm that events arrive

After you track your first event, open the [Amplitude Debugger](https://amplitude.com/docs/analytics/debug-analytics) to confirm that it reaches your project.