Quick Start
Create your first app in minutes: run the CLI walkthrough below, or install the Crowdin plugin and let your AI coding agent do it for you.
Help me build a Crowdin app. Do the following: 1. Install the Crowdin plugin with `npx plugins add crowdin/skills`. 2. Ask me what the app should do, then use the create-app skill to scaffold, develop, and publish it. 3. After publishing, open a preview so I can see the app inside Crowdin.
Requirements
Section titled “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, but npm or yarn work too
- A Crowdin or Crowdin Enterprise account
Create your first app
Section titled “Create your first app”-
Install the CLI globally:
Terminal window npm install --global @crowdin/serverless-apps-cliOr run it ad hoc with
npx @crowdin/serverless-apps-cli <command>. -
Sign in with your Crowdin account:
Terminal window crowdin-serverless-apps loginThe CLI opens the browser for sign-in and detects your Crowdin Enterprise organization automatically.
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Scaffold an app from a starter template and register it in Crowdin:
Terminal window crowdin-serverless-apps create my-appcd my-apppnpm installcreateasks which of the two starter templates 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 repository - browse them to see what a complete app looks like. -
Develop live inside Crowdin, with hot reload:
Terminal window crowdin-serverless-apps devAccept the prompt to point the app at your local server. While
devruns, your app inside Crowdin loads straight from your machine - everything you edit shows up instantly. -
See the app inside Crowdin - in another terminal, run:
Terminal window crowdin-serverless-apps previewIt opens the browser right at the app’s place in the Crowdin UI.
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Publish when you are ready:
Terminal window crowdin-serverless-apps publishThe CLI builds the app, uploads the bundle, and lets Crowdin serve it. Publishing does not change who can see the app.
Install the Crowdin plugin
Section titled “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.
npx plugins add crowdin/skillsThe plugin activates automatically. No configuration needed.
See the crowdin/skills repository for the full list of skills and installation options for other tools.
Where to go next
Section titled “Where to go next”- Learn how
devandpublishwork under the hood. - Browse the CLI commands.
- Explore what the SDK gives your app at runtime.
- See the full source of the starter templates on GitHub.