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

# Create an app

> Scaffold an empty app inside a build session.

Scaffolds an empty app at `apps/<dir>/`. This is a **free scaffold** — no AI build runs. `accessMode` is
`internal` (default) or `external`. The app lands in the repo with your first
[commit](/build-api/sessions/commit).


## OpenAPI

````yaml build-api/openapi.json POST /sessions/{sessionId}/apps
openapi: 3.0.1
info:
  title: Zite Build API
  description: >-
    Create, build, and deploy Zite apps programmatically — the REST equivalent
    of the Zite MCP build tools. Use it from a script, a CI pipeline, or your
    own agent.


    ## Authentication


    All requests require a Bearer API key from your Developer settings:

    ```

    Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

    ```

    The key acts as you — it can only see and change workspaces you have access
    to, and every change is attributed to you.


    ## Base URL


    https://api.zite.com/v1


    ## Errors


    Errors return `{ "statusCode": 404, "error": "Not Found", "message":
    "Workspace not found" }`. Notable statuses: `401` (bad or missing key),
    `402` (the build tools aren't in your plan), `404`, `409` (a commit push
    conflict — pull, rebase, and commit again), and `400` for validation
    failures and publishing before a build is green.
  version: 1.0.0
servers:
  - url: https://api.zite.com/v1
    description: Zite Build API
security:
  - bearerAuth: []
tags:
  - name: Workspaces
    description: Create workspaces and inspect the apps in them.
  - name: Build sessions
    description: >-
      Open an isolated checkout of a workspace, create apps, edit files, check,
      and commit.
  - name: Deployments
    description: Publish built apps, manage versions, roll back, and read runtime logs.
paths:
  /sessions/{sessionId}/apps:
    post:
      tags:
        - Build sessions
      summary: Create an app
      description: >-
        Scaffolds an empty app at `apps/<dir>/`. This is a free scaffold — no AI
        build runs. The app lands in the repo with your first commit.
      operationId: createApp
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/SessionId'
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              type: object
              required:
                - name
              properties:
                name:
                  type: string
                  description: Display name for the app.
                  example: Agent console
                accessMode:
                  $ref: '#/components/schemas/AccessMode'
            example:
              name: Agent console
              accessMode: internal
      responses:
        '201':
          description: The scaffolded app
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                type: object
                properties:
                  app:
                    $ref: '#/components/schemas/AppRef'
                  workspaceId:
                    type: string
              example:
                id: app_a1b2c3
                name: Agent console
                dir: apps/agent-console
                editorUrl: https://app.zite.com/editor/zite/app_a1b2c3
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
        '404':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound'
components:
  parameters:
    SessionId:
      name: sessionId
      in: path
      required: true
      description: The build session ID from Open a session.
      schema:
        type: string
      example: ses_9f2a1c7b40e8
  schemas:
    AccessMode:
      type: string
      enum:
        - internal
        - external
      default: internal
      description: >-
        `internal` apps are available to your organization; `external` apps
        deploy to a public subdomain.
    AppRef:
      type: object
      properties:
        id:
          type: string
          example: app_a1b2c3
        name:
          type: string
          example: Agent console
        dir:
          type: string
          example: apps/agent-console
    Error:
      type: object
      properties:
        statusCode:
          type: integer
          example: 404
        error:
          type: string
          example: Not Found
        message:
          type: string
          example: Workspace not found
  responses:
    Unauthorized:
      description: Missing or invalid API key.
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            error:
              code: UNAUTHORIZED
              message: Missing or invalid API key.
    NotFound:
      description: The resource does not exist or your key cannot access it.
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            error:
              code: NOT_FOUND
              message: Workspace not found.
  securitySchemes:
    bearerAuth:
      type: http
      scheme: bearer
      description: 'Enter your Zite API key. Format: Bearer <api_key>'

````