
Sign in
1
Create an account
Go to tesslate.com and sign up with email or one of the OAuth providers (GitHub, Google).
2
Verify your email
Check your inbox for a verification link. The first account on a fresh self-hosted install is promoted to admin automatically.
3
Land on your dashboard
The dashboard lists every project you own or have been given access to. A new account starts empty.
Create your first project
1
Click New project
Pick a source:
- Template
- Import
- Describe
Start from a pre-wired base. Pick from Next.js, Vite+React+FastAPI, Vite+React+Go, Expo, and more.
2
Wait for the container
Your project provisions a sandboxed container on a shared node. A loading overlay tracks progress; the container is usually ready in 10 to 30 seconds.
3
Open the builder
The workspace layout has four panels: file tree, editor, live preview, and chat. A kanban board, git viewer, and architecture canvas are one click away.
Build with the agent
1
Open chat
The chat panel is docked at the bottom. Expand it to full height for longer sessions.
2
Describe the feature
Be specific. Good prompts describe the behavior, not the code. For example:
3
Watch it work
The agent streams every step: file reads, edits, shell commands, test runs. You can interrupt, redirect, or roll back at any point.
4
See changes live
Files land on the project volume and the dev server reloads. The preview iframe updates without a refresh.
Iterate and review
1
Keep chatting
Follow-up prompts build on the same context. The agent remembers decisions, reads files, and reasons about the whole project.
2
Review diffs
Every edit is a reviewable diff. Accept the change, reject it, or edit it yourself in Monaco.
3
Run and test
Use the terminal panel for manual commands. The agent can also run commands itself when given permission.
4
Commit
The git panel shows uncommitted changes. Write a message, commit, and optionally push to your remote.
Ship it
Three common next steps:Deploy
Connect Vercel, AWS, Cloudflare, Fly, or another provider. Draw an edge from a container to a target.
Schedule
Set the agent to run on cron and deliver reports to Slack or Telegram.
Publish
Turn the workspace into a one-click installable app on the marketplace.
Learn more
Core concepts
Projects, workspaces, agents, marketplace, the Architecture Panel.
Using agents
Conversation patterns, approval modes, skills, and connectors.
Architecture panel
Visual canvas that authors the
.tesslate/config.json for your project.Join Discord
Ask questions, share what you are building.
Tips
Be specific in prompts
Be specific in prompts
Describe behavior, not syntax. Include:
- What the feature does
- Inputs and outputs
- Edge cases you care about
- Any constraints (libraries, style, performance)
Iterate in small steps
Iterate in small steps
Ship something small that works, then expand. One prompt per feature beats one prompt for the whole app.
Review before you run
Review before you run
OpenSail asks for approval before shell commands, git pushes, or network calls outside the allowlist. Review the diff, not just the chat summary.
Commit often
Commit often
OpenSail autosaves, but git is still your history of record. Commit after each feature works.