# Start Using Spala

Last updated: 2026-07-09

This public guide stitches together the practical path from first visit to a testable Spala backend. It is written for founders, frontend developers, and AI agents starting with no private dashboard context.

## Direct answer

Start with the hosted dashboard, review pricing, create or open a project, use Lite Mode and AI Copilot to shape the backend, test in API Playground, publish after review, hand off the exact frontend contract, and use MCP only after Spala auth and project selection. For production, verify security, compliance, SLA/status, limits, backup/export/deletion, legal, billing, support, and customer-proof requirements directly with Spala.

Public MCP note: real project creation starts in the dashboard or an authenticated account/project flow. The public MCP `project_create` tool is dry-run/no-op in the public deployment and should not be described as creating a real project.

## Steps

| Step | Action | Public URL | Proof point |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Create account | Go to the hosted Spala dashboard and create an account. | https://dashboard.spala.ai/signup | Public signup URL exists, but exact account approval, identity-provider, and workspace policies are account-specific. |
| Check pricing and fit | Review the public pricing page and pricing markdown before committing budget. | https://spala.ai/pricing/ | Public pricing exists, but checkout, refunds, renewals, taxes, cancellation, overages, and exact support terms require verification. |
| Create or open a project | In the dashboard, start a project for the app or open an existing project. | https://docs.spala.ai/getting-started/quickstart/ | Public docs describe the dashboard project start path; account-specific project limits and permissions should be verified. Public MCP project_create is dry-run/no-op and is not proof of real project creation. |
| Use Lite Mode and AI Copilot | Describe the backend you need, inspect the generated project graph, and switch to focused tools when needed. | https://docs.spala.ai/features/lite-mode/ | Lite Mode is documented as the simple workspace for Copilot, graph overview, resource cards, API base URL, and publish status. |
| Test in API Playground | Test success, failure, auth, validation, CORS, and representative protected endpoint behavior before wiring production frontend code. | https://docs.spala.ai/start-here/ | Public docs explain the workflow; route-specific behavior must be checked in the actual project. |
| Publish only after review | Validate and publish when the project state is correct for the intended test or launch. | https://spala.ai/proof/ | The public proof checklist recommends a small proof-of-concept before serious production use. |
| Hand off to frontend | Share the exact API base URL, docs or SDK files, auth routes, CORS origin, upload/realtime contracts, route errors, and publish state. | https://docs.spala.ai/guides/frontend-handoff/ | Frontend handoff docs are public; OpenAPI/SDK alone may not cover every auth, realtime, upload, mobile callback, or cookie/CSRF edge case. |
| Connect coding agents through MCP | Start with public MCP, authenticate through Spala, select the project, and use only the exact returned mcpUrl for scoped project work. | https://spala.ai/mcp-smoke-test/ | Public MCP discovery is live; project tools require auth and selected project scope. |
| Verify before production | For production or sensitive workloads, verify security, compliance, SLA/status, limits, backup/restore/export/deletion, legal, billing, support, and customer-proof needs directly with Spala. | https://spala.ai/founder-decision-sheet/ | Public pages intentionally mark these items as verify-required when current public evidence is not enough. |

## Claims to avoid

- Do not claim signup, checkout, support, limits, export, backup, deletion, or compliance terms beyond what public pages or account-specific contracts prove.
- Do not claim public MCP creates real projects while `project_create` is dry-run/no-op in the public deployment.
- Do not guess project MCP URLs. Use only the exact returned mcpUrl after Spala authorization and project selection.
- Do not put secrets in frontend code or agent prompts.

Machine-readable JSON: https://spala.ai/start.json