# Deploy your first app

> Deploy your first application on Unkey from a GitHub repository. Connect your repo, configure build settings, and go live in minutes.

This guide walks you through deploying an application on Unkey for the first time. You'll create a project, connect a GitHub repository, and have a running app with a live URL.

## Prerequisites

- An Unkey account
- A GitHub repository

## Create a project

<Steps>
<Step title="Start a new project">

Navigate to your workspace and click **New project**. Enter a project name and slug, then click **Create Project**.

<Frame caption="Create a new project">
  <img src="/build-and-deploy/github-create-project-light.png" alt="Create project form" className="block dark:hidden" />
  <img src="/build-and-deploy/github-create-project-dark.png" alt="Create project form" className="hidden dark:block" />
</Frame>

</Step>

<Step title="Import from GitHub">

Click **Import from GitHub**. If you haven't installed the Unkey GitHub App yet, you'll be prompted to install it on your organization or personal account.

<Frame caption="Import a project from GitHub">
  <img src="/build-and-deploy/github-import-light.png" alt="Import from GitHub" className="block dark:hidden" />
  <img src="/build-and-deploy/github-import-dark.png" alt="Import from GitHub" className="hidden dark:block" />
</Frame>

</Step>

<Step title="Select a repository">

Choose your repository and branch. Unkey auto-detects Dockerfiles and shows their status next to each repo.

<Frame caption="Select a repository">
  <img src="/build-and-deploy/github-select-repo-light.png" alt="Repository selection" className="block dark:hidden" />
  <img src="/build-and-deploy/github-select-repo-dark.png" alt="Repository selection" className="hidden dark:block" />
</Frame>

<Tip>
  Don't have a repository ready or want to deploy with the [CLI](/build-and-deploy/cli) instead? Click **Skip for now** to finish onboarding without selecting a repository. You can connect GitHub later from your project's settings.
</Tip>

</Step>

<Step title="Configure build settings">

Review the defaults for root directory, Dockerfile path, and watch paths. Expand **Runtime settings** to configure regions, CPU, and memory. Expand **Advanced configurations** to add environment variables.

<Frame caption="Configure deployment settings">
  <img src="/build-and-deploy/github-configure-light.png" alt="Configure deployment" className="block dark:hidden" />
  <img src="/build-and-deploy/github-configure-dark.png" alt="Configure deployment" className="hidden dark:block" />
</Frame>

</Step>

<Step title="Deploy">

Click **Deploy**. Unkey builds your image, provisions infrastructure across your selected regions, and assigns domains.

<Frame caption="Deployment in progress">
  <img src="/build-and-deploy/github-deploying-light.png" alt="Deployment progress" className="block dark:hidden" />
  <img src="/build-and-deploy/github-deploying-dark.png" alt="Deployment progress" className="hidden dark:block" />
</Frame>

Once the deployment reaches **Ready**, your app is live. Unkey assigns several domains automatically, including an environment domain and a commit-specific domain.

</Step>
</Steps>

## What happens next

After the initial setup, every push to your repository triggers a new deployment automatically:

- Pushes to the default branch (typically `main`) deploy to **production**.
- Pushes to any other branch deploy to **preview**.

Each deployment gets its own unique URL, so you can test any version independently.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card
    title="GitHub integration"
    icon="github"
    href="/build-and-deploy/github"
  >
    Branch mapping, fork protection, and watch paths
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="App settings"
    icon="gear"
    href="/platform/apps/settings"
  >
    Configure regions, CPU, memory, health checks, and more
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Variables"
    icon="key"
    href="/platform/variables/overview"
  >
    Add environment-specific configuration
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Custom domains"
    icon="globe"
    href="/networking/domains"
  >
    Serve your app from your own domain
  </Card>
</CardGroup>