Go from an Application Idea to a Live Deployment

Use a prompt to build and preview an application before creating a GitHub repository or monolayer project.

This path is ideal when you want to build a new application, prototype, or internal tool from scratch without setting up a code repository first.

Instead of manually initializing a repository and build environment, you describe what you want in plain text. A coding agent builds and runs your application inside an interactive playground workspace.

Publishing the session automatically creates your GitHub repository, establishes a monolayer project, and triggers your first live deployment.

Stages from prompt to live deployment

Your application moves through four stages:

• Describe: State what you want to build. monolayer creates an interactive playground session for your app.
• Iterate: Prompt the coding agent to make changes and review them in an interactive playground with a live preview.
• Publish: Confirm the app is ready to save. monolayer creates a new GitHub repository and connects your monolayer project.
• Deploy: Monitor your first live release with automatic builds, status tracking, and logs.

Publishing converts your temporary playground session into a connected project. Before you publish, your code exists only inside the playground session. After you publish, GitHub stores your code and monolayer manages deployments and environments.

Before you start

Before you start, make sure you have:

• 1. An OpenAI API key or Google Vertex AI credentials configured under Settings > Coding Agent
• 2. The monolayer GitHub App installed for your GitHub account or organization.

When naming your project, use only letters, numbers, spaces, and dashes.

Start a playground session

Create your initial workspace session:

1. Choose Prompt on the platform home page.
2. Select an AI model from the model selector.
3. Type a description of the application you want to build.
4. Click Start.

Build and preview your application

Describe the key features and layout you want the coding agent to build first.

Example prompt:

Build a marketing landing page for an AI productivity app.

Include a hero banner with a call-to-action button, a three-item feature
breakdown, and a simple pricing table.

Test your app live in App Preview as the coding agent builds it. Send short follow-up prompts to refine features, adjust styling, or update layout details until you are satisfied with the result.

Publish your project

When your application is ready to save as a permanent project:

1. Click Publish in the playground session toolbar.
2. Type a project name in Project Name.
3. Click Confirm.
4. Click View deployment once publishing completes.

When you publish, monolayer creates your GitHub repository, pushes your application code, sets up your project, and starts your first live deployment. Keep your playground session open until publishing completes.

For detailed interface steps, see Prompt to Project, Chat Playgrounds, and Publishing.

Verify the outcome

Confirm all of the following:

• Your new GitHub repository contains your app's code.
• Your project appears in the monolayer dashboard project list.
• The first deployment finishes successfully.
• The live URL displays the same app you tested in App Preview.