> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.leap.new/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Create a full-stack application with backend APIs, database, and cloud deployment in under 3 minutes

# Build a production app in 3 minutes

This quickstart takes you from zero to a deployed, production-ready application in under 3 minutes. You'll build a **movie recommendation API** with real backend services, database integration, and live deployment.

<Note>
  **Why a movie API?** It showcases real backend logic, database operations, external API integrations, and multiple service endpoints - everything you need for production applications.
</Note>

<Info>
  **Built on Encore.ts**: Leap generates apps using [Encore's framework](https://encore.dev/docs) for type-safe distributed systems. Unlike other AI tools that just generate code snippets, you get complete systems with APIs, databases, and infrastructure that actually work together. [Learn more →](https://encore.dev/docs/introduction)
</Info>

## What you'll build

By the end of this guide, you'll have:

* **Backend API service** with multiple endpoints
* **Database integration** for storing movie data
* **External API integration** with TMDB (The Movie Database)
* **Live architecture diagrams** showing your system
* **Deployed application** running on your cloud
* **GitHub repository** with full source code

## Generate your app

### Describe what you want to build

In the chat interface, describe your system:

```
Build a movie recommendation API service that:
- Gets popular movies from TMDB API
- Stores user favorites in a database
- Provides search functionality
- Has endpoints for getting movie details
- Includes user rating system
```

### Watch Leap create your system

Leap generates your complete application in 30-60 seconds, including:

* Backend services with type-safe APIs
* Database schema for users and favorites
* TMDB integration for movie data
* Authentication endpoints
* Rating and recommendation logic

Here's what the generated code looks like:

```typescript theme={null}
// movies/encore.service.ts
import { api } from "encore.dev/api";
import { SQLDatabase } from "encore.dev/storage/sqldb";

const db = new SQLDatabase("movies", {
  migrations: "./migrations",
});

export const search = api(
  { method: "GET", path: "/movies/search" },
  async ({ query }: { query: string }) => {
    // Your movie search logic here
    return await searchMovies(query);
  }
);
```

<Info>
  **How it works**: Each `encore.service.ts` file defines your APIs and Encore automatically handles the HTTP endpoints, database connections, and service communication. [See how services work →](https://encore.dev/docs/primitives/services-and-apis)
</Info>

## Explore what you built

Once generation completes, you'll see several tabs:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Code">
    **Your complete codebase**

    * `movies/` - Main service with API endpoints
    * `users/` - User management and authentication
    * Database schemas and migrations
    * Type-safe service communication
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Preview">
    **Live application**

    * Interactive frontend showing movie recommendations
    * Real API calls to your backend services
    * Live data from TMDB integration
    * Fully functional user interface
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Architecture">
    **System diagrams**

    * Live diagrams showing service relationships
    * Database connections and schemas
    * External API integrations
    * Updates automatically as your app evolves
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="APIs">
    **Service catalog**

    * Interactive API documentation
    * Test your endpoints with real data
    * Authentication and error handling
    * Request/response schemas
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Deploy your app

### Deploy to Encore Cloud

Click **Deploy** and your app goes live in under 60 seconds with:

* Automatic HTTPS and domain
* Production database provisioning
* Secrets management for API keys
* Built-in monitoring and tracing

### Connect to GitHub (optional)

Click **GitHub** to:

* Create a repository with your code
* Enable automatic deployments on push
* Set up collaborative development workflow

### Deploy to your own cloud (optional)

Want to deploy to your own AWS or GCP account? See our [deployment guides](/deployment/overview):

* Connect your cloud account in Deploy settings
* Your app deploys to your own infrastructure
* No vendor lock-in or runtime dependencies

## What you just built

Congratulations! You've created a **production-ready distributed system** that includes:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Real Backend Architecture">
    * **Multiple microservices** with type-safe communication
    * **Database integration** with automatic migrations
    * **External API integration** with proper error handling
    * **Authentication and authorization** built-in
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Production Features">
    * **Distributed tracing** for debugging and performance
    * **Automatic API documentation** that stays in sync
    * **Live architecture diagrams** for understanding your system
    * **Built-in observability** with metrics and logs
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Developer Workflow">
    * **Git integration** for version control and collaboration
    * **Preview environments** for testing changes safely
    * **Infrastructure as code** for reproducible deployments
    * **Type safety** across your entire system
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next step

<Card title="Understand Your App" icon="lightbulb" href="/understanding-your-leap-app/leap-interface">
  Learn how your movie API works - the interface, services, infrastructure, and development patterns that apply to any Leap application
</Card>