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

# Workshop Cloud in 5 Minutes

Workshop Cloud runs entirely in your browser. No downloads, no local setup — just describe what you want and Workshop builds it.

## Step-by-Step

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign up and create a project">
    Go to [app.workshop.ai](https://app.workshop.ai) and create an account.

    Click **New Project** and give it a name. You'll be asked to choose a starting template:

    * **Web App / Website** — A fullstack app with a Python backend and modern web frontend. Best for anything that runs as a website or web app. Supports one-click publish.
    * **Streamlit** — Python-native data apps with charts, tables, and interactivity built in. Supports one-click publish.
    * **Anything** — The most flexible option. Use any framework or package that runs in the cloud — not limited to web apps. Requires manual deployment.
    * **Import from GitHub** — Start from an existing repository.

    The project creation dialog also includes an **Add-Ons** section where you can enable AI Providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini) and a Database Provider (Neon). Some templates pre-select defaults — see [Project Templates](/workshop-cloud/templates#add-ons) for details.

    <Tip>
      Not sure which template to pick? **Web App / Website** is the best default for websites and web apps.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Describe what you want to build">
    This is where the magic starts. Describe your idea in plain language:

    ```
    I want to build a dashboard that shows sales trends by region,
    with filters for date range and product category.
    ```

    If you want to scope and clarify your project before writing any code, use **Plan Mode** — open the **+** menu next to the chat input and pick **Plan**, or just type "Use Plan mode." Workshop will ask clarifying questions and create a structured plan. When the plan looks right, follow the prompt to switch to **Build Mode**.

    If you already know what you want, you can skip straight to **Build Mode** and Workshop will start writing code immediately.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add data, connect your systems, or add AI">
    You can bring data and functionality into your project in several ways:

    * **File upload** — Drag a CSV, Excel, or JSON file directly into the chat
    * **Google Sheets** — Share a link and Workshop will read it
    * **Data connectors** — Connect to PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigQuery, Snowflake, Supabase, Google Drive, and more through the [Connectors](/connectors) panel
    * **AI Providers** — Add AI features to your app using Workshop's [managed AI connectors](/connectors/managed-ai-connectors) for Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google Gemini. Enable them via Add-Ons in project settings, or bring your own API keys instead.
    * **Database Providers** — Add a [managed Neon Postgres database](/connectors/managed-database) with built-in authentication to your project via Add-Ons. Or connect your own database through [Connectors](/connectors).

    Tell Workshop what you'd like it to do with the data:

    ```
    Load this CSV and create some initial visualizations so I can
    understand the data before we build the dashboard.
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Iterate on the result">
    As Workshop builds, the **preview pane** on the right shows your app updating in real time. Interact with it — click buttons, test filters, hover over charts.

    When you want changes, describe them naturally:

    ```
    Change the bar chart to a pie chart and add percentage labels.
    The date filter should default to the last 30 days.
    ```

    Workshop updates the code and the preview refreshes automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish and share">
    When your app is ready, click the **Publish** button. Workshop handles hosting and compute — there's nothing to provision or maintain on your end. You get a shareable URL your users can open immediately.

    You choose who can access it: make your app public, or limit it to specific people or teams for things you want to keep private. Workshop handles the access control as part of the same flow.

    To update a published app, make your changes and click **Update**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Tips for Better Results

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Be specific about what you want">
    ```
    ❌ "Make a dashboard"
    ✅ "Create a dashboard showing monthly revenue trends with a
        dropdown to filter by product category and a date range picker"
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Build incrementally">
    Start with the core functionality, then layer on features:

    1. "Load the data and show it in a table"
    2. "Add a chart of sales by month"
    3. "Add filters for product category and date range"
    4. "Style it to match our brand colors"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Reference what you see in the preview">
    ```
    The chart in the preview looks crowded — only show the top 10 products.
    The filter dropdown is cut off on mobile. Can you fix the layout?
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Connect a GitHub repository">
    Use Workshop's native [GitHub integration](/workshop-cloud/github-integration) to keep your code backed up and collaborate with others. You can also ask Workshop to commit at logical milestones:

    ```
    Commit our current progress with a descriptive message.
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## What You Can Build

Workshop Cloud excels at:

* **Dashboards** — Sales, marketing, operations, KPI tracking
* **Data explorers** — Let teams filter and explore datasets interactively
* **Internal tools** — Admin panels, data entry forms, approval workflows
* **Interactive reports** — Reports with drill-down, charts, and export
* **Prototypes** — Test ideas with real data before committing to a full build

## Next Steps

* **Connect your data sources** with [Connectors](/connectors)
* **Add AI features** with [AI Providers](/connectors/managed-ai-connectors)
* **Add a managed database** with [Database Providers](/connectors/managed-database)
* **Publish and share your app** with [Publishing](/workshop-cloud/publishing)
* **Learn how to work with the agent** in [Working with the Agent](/core-concepts/working-with-the-agent)
* **Read prompting tips** in [Working with the Agent](/core-concepts/working-with-the-agent)
* **Join the community** on [Discord](https://discord.gg/ggqJkUN3vx)