Projects

What are projects?

Projects are the applications you build in App2. Each project is a complete app with its own codebase, chat interface, development environment, and deployment.

Key characteristics:

• Workspace ownership: Projects belong to workspaces, not individuals

• Independent: Each project has its own chat, code, and sandbox

• Collaborative: Team members can work together on the same project

• Persistent: Code and chat history are saved automatically

• Deployable: Ready to deploy to production

What's included in every project:

• AI chat interface for building

• Secure sandbox for code execution

• GitHub repository for version control

• Live preview URL

• Optional Vercel deployment

• Team access controls

Project components

Every App2 project consists of several integrated components working together.

Chat sessions

AI conversations where you build your app.

What chat sessions do:

• Send prompts to AI in different modes (Build, Plan, Debug, Review, Docs)

• View AI responses and code changes

• Track credit consumption

• Organize work into focused threads

See Chat Sessions for details.

Sandbox

Secure, isolated development environment where your code runs.

What the sandbox does:

• Executes your code safely

• Automatically installs dependencies (bun/npm)

• Provides live preview URL

• Persists files across sessions

• Restarts and rebuilds as needed

Sandbox status:

• Shows in project header (green = ready, blue = building)

• Restart to reload code

• Rebuild to fix issues

GitHub repository

Every project gets its own GitHub repository.

Repository features:

• Automatic code synchronization

• Version control and history

• Clone and work locally

• Collaborate with git workflows

• Public or private repo (matches project visibility)

Repository types:

• App2-managed: Hosted in App2's GitHub organization

• User-owned: Connected to your GitHub account (Pro feature)

Vercel deployment

Optional hosting for your production app.

When linked:

• Automatic deployments on code changes

• Preview URLs for every update

• Custom domain support (Pro feature)

• Environment variable management

Not required for development—preview URL works without Vercel.

Preview URL

Live URL where you can see your running app.

Preview features:

• Updates automatically when code changes

• Works on desktop and mobile

• Shareable with anyone (public projects) or team (private projects)

• No deployment needed for testing

Project templates

Choose the template that matches what you're building.

Template comparison

Web (React/Vite)

Modern web applications with React and Vite.

What you get:

• React 19 with Vite bundler

• Tailwind CSS for styling

• Fast hot module replacement

• Optimized production builds

• SEO-friendly

Best for:

• SaaS applications

• Marketing websites

• Admin dashboards

• Web tools

• Portfolio sites

Mobile (Expo)

Cross-platform mobile apps with React Native.

What you get:

• React Native with Expo

• iOS and Android support

• Expo Go for testing

• Native device features

• App store ready (coming soon)

Best for:

• Consumer mobile apps

• Social apps

• E-commerce apps

• Productivity tools

• Games

Tip: Web projects deploy faster and are easier to share. Mobile projects provide native app experiences.

Project types

Projects use different workflows based on how they're created.

Prompt-based projects

Built through conversational prompts—the default and most flexible approach.

How it works:

1. Describe what you want to build

2. AI generates code

3. Iterate through chat

4. Use Quick Actions for context

5. Switch modes as needed

Best for:

• Custom applications

• Unique features

• Exploratory development

• When you don't have designs

Figma-based projects

Built from Figma design imports (mobile only).

How it works:

1. Import Figma file

2. AI analyzes designs and creates scenes

3. Select scenes to implement

4. Work on frontend and backend phases

5. Track progress visually

Best for:

• Design-first development

• Mobile apps with mockups

• Systematic implementation

• Designer-developer collaboration

See [Figma Import Guide](coming soon) for details.

Project lifecycle

Projects move through several stages from creation to readiness.

Project status stages

Status indicators:

• 🟢 Green dot: Ready—everything working

• 🔵 Blue dot: Building—setup in progress

• 🔴 Red dot: Failed—setup encountered error

• 🔘 Gray dot: Pending—waiting to start

Typical timeline:

• Pending → Scaffolding: ~5 seconds

• Scaffolding → Ready: ~30-90 seconds

• Total time: 1-2 minutes for most projects

Tip: If a project stays in Scaffolding for more than 3 minutes, try refreshing the page.

