# Quick Start

Create your first app in minutes: run the CLI walkthrough below, or install the [Crowdin plugin](#install-the-crowdin-plugin) and let your AI coding agent do it for you.

<AiAssistance prompt={buildAppPrompt} />

## Requirements

- Node.js `^22.19 || ^24` - 22.19 or newer within the 22.x line, or any 24.x
- A Node.js package manager - the examples use [pnpm](https://pnpm.io/installation), but npm or yarn work too
- A [Crowdin](https://crowdin.com/) or [Crowdin Enterprise](https://crowdin.com/enterprise) account

## Create your first app

1. Install the CLI globally:

   ```bash
   npm install --global @crowdin/serverless-apps-cli
   ```

   Or run it ad hoc with `npx @crowdin/serverless-apps-cli <command>`.

2. Sign in with your Crowdin account:

   ```bash
   crowdin-serverless-apps login
   ```

   The CLI opens the browser for sign-in and detects your Crowdin Enterprise organization automatically.

3. Scaffold an app from a starter template and register it in Crowdin:

   ```bash
   crowdin-serverless-apps create my-app
   cd my-app
   pnpm install
   ```

   `create` asks which of the [two starter templates](/serverless-apps/reference/cli-commands/#create) to use, scaffolds the project (`manifest.json`, `src/`, `public/`, `locales/`), registers the app in Crowdin, and links the folder to it via `.env`. Both templates live in the [serverless-apps-starter-kit](https://github.com/crowdin-community/serverless-apps-starter-kit) repository - browse them to see what a complete app looks like.

4. Develop live inside Crowdin, with hot reload:

   ```bash
   crowdin-serverless-apps dev
   ```

   Accept the prompt to point the app at your local server. While `dev` runs, your app inside Crowdin loads straight from your machine - everything you edit shows up instantly.

5. See the app inside Crowdin - in another terminal, run:

   ```bash
   crowdin-serverless-apps preview
   ```

   It opens the browser right at the app's place in the Crowdin UI.

6. Publish when you are ready:

   ```bash
   crowdin-serverless-apps publish
   ```

   The CLI builds the app, uploads the bundle, and lets Crowdin serve it. Publishing does not change [who can see the app](/serverless-apps/development/dev-and-publish/#who-can-see-the-app).

## Install the Crowdin plugin

If you use an AI coding agent - Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or another tool with a plugin system - install the Crowdin plugin. It gives your agent Crowdin skills and slash commands like `/create-app`, which runs the whole flow above for you: it asks what the app should do, then scaffolds, develops, and publishes it.

```bash
npx plugins add crowdin/skills
```

The plugin activates automatically. No configuration needed.

See the [crowdin/skills](https://github.com/crowdin/skills) repository for the full list of skills and installation options for other tools.

## Where to go next

- Learn [how `dev` and `publish` work](/serverless-apps/development/dev-and-publish/) under the hood.
- Browse the [CLI commands](/serverless-apps/reference/cli-commands/).
- Explore what the [SDK](/serverless-apps/building-app/overview/) gives your app at runtime.
- See the full source of the [starter templates](https://github.com/crowdin-community/serverless-apps-starter-kit) on GitHub.