> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.genie-app.de/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get started with Genie in under five minutes

> Sign up, describe your app in plain English, watch it appear live in seconds, then share the link — no configuration, no code, no waiting.

Getting your first app running with Genie takes about five minutes. You sign up, type a description of what you want, and Genie generates a working app you can immediately preview and share. This guide walks you through the whole process from a blank browser tab to a live, shareable link.

## Before you start

You don't need an account to browse Genie, and you can even build one project as a guest before signing up. To save more than one project, share, and keep iterating, you'll want a free account — no credit card required.

<Tip>
  **Try before you sign up.** You can create a single project and deploy it once without an account. When you log in later, Genie automatically moves that project into your new account so nothing is lost.
</Tip>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create your account">
    Go to [genie.app](https://genie.app) and click **Start for free**. You can sign up with an email address or an existing Google or GitHub account.

    Once you're in, you'll land on your dashboard. This is where all your projects live. On a fresh account it will be empty — that's about to change.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start a new project">
    Click **New project** from your dashboard. Genie opens a new project with a single input: the prompt box.

    This is where you describe what you want to build. You don't need to think in technical terms — describe the tool the way you would explain it to a colleague.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Type your first prompt">
    Write a description of the app you want in the prompt box. Be specific about the features that matter to you, but don't worry about length — one or two sentences is usually enough to get started.

    **Good prompts include:**

    * What the app does
    * The key pieces of information it tracks
    * How you want to view or interact with that information

    Here are some examples to give you a sense of what works well:

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Task tracker">
        ```
        Build a task management app with kanban board columns, 
        draggable cards, tag filters, and a stats summary showing 
        tasks per status.
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Client CRM">
        ```
        Create a mini CRM with a contact table showing name, company, 
        status, and last contact date. Clicking a row should open a 
        side panel with activity notes.
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Startup landing page">
        ```
        Build a startup landing page with a gradient hero section, 
        three feature blocks, social proof, a pricing toggle, and 
        a sticky call-to-action bar.
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Inventory manager">
        ```
        Build a lightweight inventory manager with a searchable 
        and sortable table, low stock highlights, a category filter, 
        and a bulk quantity edit option.
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    <Tip>
      Start specific, not general. "Build a task tracker with projects and a kanban board" gives Genie more to work with than "Build a productivity app." You can always expand scope later with follow-up prompts.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Watch your app generate">
    Click **Generate** (or press Enter). Genie starts building immediately. You'll see progress in real time as the app takes shape.

    Generation typically takes a few seconds. While it runs, Genie is creating the full app structure — layout, components, navigation, and any data models you described.

    <Note>
      Generation uses credits from your account. The free plan includes enough credits to get started. You can view your credit balance at any time in **Settings → Billing**.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Preview your app in the live panel">
    When generation finishes, the **live preview panel** opens on the right side of the screen. This is a fully interactive version of your app — click buttons, fill in forms, switch views. Everything works exactly as it will when you share it.

    The preview updates in real time as you make changes.

    Use the preview to check:

    * Whether the layout matches what you had in mind
    * Whether the right columns, fields, or sections are present
    * Whether the navigation makes sense for how you'd actually use it
  </Step>

  <Step title="Refine with follow-up prompts">
    The prompt box stays open below the preview. Type a follow-up instruction to change anything about the app.

    You can be as specific or as casual as you like:

    * `"Move the stats summary to the top"`
    * `"Add a priority field to each task card"`
    * `"Change the color scheme to green and gray"`
    * `"Add a section for completed tasks"`

    Each follow-up regenerates only the parts of the app affected by your request. You don't start from scratch — Genie applies your change to the existing app.

    <Tip>
      There's no limit on follow-up prompts for a project. Iterate freely until the app works exactly the way you need it to.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Share your app">
    When you're happy with the result, click **Share** in the top bar. Genie gives you a public link you can send to anyone.

    Recipients don't need a Genie account to use your app — they just open the link in a browser.

    From the **Share** panel you can also:

    * Copy the link to send directly
    * Control visibility (public or private)
    * Connect a custom domain from your project settings
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What happens after you share

Your app is live on Genie Cloud from the moment you share it. Genie handles hosting, security, and uptime automatically — there's nothing to configure or maintain. If you update the app with a follow-up prompt, the live version updates immediately.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Manage your project" icon="folder" href="/projects/overview">
    Rename your app, adjust settings, and manage project-level options.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connect a custom domain" icon="globe" href="/projects/visibility">
    Give your app a professional address instead of the default Genie URL.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Add integrations" icon="plug" href="/workspaces/integrations">
    Connect tools like Stripe, Notion, or GitHub to expand what your app can do.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Understand your credits" icon="credit-card" href="/billing/credits">
    See how credits are used and how to top up when you need more.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Prompt tips

The quality of your prompt directly affects how closely the first generation matches what you want. These habits will save you follow-up rounds:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Describe the layout, not just the purpose">
    Instead of "a dashboard," say "a dashboard with a sidebar, KPI stat cards at the top, and a data table below." Visual specifics help Genie pick the right structure.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Name the key data fields">
    If your app tracks records, list the fields: "a contact table with name, company, email, status, and last contacted date." This prevents Genie from guessing what data matters.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Mention interactions you need">
    If you want to click a row to open a detail panel, drag cards between columns, or filter a list by tag — say so. Genie supports these interactions but won't add them unless you ask.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Start with a template if you're unsure">
    If you're not sure how to phrase your prompt, [browse templates](/templates). Each template comes with a complete example prompt you can use directly or modify.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>