C++ / EXE — manual setup (step by step)

This is the same layout used in production tools (ImGui + Win32 + Visual Studio). No KeyAuth library — only WinHTTP and your dashboard credentials.

Download C++ SDK (ZIP) Use AI instead (Cursor / ChatGPT)

Before you code — dashboard (5 minutes)

Log in at keyghotz.space/app → Manage Apps → create or select your app.
Copy name and ownerid (10 characters).
App Settings → set version (e.g. 1.0) — must match your EXE exactly.
Function Management → enable Login and/or License.
Users → create a test user (username + password + subscription), or Licenses → create a key.
Test API: open api/1.2/ping.php — you must see JSON, not an HTML page.

Step 1 — Download files (ZIP)

ghotz-cpp.zip contains every file. After unzip, read PROJECT_SETUP.txt in the folder.

Copy to your project	Add in Visual Studio?	What it does
`include/ghotz_config.h`	No (header only)	Your `name`, `ownerid`, `version`, `url`
`include/ghotz_auth.h`	No	`ghotz::Auth` + `GhotzAuth::` wrapper
`src/ghotz_auth.cpp`	Yes — Compile	WinHTTP client → `POST /api/1.2/index.php`
`include/login_screen.h`	No	ImGui login UI (optional)
`src/login_screen.cpp`	Yes — Compile	Login button → `GhotzAuth::Login` / `License`
Your `main.cpp` / `dllmain.cpp`	Already in project	Call `GhotzAuth::Init()` at start; main menu only if logged in

Step 2 — Write `name`, `ownerid`, `version` (when and how)

In dashboard: Manage Apps → select app → copy name + ownerid.
App Settings → copy version (e.g. 1.0).
In ZIP: copy include/ghotz_config.h.example → include/ghotz_config.h.
Open ghotz_config.h and replace the four strings — save before building.

Field in `ghotz_config.h`	Where you get it in dashboard	Example
`name`	Manage Apps → your app card → Application name (not the secret)	`YOUR_APP_NAME`
`ownerid`	Same page → Owner ID (always 10 characters)	`XXXXXXXXXX`
`version`	App Settings → Version — must be identical in code and dashboard	`1.0`
`url`	Fixed for all apps (do not change unless self-hosting)	`https://keyghotz.space/api/1.2/`

When to write this file: right after you create/select the app in the dashboard — before you build the EXE. Copy ghotz_config.h.example → ghotz_config.h, paste the four values, save, then add other SDK files.

Never put secret in the EXE (server/webhooks only).

#pragma once
namespace ghotz_config {
    inline const char* name    = "YOUR_APP_NAME";
    inline const char* ownerid = "XXXXXXXXXX";
    inline const char* version = "1.0";
    inline const char* url     = "https://keyghotz.space/api/1.2/";
}

Step 3 — Libraries to add to the project

Library	Required?	How to add in Visual Studio
`winhttp.lib`	Yes (auth HTTP)	Project → Properties → Linker → Input → Additional Dependencies → add `winhttp.lib` Or keep `#pragma comment(lib, "winhttp.lib")` at top of `ghotz_auth.cpp` (already there).
`d3d11.lib` / `dxgi.lib`	Only if you use ImGui + DirectX11	Same Linker → Input (your overlay already may have these)
KeyAuth `library_x64.lib`	No — remove it	Ghotz uses WinHTTP only; delete old KeyAuth .lib from linker list

Step 4 — Visual Studio settings (commands / properties)

C/C++ → General → Additional Include Directories: $(ProjectDir)include
C/C++ → Language → C++ Language Standard: /std:c++17 or newer
Linker → Input → Additional Dependencies: winhttp.lib (plus your D3D libs if ImGui)
Platform: x64 (match your game/emulator)

Add .cpp files: right-click project → Add → Existing Item → pick src/ghotz_auth.cpp and src/login_screen.cpp.

Step 5 — `#include` lines (paste in your code)

// At top of dllmain.cpp, main.cpp, or login_screen.cpp:
#include "ghotz_config.h"   // name, ownerid, version, url (edit this file first)
#include "ghotz_auth.h"     // GhotzAuth::Init(), Login(), License()
#include "login_screen.h"   // optional ImGui UI

Step 6 — Connect login to API

// 1) When EXE / panel starts (once):
GhotzAuth::Init();
if (!GhotzAuth::InitSucceeded()) {
    // show GhotzAuth::LastError() on login screen — do not open main menu
}

// 2) Login button:
if (GhotzAuth::Login(username, password)) {
    authenticed = true;
    login_page = 0;
}
// OR: GhotzAuth::License(license_key);

// 3) Main loop — only draw cheat/menu when authenticed == true:
if (login_page && !authenticed)
    LoginScreen_Render(&authenticed, &login_page);
else if (authenticed)
    DrawYourMainMenu();

API: POST https://keyghotz.space/api/1.2/index.php (form-urlencoded). See example/WINMAIN_SNIPPET.txt in the ZIP.

Step 7 — Build and test

Build Release | x64.
Run EXE → login with a user you created in the panel (username + password).
If error says <!DOCTYPE html> → re-upload api/1.2/ on the server (see API_DEPLOY_FIX.md in the website package).
If Session not found → upload latest api/1.2/index.php on Hostinger, rebuild EXE.
If invalidver → version in code ≠ version in App Settings.

Migrating from KeyAuth?

Keep your old SDK. Change only:

URL → https://keyghotz.space/api/1.2/
name, ownerid, version from Ghotz dashboard

KeyAuth → Ghotz drop-in guide

Use AI to do this faster

In the dashboard: Manage Apps → your app → Part 8 — Full AI guide → copy prompt into Cursor. The prompt includes your real credentials and this exact file layout.

How the AI prompt works →

Shorter EXE overview · DLL guide · ← All tutorials