Quick Start

Use this page when you are creating a Cedarville app for the first time. You do not need to know how to program, use GitHub, or configure Azure before you begin.

Before you start

Sign in with your Cedarville account.
Have a short app name and a one- or two-sentence description ready.
Know who should be able to use the app. You can add coworkers later.

Create and publish your app

Select Create App in the portal header.
Choose a recommended template. Each template explains what it is best for. If you are unsure, use the option whose examples are closest to your project.
Enter the app name and description. Choose database or Cedarville login options only when the form offers them and your app needs them.
Select Create and Publish to prepare the app and its hosting. The portal creates a private GitHub repository for the code and prepares an Azure website for the app.
Keep the page open while setup runs. When Publishing setup says Ready, select Publish if publishing has not already started.
Wait for the publish status to become Published, then open the Published app link and try the main task your app is supposed to perform.
Return to My Apps whenever you need to open, publish, share, download, repair, or delete the app.

Three terms you will see

Term	Plain-language meaning
GitHub repository	The private, managed online folder that stores the app's code and change history.
Publish	Send the current code to Azure so people can use the app in a web browser.
Azure	Microsoft's hosting service where the running app lives.

If something goes wrong

Read the message shown beside the failed step. Try the action one more time. If Publishing setup says it needs repair, select Repair Publishing Setup before publishing again. See Troubleshooting for symptom-by-symptom help.

Never send passwords, secret values, or the contents of environment variables when asking for help. Provide the app name, support reference if shown, the approximate time, and a screenshot of the message.