Project visibility

Projects can be public or private.

Public projects

Visible to everyone on the internet.

Public project features:

• Listed in community showcase

• Anyone can view and fork

• Preview URL accessible to anyone

• Available on Free tier

Private projects

Only visible to workspace members (Pro required).

Private project features:

• Hidden from community

• Workspace members only

• Restricted preview URLs

• Requires Pro subscription ($25/month)

See Private Projects for complete comparison.

Create your first project

Ready to build your first app? Follow this step-by-step guide to create your first App2 project.

Before you start

Make sure you have:

• An App2 account (sign up free)

• A clear idea of what you want to build

• 5-10 minutes

Step 1: Sign in

1. Go to App2.dev

2. Click "Sign In" (or "Sign Up" if you're new)

3. Enter your email

4. Check your email for the magic link

5. Click the link to sign in

You're now on the App2 homepage.

Step 2: Choose your template

Decide whether you're building a web app or mobile app.

Choose Web (React/Vite) if you want:

• A website or web application

• Something that runs in browsers

• Dashboard, SaaS, or marketing site

• Faster preview and deployment

Choose Mobile (Expo) if you want:

• iOS and Android app

• Native mobile experience

• App store distribution (coming soon)

• Mobile-specific features

Click your preferred template to select it.

Step 3: Describe your app

Think about what you want to build and describe it in the chat input.

Be specific about:

• The app's purpose

• Key features

• User interface elements

• Any special functionality

Example first prompts:

For a todo app: "Build a todo list app with these features: add tasks, mark as complete, delete tasks, filter by status, and dark mode toggle"

For a recipe app: "Create a recipe sharing app where users can browse recipes, search by ingredients, save favorites, and submit their own recipes with photos"

For a fitness tracker: "Make a workout tracking app that lets users log exercises, track sets and reps, view workout history, and see progress charts"

Step 4: Create your project

1. Type your app description in the chat box

2. Hit Enter or click the send button

3. App2 starts creating your project

What happens next:

• Project status: Pending (initializing)

• Project status: Scaffolding (creating GitHub repo and sandbox)

• Project status: Ready (everything set up)

This typically takes 1-2 minutes.

Step 5: Watch your app come to life

Once your project is Ready:

1. Chat interface opens with AI response

2. AI starts building your app based on your description

3. Preview panel shows your app running live

4. Files appear in the code browser

5. GitHub repo is created automatically

You'll see the AI writing code in real-time and your app appearing in the preview!

Step 6: Test your app

Interact with your app in the preview panel.

Try these:

• Click buttons and links

• Fill out forms

• Test navigation

• Check mobile responsiveness

• Open preview in new tab

Step 7: Make changes

Want to add features or fix something?

1. Type what you want to change in the chat

2. AI modifies the code

3. Preview updates automatically

4. Iterate until it's perfect

Example prompts:

• "Add a user profile page with avatar and bio"

• "Change the header background to purple"

• "Add error handling for empty inputs"

What's next?

Now that you've created your first project:

Explore features:

• Try different Chat Modes (Build, Plan, Debug)

• Use Quick Actions to reference files

• Create multiple Chat Sessions for organization

Connect integrations:

• Add Supabase for backend database

• Connect Vercel for production deployment

• Link GitHub to your own account (Pro)

Deploy your app:

• Share preview URL with friends

• Deploy to Vercel for production

• Add custom domain (Pro)

Join the community:

• Make your project public to inspire others

• Fork community projects to learn

• Get feedback from other developers

Congratulations on creating your first App2 project!

Creating projects

Three ways to start a new project.

Method 1: Describe your idea

Fastest way—just describe what you want to build.

Steps:

1. Visit App2 homepage or click "New Project"

2. Choose template (Web or Mobile)

3. Select visibility (Public or Private)

4. Type your app description

5. Hit Enter

Example descriptions:

• "Build a task manager with categories and due dates"

• "Create a fitness app that tracks workouts and calories"

• "Make an e-commerce store with product catalog and cart"

AI generates your app based on the description.

