diff --git a/quickstart.mdx b/quickstart.mdx index 076b50534..8c509cca8 100644 --- a/quickstart.mdx +++ b/quickstart.mdx @@ -1,47 +1,46 @@ --- title: "Quickstart" -description: "Deploy your documentation in minutes" +description: "Build beautiful documentation in under 10 minutes" icon: "rocket" --- -This quickstart guide shows you how to set up and deploy your documentation site in minutes. +Get your documentation site live in minutes with this step-by-step guide. -After completing this guide, you will have a live documentation site ready to customize and expand. +You'll go from zero to a fully deployed documentation site with custom branding and interactive features. -**Prerequisites**: Before you begin, [create an account](https://mintlify.com/start) and complete onboarding. +**Before you start**: [Sign up for Mintlify](https://mintlify.com/start) and complete the initial setup wizard. -## Getting started +## Launch your site -After you complete the onboarding process, your documentation site automatically deploys to a unique URL with this format: +Once you finish the setup wizard, your documentation automatically goes live at: ``` https://.mintlify.app ``` -Find your URL on the Overview page of your [dashboard](https://dashboard.mintlify.com/). +Your unique URL appears on your [dashboard overview](https://dashboard.mintlify.com/). Mintlify Domain Mintlify Domain -Your site's URL is available immediately. Use this URL for testing and sharing with your team while you are setting up your docs site. +This URL is live immediately - share it with your team for feedback while you customize your docs. -### Install the GitHub App +### Connect GitHub -Mintlify provides a GitHub App that automates deployment when you push changes to your repository. +Link your GitHub repository to enable automatic deployments when you make changes. -Install the GitHub App by following the instructions from the onboarding checklist or your dashboard. +From your dashboard: -1. Navigate to **Settings** in your Mintlify dashboard. -2. Select **GitHub App** from the sidebar. -3. Select **Install GitHub App**. This opens a new tab to the GitHub App installation page. -4. Select the organization or user account where you want to install the app. -5. Select the repositories that you want to connect. +1. Go to **Settings** → **GitHub App** +2. Click **Install GitHub App** (opens GitHub in a new tab) +3. Choose your organization or personal account +4. Select which repositories to connect GitHub App Installation @@ -49,38 +48,39 @@ Install the GitHub App by following the instructions from the onboarding checkli - Update the GitHub App permissions if you move your documentation to a different repository. + Need to change repositories later? Update the GitHub App permissions anytime. -### Authorize your GitHub account +### Link your GitHub profile -1. Navigate to **Settings** in your Mintlify dashboard. -2. Select **My Profile** from the sidebar. -3. Select **Authorize GitHub account**. This opens a new tab to the GitHub authorization page. +Connect your personal GitHub account for seamless editing: + +1. Navigate to **Settings** → **My Profile** +2. Click **Authorize GitHub account** - An admin for your GitHub organization may need to authorize your account depending on your organization settings. + Organization admins may need to approve this connection based on your GitHub settings. -## Editing workflows +## Choose your editing style -Mintlify offers two workflows for creating and maintaining your documentation: +Pick the workflow that matches how you like to work: - - For users who prefer working with existing tools in their local environment. Click to jump to this section. + + Edit files in your favorite code editor with full Git workflow support. - - For users who prefer a visual interface in their web browser. Click to jump to this section. + + Visual editing interface - no local setup required. -## Code-based workflow +## Local development -The code-based workflow integrates with your existing development environment and Git repositories. This workflow is best for technical teams who want to manage documentation alongside code. +Work with your documentation files directly in your development environment alongside your code. -### Install the CLI +### Get the CLI -To work locally with your documentation, install the Command Line Interface (CLI), called [mint](https://www.npmjs.com/package/mint), by running this command in your terminal: +Install the Mintlify CLI to preview changes locally: ```bash npm @@ -93,15 +93,15 @@ To work locally with your documentation, install the Command Line Interface (CLI - You need Node.js installed on your machine. If you encounter installation issues, check the troubleshooting guide. + Requires Node.js v19 or higher. Having trouble? Check our troubleshooting section below. -### Edit the documentation +### Make your first edit -After setting up your environment, you can start editing your documentation files. For example, update the title of the introduction page: +Let's update your homepage to see the workflow in action: -1. Open your repository created during onboarding. -2. Open `index.mdx` and locate the top of the file: +1. Open your documentation repository +2. Find `index.mdx` and look at the frontmatter: ```mdx index.mdx --- @@ -110,53 +110,59 @@ description: "This is the introduction to the documentation" --- ``` -3. Update the `title` field to `"Hello World"`. +3. Change the title to something personal: ```mdx index.mdx {2} --- -title: "Hello World" +title: "Welcome to our docs" description: "This is the introduction to the documentation" --- ``` -### Preview the changes +### See it live locally -To preview the changes locally, run the following command: +Start the development server: ```bash mint dev ``` -Your preview will be available at `localhost:3000`. +Open `localhost:3000` to see your changes instantly. Mintlify Dev Mintlify Dev -### Push the changes +### Deploy your changes + +Ready to go live? Just push to your repository: -When you are ready to publish your changes, push them to your repository. +```bash +git add . +git commit -m "Update homepage title" +git push +``` -Mintlify automatically detects the changes, builds your documentation, and deploys the updates to your site. Monitor the deployment status in your GitHub repository commit history or the [dashboard](https://dashboard.mintlify.com). +Mintlify