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The easiest way to bootstrap a project is using our 🧠 Skill. To get a running codebase right away, you can use our starter template — it comes pre-configured with an MCP server, a basic UI widget, and a full dev server with a local emulator and HMR.
New to ChatGPT or MCP Apps? Read Fundamentals first to understand the concepts.
Don’t know if you should start with a ChatGPT or MCP App? It doesn’t matter! With Skybridge, you build your App once, and it runs seamlessly with both runtimes.

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Scaffold your project

Set up your app with a single command: 
npm create skybridge@latest my-app
PrerequisitesMake sure you have:
  • Node.js 24+
  • Ngrok for exposing your local server
  • Basic knowledge of React and TypeScript
  • Familiarity with Zod for schema validation (we’ll use it for type-safe tool definitions)
Widget Naming ConventionWidget file name must match the registration name (e.g., "my-widget" → my-widget.tsx). See registerWidget.

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Start the development server

Run the development server from the root directory: 
npm run dev
This runs the skybridge command, which starts a development server with the following features:

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What it does

The skybridge command:
  • Starts an Express server on port 3000 that packages:
    • An MCP endpoint on /mcp - the App Backend
    • A React application on Vite HMR dev server - the App Frontend
  • Watches for file changes using nodemon, automatically restarting the server when you modify server-side code

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Development workflow

When you run skybridge:
  1. The server starts and displays the welcome screen in your terminal
  2. You can access DevTools at http://localhost:3000/ to test your app locally
  3. The MCP server is available at http://localhost:3000/mcp
  4. File watching is enabled - changes to server code will automatically restart the server
  5. Hot Module Reload (HMR) is active for Widgets components - changes appear instantly in the host without reconnecting

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Next steps

Test Your App

Learn how to test your app locally, in ChatGPT and compatible MCP Clients.