Method 2: Import from Figma

Turn Figma designs into mobile apps.

Steps:

1. Click "Import Figma Design" on homepage

2. Connect Figma account (first time)

3. Paste Figma file URL

4. Choose visibility (Public or Private)

5. Wait for analysis (~1-2 minutes)

6. Review scenes and start building

Requirements:

• Figma account with access to file

• Mobile app template (Figma import doesn't support web yet)

• Properly organized Figma file

Method 3: Fork existing project

Start from a community project.

Steps:

1. Browse community projects (homepage or /community)

2. Click a project you like

3. Click "Fork" button

4. Choose template and visibility

5. Give it a new name

6. Click "Create Fork"

What gets copied:

• Complete codebase

• File structure

• Dependencies

• README and docs

What doesn't copy:

• Chat history

• Credits consumed

• Integrations (you set up your own)

Managing projects

Project settings

Access settings via the gear icon in your project.

Available settings:

General:

• Project name and slug

• Description

• Visibility (public/private)

• Category

• Template

Integrations:

• GitHub repository

• Vercel deployment

• Supabase connection

• Stripe integration

Advanced:

• Autodocs (automatic documentation)

• Predictive prompting

• Credit consumption type (App2 credits or BYOK)

• Custom domains

Renaming projects

Change project name and URL slug.

How to rename:

1. Go to Project Settings → General

2. Update project name

3. Optionally change slug (URL identifier)

4. Save changes

Slug rules:

• Lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens only

• Must be unique across App2

• Used in preview URLs

• Cannot change if custom domain is active

Deleting projects

Remove projects you no longer need.

What gets deleted:

• Project record in App2

• Chat sessions and messages

• Sandbox environment

• Optionally: GitHub repository

• Optionally: Vercel deployment

How to delete:

1. Go to Project Settings → Danger Zone

2. Click "Delete Project"

3. Confirm deletion

4. Choose whether to keep or delete GitHub repo

5. Confirm again

Important: Deletion is permanent. Downloaded code from GitHub is your backup.

Forking projects

Create your own copy of any public project.

Why fork:

• Start from working code

• Learn from examples

• Customize existing apps

• Build on community projects

Forking process:

1. Open any public project

2. Click "Fork" button

3. Choose your workspace

4. Select template and visibility

5. Give fork a unique name

6. Confirm

Fork characteristics:

• Complete copy of code

• New GitHub repository

• Independent from original

• Your workspace owns it

• Original author credited

Project features

Real-time preview

See your app running as the AI builds it.

Preview features:

• Live updates when code changes

• Open in new tab

• Test on different screen sizes

• Share preview URL

• Mobile device testing (scan QR code)

Automatic save

Never lose your work—everything saves automatically.

What's auto-saved:

• All code changes

• Chat messages

• Session context

• Sandbox state

• Integration settings

Version control

Full git history in GitHub.

Version control features:

• Every change committed

• Complete git history

• Clone and work locally

• Branch and merge

• Revert changes if needed

Team access

Workspace members can collaborate on projects.

Collaboration features:

• Multiple people can work simultaneously

• Shared chat sessions

• Real-time updates

• Comment and discuss

• Track who made changes

Best practices

Organizing projects

Name projects clearly:

• Use descriptive names: "E-commerce Store", "Fitness Tracker"

• Avoid generic names: "App 1", "Test Project"

• Include purpose: "Client Portal - Acme Corp"

Use project categories:

• Helps organize your workspace

• Makes projects easier to find

• Appears in community showcase

Managing multiple projects

Create projects for:

• Each distinct application

• Major features needing separate repos

• Client projects

• Experiments and prototypes

Don't create projects for:

• Minor feature additions (use sessions instead)

• Temporary tests

• Every small idea

Choosing visibility

Make projects public when:

• Building for learning

• Open-source contributions

• Portfolio pieces

• Want community feedback

Make projects private when:

• Client work

• Proprietary code

• Pre-launch apps

• Sensitive data

See Private Projects for guidance.

