# Quickstart


In the next 5 minutes, we'll go from zero to a live app: a managed database, a public URL, and auto-deploy on every git push, all set up for you.

Here's what we're building together: a page with a button that says **"I followed the Zerops quickstart"**. Every developer who finishes this guide and clicks it gets added to the wall. It's a real app, Express backend, PostgreSQL database, static frontend, running entirely on **Zerops**.

Curious what you'll end up with? Here it is, live: [app-25be-3000.prg1.zerops.app](https://app-25be-3000.prg1.zerops.app/)

[Video: /vids/quickstart-app.webm](/vids/quickstart-app.webm)

:::tip Before we start
Sign up at [app.zerops.io](https://app.zerops.io). You get $15 in promo credits on signup, no credit card needed. Verify your account with a $10 payment and get an additional $50, bringing your total to $65 in credits. A simple app with a database costs roughly $3-5/month, so credits go a long way.
:::

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## 1. Deploy the recipe

Go to [app.zerops.io/recipes](https://app.zerops.io/recipes). No account needed, the recipes page works even when you're not logged in.

For this guide, find and click **Node.js**. You'll see **Node.js Hello World**, a Node.js app with Express connected to a PostgreSQL database.

Hit **Deploy nodejs-hello-world-small-prod**. If you're not signed in yet, Zerops creates your account and kicks off the deploy in the same step.

:::info What's a recipe?
A recipe is a working app with infrastructure already configured: managed database, environment variables, `zerops.yaml`, everything connected. It's a correct starting point, not a finished product.
:::

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## 2. Watch it build

After hitting Deploy, you'll land on the dashboard. On the right side you'll see a pipeline already running.

It goes through these steps in real time:

1. Initializing build container
2. Running build commands from `zerops.yaml`
3. Creating app version and upgrading service
4. Done

:::tip Good to know
The build container is **temporary and free**. Zerops spins it up, runs your build, saves the output, and deletes it. You're only billed for the running app.
:::

Once the pipeline finishes, your app is live.

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## 3. See what got created

Click into your new project. You'll see:

- **app**: your Node.js service, already running
- **db**: a managed PostgreSQL database, already running
- **Project core**: load balancer, firewall, logger, all managed by Zerops

All of these are already talking to each other on a private network. Nothing to configure.

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## 4. Open your live app

The Zerops subdomain is already enabled when you deploy from a recipe. Click into your **app** service and open the URL.

The default recipe app will be there.

When you're ready for production, point a custom domain at your app. Zerops handles the SSL certificate automatically.

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## You're live 🎉

Here's what's running:

- A real app on production infrastructure
- A managed PostgreSQL database, ready to use
- All services on a private network, secure by default
- Full Linux containers for your app — SSH in anytime, install anything

None of the infrastructure needed manual configuration.

:::note Stuck?
Jump into the [Zerops Discord](https://docs.zerops.io/discord). The community is active and the team is there.
:::

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Your app is live and the infrastructure is running.

**Next up:** Swap the recipe for the feedback app we showed you, connect GitHub for auto-deploy, and add yourself to the wall. [Deploy your first app →](/quickstart/deploy-your-first-app)