# Python SDK

## Installation

```bash
pip install payfet
```

## Quick start

```python
from payfet import PayfetClient

# Initialize the client with your API key
client = PayfetClient(api_key="your_api_key_here")

# Process a bill payment
response = client.bill_payment(
    phone="08012345678",
    amount=500,
    billtype="electricity"
)

print(response)
# {
#   "status": "success",
#   "transaction_id": "txn_123456",
#   "message": "Payment successful"
# }
```

Read the key from the environment rather than hardcoding it, so it never
reaches version control.

## Common operations

```python
# Top up airtime for a phone number
response = client.airtime(
    phone="08012345678",
    amount=1000,
    provider="MTN"
)

# Check status of a transaction
status = client.transaction_status(transaction_id="txn_123456")

# Retrieve your account balance
balance = client.get_balance()
```

## Error handling

```python
try:
    response = client.bill_payment(phone="08012345678", amount=500)
except PayfetAuthError as e:
    print(f"Authentication failed: {e}")
except PayfetPaymentError as e:
    print(f"Payment processing error: {e}")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Unexpected error: {e}")
```

Catch `PayfetAuthError` separately — it means the credentials are wrong, and
retrying will not help.

## Taking payments from your customers

The SDK covers bills, airtime and account operations. To charge your own
customers on your website, use the checkout API — see
[Accept payments on your site](/docs/inline).

## Need help?

Email [support@payfet.org](mailto:support@payfet.org).