Credit management

Per-project tips:

• Use Plan mode for discussions

• Be specific to avoid rework

• Use Quick Actions for context

• Check credit usage in session info

Common workflows

Starting a new app

1. Click "New Project"

2. Choose template

3. Set visibility

4. Describe your app

5. Wait for scaffolding (1-2 minutes)

6. Start building with AI

Adding features

1. Open existing project

2. Create new session for feature

3. Use Build mode

4. Test in preview

5. Iterate as needed

Debugging issues

1. Switch to Debug mode

2. Describe the problem

3. Include error messages

4. AI identifies and fixes

5. Test fix in preview

Preparing for launch

1. Review code quality (Review mode)

2. Add documentation (Docs mode)

3. Connect Vercel for deployment

4. Configure custom domain (optional)

5. Deploy to production

Troubleshooting

Project stuck in Scaffolding

Issue: Project status shows "Scaffolding" for more than 3 minutes.

Solutions:

1. Refresh the page

2. Check GitHub repo was created

3. Wait up to 5 minutes

4. If still stuck, delete and recreate project

5. Contact support if persists

Preview URL not working

Issue: Preview shows error or doesn't load.

Solutions:

1. Check sandbox status (should be green)

2. Restart sandbox

3. Rebuild sandbox if restart doesn't help

4. Check browser console for errors

5. Verify code doesn't have build errors

Can't create private project

Issue: Private option disabled or shows upgrade prompt.

Solution: Private projects require Pro subscription. Upgrade to Pro ($25/month) to create private projects.

GitHub repository not created

Issue: Project created but no GitHub repo.

Solutions:

1. Connect GitHub integration in workspace settings

2. Authorize App2 GitHub App

3. Recreate project after connecting GitHub

4. Check GitHub App permissions

Project frozen

Issue: "Project Frozen" banner appears, can't make changes.

Solutions:

• Check freeze reason in banner

• Reconnect required integration (GitHub, Supabase)

• Contact support for manual freezes

• Verify integrations are active

FAQ

How many projects can I create?

Unlimited on all tiers. Free tier can create unlimited public projects. Pro tier can create unlimited public and private projects.

Can I work on multiple projects at once?

Yes. Open projects in different browser tabs, or switch between projects using the project dropdown. Each project maintains its own state.

Do projects consume credits when idle?

No. Credits are only consumed when you interact with the AI (chat messages, code generation, etc.). Idle projects don't consume credits.

Can I rename a project after creating it?

Yes. Change the project name and slug in Project Settings → General. Note: Cannot change slug if custom domain is active.

What happens to my project if I cancel Pro subscription?

Private projects: Remain accessible but become read-only until you re-subscribe or make them public.

Public projects: Continue working normally (no impact).

Can I export my project code?

Yes. You can either do it by clicking the “Export” button in the project navigation bar, or if you connected a GitHub repository then:

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/your-org/your-project.git

You own 100% of the code and can deploy anywhere.

How do I share my project with non-team members?

Public projects: Share the preview URL—anyone can view.

Private projects: Invite them to your workspace, or make the project public temporarily.

Can I move a project to a different workspace?

Not directly. Fork the project to the other workspace, creating an independent copy. Original and fork are separate.

What's the difference between forking and cloning?

Forking (in App2): Creates a new App2 project with copy of code, sandbox, and chat setup.

Cloning (git): Downloads code to your local machine for development outside App2.

How do I delete a project permanently?

Go to Project Settings → Danger Zone → Delete Project. Choose whether to keep or delete the GitHub repository. Deletion is permanent.

Can I restore a deleted project?

No. Once deleted, projects cannot be restored. The GitHub repository may still exist if you chose to keep it during deletion.

Related links

• Getting Started - Create your first project

• Chat Sessions - Organize conversations

• Chat Modes - Build, Plan, Debug, Review, Docs

• Quick Actions - Add context to prompts

• Private Projects - Public vs private visibility

• Workspaces - Team collaboration

• Custom Domains - Branded URLs

• Plans and Credits