> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.recursiv.io/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.recursiv.io/_mcp/server.

# Build your first app

You have an idea. You want a real deployed app — auth, AI, database, file storage, a live URL — without stitching five services together. Here's the whole path.

## 1. Run this in a terminal

```bash
npx -p @recursiv/cli@latest recursiv quickstart
```

The `quickstart` command walks you through everything you need:

* Checks for **GitHub CLI** (install it first if you don't have it: `brew install gh` on macOS, `winget install GitHub.cli` on Windows, then run `gh auth login`).
* Creates a free **Recursiv account** if you don't already have one — you'll paste an email and a 6-digit code from your inbox.
* Asks which **AI client** you're using (Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Codex, or OpenCode) and installs the Recursiv MCP server into that client's config.

About 3 minutes. When it finishes, **fully quit and reopen** whichever client you picked so the MCP loads.

## 2. Paste this into your AI client

Open your AI client in an empty folder. Paste this as your first message, replacing the bracketed idea with your own:

```
Build me [YOUR ONE-SENTENCE APP IDEA, e.g. "a personal CRM
with contacts, deals, and notes"].

Use the Recursiv MCP:
1. Call `provision_app` (app_name, slug, template: 'nextjs'
   for web or 'expo' for phone, agent_system_prompt). It
   creates a GitHub repo from the Recursiv starter, clones it
   here, and sets up project + database + AI agent.
2. Read CLAUDE.md and SDK.md in the cloned repo. Use
   r.auth, r.databases, r.agents, r.storage, r.chat,
   r.integrations.
3. Edit to match my idea, push, then call `deploy_project`.
   On any tool error, read the `hint` field in the response
   and self-recover.
4. Print the live URL when done.
```

When the first tool-approval dialog appears, click **Always allow recursiv** — otherwise the client pauses every few seconds.

## 3. Wait, then open your URL

The build takes about 20 minutes the first time. When the agent prints the URL, it looks like `https://<your-slug>.on.recursiv.io`. Open it — that's your app.

That URL is permanent. Every later deploy updates it in place.

## After the URL

Keep chatting in the same window:

* *"Add Google sign-in."*
* *"Add a Stripe checkout."*
* *"Add a notes field to the contact form."*
* *"Connect my Gmail via `r.integrations` so the assistant can draft follow-ups."*

The agent edits, redeploys, and your URL updates.

## Pricing

Free to start with \$5 in credits, no credit card required. Builder plan is \$49/mo + usage when you outgrow free.

## If you get stuck

Ask the agent *"what are you doing right now?"* — it'll narrate and resume. For tool errors, paste the error back and ask the agent to retry; the MCP tools are idempotent and most carry actionable `hint` fields the agent can read.