---
title: "Alis Build how-to guides"
url: "https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/"
---
# Alis Build how-to guides

Recipes for Alis Build Environments, DBD and Workstations, for builders who know the basics and have a goal. Each guide gives the exact commands and console clicks for one task.

## Alis Build Environments

- [Create a product](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/create-a-product.md): add a product to a build environment, or request one.
- [Set up a build or deployment environment](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/set-up-a-cloud-environment.md): create a build environment in your own Google Cloud organisation, or add a deployment environment to a product.
- [Import a domain you already host on Cloud DNS](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/import-a-domain.md): grant Alis access to your zone, import the domain and finish its verification.
- [Create a service](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/create-a-service.md): register a service and get its folders in both repositories.
- [Use code blocks](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/use-code-blocks.md): browse, install, upgrade and publish reusable service snapshots.
- [Authorise and repair credentials](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/authorise-and-repair-credentials.md): git and package credentials, diagnostics.
- [Manage environment variables](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/manage-environment-variables.md): set, unset, reveal and store variables in Secret Manager.

## Alis Build DBD

- [Define your API](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/define-your-api.md): write protobuf, validate it, publish a contract version and share it with other products.
- [Install and upgrade packages](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/install-and-upgrade-packages.md): pull generated packages and bump Alis dependencies without touching registry credentials.
- [Write a Dockerfile for your service](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/write-a-dockerfile-for-your-service.md): how images are detected, named and built.
- [Write infrastructure with Terraform](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/write-infrastructure-with-terraform.md): the `infra/` folder, injected variables and a Cloud Run service.
- [Build a version](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/build-a-version.md): build from a pushed commit, choose a branch or commit, retag images.
- [Deploy a version](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/deploy-a-version.md): deploy to one or more deployment environments, plan first, pass the production gate.
- [Promote to production](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/promote-to-production.md): plan, confirm and deploy a built version to a production environment.
- [Read logs](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/read-logs.md): build, deploy and runtime logs.
- [Track and cancel operations](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/track-and-cancel-operations.md): re-attach to, describe and cancel long-running work.

## Alis Build Workstations

- [Use workstations](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/use-workstations.md): your own machine inside a build environment, from the browser, ssh or herdr.
- [Continue work on a workstation](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/continue-work-on-a-workstation.md): hand a local agent session off to a workstation and bring it back.
- [Run a service locally](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/run-a-service-locally.md): `alis run`, the product's `.alis/.env` and the Makefile contract.
- [Preview a service frontend](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/preview-a-service-frontend.md): find the running frontend's address and let your agent open it with its browser tools.
- [Annotate your app and let agents test it](https://docs.alisx.com/how-to/alis-build/watch-and-help-your-agents-browser.md): the Alis toolbar on every port's pages, who gets the notes, sharing a port with reviewers and your sign-in with the agents.