Getting Started with Bolt.new

Introduction

Bolt.new is revolutionizing web development by combining the power of AI with a complete development environment that runs entirely in your browser. Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced developer, this guide will help you understand and start using Bolt.new effectively.

What You'll Learn

What Bolt.new is and how it works
How to create your first project
Understanding the Bolt.new interface
Basic prompting techniques
Deploying your first application

Prerequisites

The beauty of Bolt.new is that there are no prerequisites! You need:

A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)
An internet connection
That's it!

What is Bolt.new?

Bolt.new is an AI-powered web development platform created by StackBlitz that allows you to build, run, edit, and deploy full-stack web applications using natural language prompts. It's powered by Claude Sonnet 4 and runs entirely in your browser using WebContainers technology.

Key Features

No Setup Required: Start coding instantly without installing anything
AI-Powered Development: Describe what you want in plain English
Full Development Environment: Complete Node.js environment in your browser
Instant Preview: See your changes in real-time
One-Click Deployment: Deploy to production with a single click

Getting Started

Step 1: Access Bolt.new

Open your web browser
Navigate to bolt.new
You'll see the Bolt.new interface with a prompt input field

Step 2: Understanding the Interface

The Bolt.new interface consists of several key areas:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Bolt.new                                    [Settings] │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                         │
│  ┌─────────────────┐  ┌─────────────────┐             │
│  │   File Explorer │  │    Code Editor  │  Preview    │
│  │                 │  │                 │             │
│  │  ├─ src/        │  │                 │             │
│  │  ├─ public/     │  │                 │             │
│  │  └─ package.json│  │                 │             │
│  └─────────────────┘  └─────────────────┘             │
│                                                         │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐  │
│  │  Prompt Input: What would you like to build?    │  │
│  └─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

File Explorer: Navigate and manage your project files
Code Editor: View and edit code with syntax highlighting
Preview Panel: See your application running in real-time
Prompt Input: Where you describe what you want to build
Terminal: Access to run commands (available via menu)

Step 3: Creating Your First Project

Let's create a simple "Hello World" web page:

In the prompt input field, type:

Create a simple webpage with a centered "Hello World" heading and a button that shows an alert when clicked. Use modern CSS for styling.

Press Enter or click the send button
Watch as Bolt.new:
- Creates the necessary files
- Writes the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Shows you the live preview

Step 4: Understanding the Generated Code

Bolt.new will create something like this:

index.html:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Hello World</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">
</head>
<body>
    <div class="container">
        <h1>Hello World</h1>
        <button id="alertButton">Click Me!</button>
    </div>
    <script src="script.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

style.css:

* {
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
    box-sizing: border-box;
}

body {
    font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif;
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    align-items: center;
    min-height: 100vh;
    background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%);
}

.container {
    text-align: center;
    background: white;
    padding: 3rem;
    border-radius: 1rem;
    box-shadow: 0 20px 25px -5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

h1 {
    color: #333;
    margin-bottom: 2rem;
    font-size: 3rem;
}

button {
    background: #667eea;
    color: white;
    border: none;
    padding: 1rem 2rem;
    font-size: 1.1rem;
    border-radius: 0.5rem;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: background 0.3s ease;
}

button:hover {
    background: #764ba2;
}

script.js:

document.getElementById('alertButton').addEventListener('click', function() {
    alert('Hello from Bolt.new!');
});

Step 5: Making Modifications

Now let's modify our project. In the prompt field, type:

Add a text input field above the button where users can enter their name. When they click the button, show a personalized greeting using their name.

Bolt.new will:

Update the HTML to add an input field
Modify the JavaScript to use the input value
Adjust the CSS for proper styling
Show you the changes in real-time

Essential Prompting Tips for Beginners

1. Be Specific About Your Requirements

Good Prompt:

Create a contact form with fields for name, email, and message. Style it with a modern design using blue colors and rounded corners.

Less Effective Prompt:

Make a form

2. Mention Technologies When Needed

If you want to use specific frameworks or libraries:

Create a React component for a todo list with add and delete functionality. Use Tailwind CSS for styling.

