starter_app_usage.md

copyright	lastupdated
years 2016, 2017, 2018	2017-12-15

{:shortdesc: .shortdesc} {:new_window: target="_blank"}

Using the starter apps

{: #using_starter_applications}

{{site.data.keyword.Bluemix}} provides starter apps called boilerplates, which are templates that include one application, its associated runtime environment, and predefined services for a particular domain. Follow these steps to select a boilerplate and begin working. {:shortdesc}

1. From the {{site.data.keyword.Bluemix_notm}} Catalog, navigate to the Boilerplates section.
2. Click the boilerplate you want to use.
3. Enter a name for your app, modify the host name if required, and click Create. Your app begins staging, and the Getting started tutorial for your app on the {{site.data.keyword.Bluemix_notm}} Dashboard displays.
4. Follow the steps in the tutorial to:

• Download the software you need to build your app.
• Download the sample app.
• Deploy the sample app.

The directory containing the sample app you downloaded contains a README file. Refer to the README for a description of the files in the sample app package. Make changes to the code, deploy the application again, then see the effect in your running app.