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# Apps

GlideOS creates software from the inputs you provide. You can start building an app from a spreadsheet, a prompt, an image, a document, or a combination of these. Give GlideOS enough context and it can build something useful in minutes.

# Create an App

Apps live inside a

Project

. Each project contains one or more apps that share data and files. You can start a new app from anywhere the GlideOS prompt box appears. By default, GlideOS will make a new project for that app. If you want the app to live in an existing project, include that in the prompt.

GlideOS mocks up your app before it builds it. Describe what you want, and GlideOS designs the screens and fills them with sample data. Look the mockup over, ask for changes, then tell GlideOS to build it.

A spreadsheet and a prompt can both be used on their own to start building. When used together, they give GlideOS data and direction to build an app that is closer to what you want, with less iteration.

## Start with a spreadsheet

Data gives GlideOS the structure, data, and business knowledge it needs to build from. You can upload a spreadsheet or connect a Google Sheet without using a prompt. GlideOS will make decisions on what app to build based on what it finds in the data.

## Start with a prompt

If you don’t have data structured in a spreadsheet, you can start with a prompt. Describe who the app is for, what it should allow them to do, and what features matter most.

## Review the mockup

The mockup opens in an **App mockup** tab. **App** shows the screens. **Data** shows the sample data behind them.

Adjust the mockup from the controls above it:

* **Edit** turns on select mode. Click any part of the app to ask for a change to that element.
* **Color** sets the brand color. Pick a swatch, enter a hex value, or enter your company’s web address to pull its colors.
* **Theme** sets the visual style. Choose **Clean**, **Console**, **Editorial**, **Midnight**, **Studio**, or **Atrium**.
* **Device** set the preview view: **Desktop**, **Mobile**, or **Both**.

When the mockup is right, click **Build it**. To keep working on it instead, click **Make some changes**.

# Edit an App

The app screen is where you build and refine an app with GlideOS. From here you can also publish your app and compare it against your data or other apps in the same project.

The app screen is divided into two main parts: the chat panel and the app preview.

## Chat panel

The chat panel is on the left of the screen. You can start a new chat and read or continue a recent chat here.

To collapse the chat panel, click

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**Hide chat** at the top left of the screen. Click

<path d="M22 17a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H6.828a2 2 0 0 0-1.414.586l-2.202 2.202A.71.71 0 0 1 2 21.286V5a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h16a2 2 0 0 1 2 2z" />

**Show chat** to show the panel again. When the chat panel is hidden, you can also click **Edit** at the top right of the screen to open it.

## App Preview

The app preview is to the right of the chat panel. You can see what your app looks like to users as you build and update it.

To see the mobile layout, click the three-dot menu at the top right of the screen and select **Switch to mobile**. Select **Switch to desktop** to go back. From the same menu you can open the preview in **Fullscreen**, or select **Open on phone** to scan a QR code to preview on a mobile device.

The preview will show updates as you build in GlideOS, but these changes are not live until you publish them.

### Version history

> **Note**
>
> Version history is on the Plus, Pro, and Enterprise [plans](https://www.glideapps.com/new/pricing).

GlideOS saves a version each time an app update succeeds. Click the three-dot menu at the top right of the screen and select **Version history**. Select a version to preview it, then restore it. Click **Done** to close the panel.

### App settings

Each app has its own icon, color, and appearance. Click the three-dot menu at the top right of the screen and select **App settings**.

* **Icon.** Click **Upload image** to use your own. GlideOS accepts PNG, JPEG, WEBP, or GIF. Click the trash icon to go back to the default icon.
* **Color.** Pick a swatch, or click **+** to enter a custom color. Picking a color here applies to this app only.
* **Appearance.** Choose **System**, **Light**, or **Dark**. System follows each person’s device appearance. Light and Dark show everyone the same theme, whatever their device is set to.

Click **Save**. The preview updates right away. Your published app keeps its current icon, color, and appearance until the next time you publish.

### Rename your app

You can change your app’s name at any time. Click the three-dot menu at the top right of the screen and select **Rename**. Type the new name and click **Rename** again.

### Use split view

You can use **Split view** to preview an app alongside any other item in the project, including other apps.

Right click on the app name at the top of the screen.

Select

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**Split view**.

Select the item to open alongside the app.