Quickstart

Overview

This quickstart shows two ways to create your first backend with Sutro:

Studio: Build a backend visually in the browser.
Sutro CLI: Write SLang locally, preview it in a remote dev session, and publish it from your terminal.

Choose the path that fits how you want to work.

Option 1: Using Studio

Studio is the simplest way to start without writing code.

Open Studio

Visit Sutro Studio.

Create your backend

Use Studio to define:

Entities and relationships.
Actions and business logic.
Security rules.
HTTP endpoints.

Publish

Publish directly from Studio when your backend is ready.

Option 2: Using the Sutro CLI

Use the CLI when you want to define your backend in SLang and edit it from your local development environment.

If you’re using an AI coding agent like Claude Code, install the official SLang skill to give your agent full knowledge of SLang syntax:

npx skills add https://github.com/SutroOrg/sutro-skills --skill slang

Before you begin

You need Node.js 22 or later, npm, and a Sutro account. Publishing requires a payment method on file. Add one in Sutro Studio or Sutro Console before publishing.

Steps

Install the CLI

Install the npm package:

npm install --global @sutro-dev/sutro-cli

Start the browser-based login flow:

sutro login

Create a project

Create and initialize a local project:

mkdir task-api
cd task-api
sutro init --name "Task API"

sutro init creates a remote Project and Application, writes sutro.config.json, and creates app.slang if it does not exist.

Write your SLang definition

Replace app.slang with a simple task API:

entity Task
  fields
    title: TEXT
    completed: BOOLEAN

action CreateTask(title: TEXT): Task
  body
    return create Task {
      title := title
      completed := false
    }

action ListTasks(): Page<Task>
  body
    return pageOf Task

trigger CreateTask on HttpRequest
  endpoint POST /tasks
  arguments
    title := @request.body.title

trigger ListTasks on HttpRequest
  endpoint GET /tasks

Preview locally edited source

Start a remote dev session:

sutro dev

The CLI uploads your local .slang files and prints a preview URL:

https://dev-<SESSION_ID>.app.withsutro.com/api/latest/

Keep sutro dev running while you edit. The CLI reloads the remote preview when local .slang files change.

Validate and publish

Validate the project:

sutro validate

Publish the backend:

sutro publish

The CLI prints the published API URL and version.

You’ve created and published your first Sutro backend.

Next steps

Sutro CLI quickstart - Learn the complete CLI workflow.
CLI command reference - Review every command and option.
Project configuration - Learn how sutro.config.json works.
Introduction to SLang - Understand SLang language constructs and features.
Read the API reference - Explore the lower-level Sutro API.

Getting started

CLI

SLang

Modular APIs

Overview

Option 1: Using Studio

Option 2: Using the Sutro CLI

Before you begin

Steps

Next steps

​Overview

​Option 1: Using Studio

​Option 2: Using the Sutro CLI

​Before you begin

​Steps

​Next steps

Overview

Option 1: Using Studio

Option 2: Using the Sutro CLI

Before you begin

Steps

Next steps