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Getting started
After you sign up and sign in, you can create projects and apps right away. Use this guide to create a project, add an app, set environment variables, then build and deploy.
What you'll do
From first sign-in to a live app
- Create a project
- Create an application inside it
- Add environment variables (optional but common)
- Build (Git apps), then Deploy
- Change config later and Deploy again to update the live app
1. Create a project
Projects group your apps and shared settings. Start here after you sign in.
- Open Projects in the top navigation.
- Click New Project.
- Enter a name (and optional description), then click Create Project.
You land on the project page. From here you can add applications, manage variables, and open project settings.
2. Create an application
An application is what you build and deploy. Create it from the project or from Applications.
Open the create form
- On the project page, click Add Application, or
- Go to Applications → New and choose your project.
Fill in the basics
- Application name — a clear name you will recognize in the list.
- Application size — pick a size allowed by your plan (when shown).
- Source type — either Git Repository or Pre-built image (public).
If you choose Git Repository
- Connect your Git account under Integrations if you have not already.
- Select the provider, repository, and branch.
- Leave Auto-deploy on push on if you want pushes to that branch to build and deploy for you.
- Under Advanced Options, set a root directory only if your app lives in a subfolder of the repo.
If you choose Pre-built image
- Enter the public image name and tag (for example as shown in the form placeholder).
- You can skip the Build step later and go straight to Deploy.
Click Create Application. You are taken to the app page, which has quick links for Builds, Deployments, Environment Variables, and Domains.
3. Environment variables
Use these for API keys, database URLs, feature flags, and other config your app reads at runtime.
App-level variables
- Open your application.
- Click Environment Variables (or open it from Quick Actions).
- Click Add, enter a key and value, and mark it as a secret if it should stay hidden.
Project-level variables
- Open the project.
- Open the Variables tab, then Manage Variables.
- Add keys that should be shared across apps in that project.
Important
Saving a variable does not update the live app by itself. After you add or edit variables, open Deployments and click Deploy so the running app picks up the new values.
4. Build (Git apps)
Builds prepare your Git app so it can be deployed. Skip this section if you created the app from a pre-built image.
- Open your application.
- Click View Builds (or open the Builds page).
- Click Start Build.
- Watch the live logs on the right until the build finishes.
Status moves from Pending → In progress → Succeeded (or Failed). If it fails, read the logs, fix the issue in your repo or settings, then start another build.
With Auto-deploy on push enabled, a push to your selected branch can start a build for you — you still use this page to check history and logs.
5. Deploy and redeploy
Deploying makes your app live (or updates it). There is no separate Redeploy button — use Deploy again whenever you want the live app to refresh.
First deploy
- Open your application.
- Click View Deployments.
- Click Deploy.
- Select the new deployment in the history list to follow live logs until status is Running.
For Git apps, wait until you have a successful build first. For image-based apps, you can deploy right after create.
Opening your app URL
HTTPS may take a minute or two after the first deploy while the secure certificate is issued. If your browser shows a certificate warning, wait briefly and try again.
When to deploy again (redeploy)
Click Deploy again after you:
- Change environment variables
- Change the image or app settings that should apply to the live app
- Finish a new successful build and want that version live (if auto-deploy did not already)
If something is blocked
Common messages in the UI and what to do
- Account not activated — uncommon for new signups. If you still see this banner, email support@hostkb.com with your sign-up email.
- Additional application pending approval — Builds and Deploy stay disabled until that app is approved.
- Build required first — for Git apps, run a successful build before Deploy.
- Deploy already in progress — wait for the current one to finish, then try again.
- Plan or usage limits — check Billing for remaining usage, or contact support.