detects the changes and automatically rebuilds your site. Track deployment progress in your [dashboard](https://dashboard.mintlify.com) or GitHub Actions. -After the deployment completes, your latest update will be available at `.mintlify.app`. +Your updates appear at `.mintlify.app` within minutes. - - Optionally, skip the web editor workflow and jump to adding a custom domain. + + Ready to use your own domain? Jump ahead. -## Web editor workflow +## Browser editor -The web editor workflow provides a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) interface for creating and editing documentation. This workflow is best for people who want to work in their web browser without additional local development tools. +Edit your documentation visually without any local setup - perfect for quick updates and non-technical team members. -### Access the web editor +### Open the editor -1. Log in to your [dashboard](https://dashboard.mintlify.com). -2. Select **Editor** on the left sidebar. +1. Log into your [dashboard](https://dashboard.mintlify.com) +2. Click **Editor** in the sidebar - If you have not installed the GitHub App, you will be prompted to install the app when you open the web editor. + First time? You'll be prompted to install the GitHub App if you haven't already. @@ -164,13 +170,12 @@ The web editor workflow provides a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) interf The Mintlify web editor in the visual editor mode -### Edit the documentation - -In the web editor, you can navigate through your documentation files in the sidebar. Let's update the introduction page: +### Edit visually -Find and select `index.mdx` in the file explorer. +Navigate to any page using the file tree on the left. Let's update the homepage: -Then, in the editor, update the title field to "Hello World". +1. Click `index.mdx` in the file explorer +2. Change the title field to "Welcome to our docs" Editing in Web Editor @@ -178,74 +183,72 @@ Then, in the editor, update the title field to "Hello World". - The editor provides a rich set of formatting tools and components. Type / in the editor to open the command menu and access these tools. + Press / anywhere in the editor to open the component menu and add rich content like callouts, code blocks, and more. -### Publish your changes +### Go live instantly -When you're satisfied with your edits, select the **Publish** button in the top-right corner. Your changes are immediately deployed to your documentation site. +Click **Publish** in the top-right corner. Your changes deploy immediately to your live site. - Use branches to preview and review changes through pull requests before deploying to your live site. + Use branches for collaborative editing and review workflows before publishing to production. -For more details about using the web editor, including using branches and pull requests to collaborate and preview changes, see our [web editor documentation](/editor/getting-started). +Learn more about advanced editor features in our [web editor guide](/editor/getting-started). -## Adding a custom domain +## Custom domain -While your `.mintlify.app` subdomain works well for testing and development, most teams prefer using a custom domain for production documentation. +Replace your `.mintlify.app` URL with your own domain for a professional look. -To add a custom domain, navigate to the [Domain Setup](https://dashboard.mintlify.com/settings/deployment/custom-domain) page in your dashboard. +Navigate to [Domain Setup](https://dashboard.mintlify.com/settings/deployment/custom-domain) in your dashboard. Custom Domain Custom Domain -Enter your domain (for example, `docs.yourcompany.com`) and follow the provided instructions to configure DNS settings with your domain provider. +Enter your desired domain (like `docs.yourcompany.com`) and add this DNS record with your domain provider: | Record Type | Name | Value | TTL | |-------------|------|-------|-----| -| CNAME | docs (or subdomain) | cname.mintlify.app | 3600 | +| CNAME | docs | cname.mintlify.app | 3600 |
- DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate, though changes often complete much sooner. + DNS changes typically take 5-30 minutes but can take up to 48 hours in rare cases. -## Next steps +## What's next? -Congratulations! You have successfully deployed your documentation site with Mintlify. Here are suggested next steps to enhance your documentation: +Your documentation site is live! Here's how to make it shine: - - Configure site-wide styling, navigation, integrations, and more with the `docs.json` file. + + Customize colors, fonts, and styling to match your brand. - - Learn how to customize colors, fonts, and the overall appearance of your documentation site. + + Organize pages with intuitive navigation and grouping. - - Structure your documentation with intuitive navigation to help users find what they need. + + Use interactive elements like tabs, accordions, and code examples. - - Enhance your documentation with interactive components like accordions, tabs, and code samples. + + Set up analytics, SEO, custom scripts, and integrations. - - Create interactive API references with OpenAPI and AsyncAPI specifications. + + Generate interactive API references from OpenAPI specs. -## Troubleshooting - -If you encounter issues during the setup process, check these common troubleshooting solutions: +## Common issues - - Make sure you have Node.js v19+ installed and that you run the `mint dev` command from the directory containing your `docs.json` file. + + Ensure you have Node.js v19+ installed. Run `node --version` to check. If using an older version, update Node.js and try again. - - Deployment can take upwards to a few minutes. Check your GitHub Actions (for code-based workflow) or deployment logs in the Mintlify dashboard to ensure there are no build errors. + + Check your GitHub Actions tab for build errors. Deployments typically take 2-5 minutes. Verify your GitHub App has access to the correct repository. - - Verify that your DNS records are set up correctly and allow sufficient time for DNS propagation (up to 48 hours). You can use tools like [DNSChecker](https://dnschecker.org) to verify your CNAME record. + + Double-check your CNAME record points to `cname.mintlify.app`. Use [DNSChecker](https://dnschecker.org) to verify DNS propagation. Contact support if issues persist after 48 hours.