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

# Quickstart

> Create your first MCP App or test an existing MCP server with sunpeak.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Test an existing MCP server" icon="flask" href="/testing/getting-started">
    Add automated testing to any MCP server (Python, Go, TypeScript, Rust, or any language). No project changes required.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Build a new MCP App" icon="hammer" href="#new-projects">
    Create a new MCP App project with interactive UIs, tools, and testing built in. Follow the steps below.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## New projects

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a project">
    **Requirements**: Node.js 20+

    ```bash theme={null}
    npx sunpeak new sunpeak-app
    cd sunpeak-app
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Develop locally">
    Start the development server:

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="pnpm">
        ```bash theme={null}
        pnpm dev
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="npm">
        ```bash theme={null}
        npm run dev
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="yarn">
        ```bash theme={null}
        yarn dev
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    This starts:

    * The MCP App inspector at `http://localhost:3000` for local development
    * An [MCP server](/mcp-apps/mcp/overview) at `http://localhost:8000` for testing with real hosts like ChatGPT

    <Tip>Both servers support Hot Module Reload - your changes reflect instantly!</Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test in a host (ChatGPT)">
    Run a tunnel to allow ChatGPT to connect to your local MCP server:

    ```bash theme={null}
    # In another terminal, run a tunnel. For example:
    ngrok http 8000
    ```

    Adding a custom app requires Developer mode. If it is not already enabled, click your user menu in the bottom-left corner and select `Settings > Security and login > Developer mode`.

    Then return to the ChatGPT homepage and click `Plugins` in the sidebar. Open your app if it is already there, or select the `+` button and add the tunnel `Forwarding URL` at the `/mcp` path (for example, `https://your-random-subdomain.ngrok-free.dev/mcp`).

    ChatGPT creates a developer-mode app backed by your MCP server. It appears under `Plugins`, but its MCP App UI and runtime do not change.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Build & start for production">
    Build your [resources](/mcp-apps/mcp/resources) and [tools](/mcp-apps/mcp/tools), then start the production MCP server:

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="pnpm">
        ```bash theme={null}
        pnpm build && pnpm start
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="npm">
        ```bash theme={null}
        npm run build && npm run start
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="yarn">
        ```bash theme={null}
        yarn build && yarn start
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    This compiles your tool handlers, Zod schemas, and optional auth from `src/server.ts`, then starts a production MCP server on port `8000`.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card horizontal title="Project Scaffold" icon="page" href="/app-framework/project-scaffold">
    Explore your new MCP App project.
  </Card>

  <Card horizontal title="Deployment Guide" icon="rocket" href="/app-framework/guides/deployment">
    Deploy your app to production.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>