3. Build Incrementally

Start simple and add features:

First prompt: "Create a basic webpage with a header and footer"
Second prompt: "Add a navigation menu to the header with Home, About, and Contact links"
Third prompt: "Make the navigation responsive for mobile devices"

4. Use the Enhance Feature

Before sending a prompt, click the enhance icon (✨) to improve your prompt automatically.

Working with Files

Viewing and Editing Code

Click on any file in the File Explorer to open it
You can manually edit code in the editor
Changes are reflected immediately in the preview

Creating New Files

You can ask Bolt.new to create new files:

Create a new file called about.html with information about our company

Managing Project Structure

Organize the project by creating separate folders for CSS, JavaScript, and images

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overcomplicating Initial Prompts

Don't: Try to describe your entire application in one prompt Do: Build step by step, adding features incrementally

2. Not Being Specific Enough

Don't: "Make it look better" Do: "Change the background to a light gray and make the buttons blue with rounded corners"

3. Ignoring Error Messages

Always read error messages in the preview panel - they often indicate what needs to be fixed.

4. Not Saving Your Work

While Bolt.new auto-saves, it's good practice to:

Download your project regularly
Deploy to Netlify for permanent hosting

Deploying Your First Application

One-Click Deployment to Netlify

Click the "Deploy" button in the top toolbar
Sign in to Netlify (create a free account if needed)
Choose a site name or use the generated one
Click "Deploy"
Your site will be live in seconds!

Accessing Your Deployed Site

After deployment:

You'll receive a URL like https://your-site-name.netlify.app
Share this URL with anyone to show your creation
Future changes can be redeployed with one click

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Personal Introduction Page

Create a simple personal introduction page with:

Your name as a heading
A paragraph about yourself
A list of your hobbies
A photo placeholder

Prompt to try:

Create a personal introduction page with a heading, a paragraph about me, a list of hobbies, and a placeholder for a photo. Use a clean, professional design.

Exercise 2: Interactive Counter

Build a counter application with:

A display showing the current count
Buttons to increment and decrement
A reset button

Prompt to try:

Create a counter app with increment, decrement, and reset buttons. Display the current count in a large font. Style it with a modern, colorful design.

Exercise 3: Simple Calculator

Create a basic calculator with:

Number buttons (0-9)
Basic operations (+, -, *, /)
Clear and equals buttons

Prompt to try:

Build a simple calculator with buttons for numbers 0-9, basic math operations, clear, and equals. Make it look like a modern calculator app.

Understanding Token Usage

Bolt.new uses a token system for AI interactions:

Free Tier: 150,000 tokens daily
What uses tokens: Each prompt and code generation
Saving tokens:
- Be specific in your prompts
- Use the enhance feature
- Enable "diffs" for large file edits

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Preview Not Loading

Check the browser console for errors
Try refreshing the preview panel
Ensure your HTML has proper structure

Code Not Updating

Make sure you've saved any manual edits
Try a more specific prompt
Check if files are "locked" (lock icon in file explorer)

Deployment Failing

Ensure your project has an index.html file
Check for any syntax errors in your code
Try deploying again after a few moments

Next Steps

Now that you've completed this tutorial, you're ready to:

Explore Frameworks: Try building with React, Vue, or other frameworks
Add Interactivity: Create more complex JavaScript applications
Learn Advanced Features: Explore database integration and API connections
Join the Community: Connect with other Bolt.new users on Discord

Additional Resources

Official Documentation: support.bolt.new
Discord Community: discord.com/invite/stackblitz
Video Tutorials: Search "Bolt.new tutorials" on YouTube
Example Projects: Browse the Bolt.new showcase

Summary

You've learned how to:

Access and navigate Bolt.new
Create projects using natural language prompts
Understand the generated code
Make modifications to your projects
Deploy applications with one click

Bolt.new removes the barriers to web development, allowing you to focus on creating rather than configuring. Keep practicing with different projects, and you'll be amazed at what you can build!

Practice Challenge

Your Mission: Create a simple blog homepage with:

A header with your blog name
Three blog post previews (title, date, excerpt)
A sidebar with categories
A footer with social media links

Share your creation with the community and see how others approached the same challenge!

Remember: The key to mastering Bolt.new is practice and experimentation. Don't be afraid to try new things - you can always start fresh with a new prompt!

Getting Started with Bolt.new: AI-Powered Web Development

Next Steps

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