--- title: "Build your first app" description: "Create a project, deploy it to Fabric, prompt Copilot, preview the result, and iterate." url: https://spatney.github.io/rayfin-fabricator/docs/start/first-app markdown_url: https://spatney.github.io/rayfin-fabricator/docs/start/first-app.md app_version: "1.20.1" section: start product: Fabricator last_updated: 2026-10-10T17:36:58-07:00 source: start/first-app.mdx --- # Build your first app > Create a project, deploy it to Fabric, prompt Copilot, preview the result, and iterate. This quickstart takes you from an empty Fabricator install to a deployed Rayfin app that you can refine in chat. ## Create a project 1. On Home, choose **New project**. 2. In **Project name**, enter a name for the app. 3. Keep the default start option. New projects use the Rayfin CLI's default Universal App template; there is no template picker for the normal flow. 4. Choose **Create project**. ![The New project screen with Contoso Expenses typed as the project name, the folder name below it, and the Create project button.](https://spatney.github.io/rayfin-fabricator/screenshots/new-project.webp) Fabricator creates the project, installs dependencies, initializes Git, and moves to **Deploy your app**. ## Create the first deployment A normal local project needs a first Fabric deployment before chat can build against it. 1. If prompted, choose **Sign in to Fabric** and complete the browser sign-in. 2. In **Name**, enter a friendly deployment name such as `Development`, or leave it blank. 3. Under **Deploy to workspace**, pick an eligible workspace. Rayfin apps need a workspace on a Fabric **F-SKU** or Power BI Premium **P-SKU** capacity. 4. If you need a new workspace, choose **+ New workspace**, enter **New workspace name**, pick a capacity, and choose **Create workspace**. 5. Choose **Deploy app**. ![The Deploy your app step of a new project, with a deployment name, a list of Fabric workspaces with their region and capacity, and the Deploy app button.](https://spatney.github.io/rayfin-fabricator/screenshots/first-deploy.webp) You can choose **Continue without deploying →** and deploy later with **Deploy** in the app bar, but chat stays locked until the app has a deployment. If no eligible workspaces are listed, Fabricator can show **Start a free trial** and **Buy a capacity** links. If the selected workspace already has an app with the same name, choose another workspace or explicitly choose **Replace it anyway**. ## Describe the app When the Build view opens, type a prompt in chat. Start with the outcome, the people using the app, and the data they need to track. ```prompt title="Track equipment requests" Build an equipment request app for an operations team. Employees request a laptop, monitor, phone, or accessory with a reason and needed-by date. Managers review requests, approve or reject them with a comment, and see a dashboard of open requests by type and priority. ``` For a smaller first pass, try: ```prompt title="Simple team tracker" Build a simple team task tracker. Each task has a title, owner, due date, status, and notes. Show a board grouped by status and a summary of overdue tasks. ``` ## Watch Copilot work ![A chat turn in progress: the work log lists the files Copilot edited and the command it is running, while the live local preview shows the app as it changes.](https://spatney.github.io/rayfin-fabricator/screenshots/chat-working.webp) While a turn runs, the chat shows a live work log with steps such as file reads, searches, commands, and edits. The preview pane can switch to a local preview during the turn so frontend changes appear as Copilot makes them. When the turn finishes, Fabricator saves chat history, refreshes project state, checks the Rayfin version, and deploys changed local projects automatically when there are undeployed changes. Failed or cancelled turns do not auto-deploy. If the automatic check fails, use **Redeploy**. ## Preview, open, and share ![The Fabricator workbench. On the left, the chat shows a finished Copilot turn that built an expense tracker; on the right, the live preview shows the deployed app with a monthly total and a spending chart.](https://spatney.github.io/rayfin-fabricator/screenshots/workbench.webp) The right side of the Build view shows your app preview. Use **Reload** to refresh it, the URL button to open it in your browser, **Fabric** to switch between the direct app and Fabric portal shell when available, and **Design** to make visual changes by clicking the running app. After a successful deploy, use **Share** in the deployment control to share with people in your tenant. See [Share your app](https://spatney.github.io/rayfin-fabricator/docs/ship/share). ## Iterate Continue with another prompt. You can ask for a feature, attach a screenshot, mention files with `@`, or use **Design** to queue visual changes and send them to Copilot. Good next prompts are specific: ```prompt title="Add reporting" Add a reporting page that shows requests by status, requests by equipment type, and average approval time. Keep the dashboard readable on a laptop screen. ``` ## Next steps - Learn the layout in [Tour the workbench](https://spatney.github.io/rayfin-fabricator/docs/start/tour). - Learn more about [Chat with Copilot](https://spatney.github.io/rayfin-fabricator/docs/build/chat). - Use [Design mode](https://spatney.github.io/rayfin-fabricator/docs/build/design) for visual changes. - Check app health with [Advisor](https://spatney.github.io/rayfin-fabricator/docs/ship/advisor).