---
title: "Create apps from scratch"
slug: "creating-apps-from-scratch"
updated: 2026-04-27T19:58:34Z
published: 2026-04-27T19:58:34Z
---

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

# Create apps from scratch

If [building from a template](/v1/docs/building-from-a-template) or [the apps in Quickbase Exchange](/v1/docs/getting-resources-from-quickbase-exchange) don't address your needs, you can create your own app from scratch. Starting from scratch lets you lay out the basic structure of your app, using [Visual Builder](/v1/docs/visual-builder), before entering any data. You define the app by specifying the initial tables, fields and relationships between tables.

This article explains how to create an app from scratch. Before you begin, you should familiarize yourself with these topics:

- [Planning your app's structure](/v1/docs/planning-your-apps-structure)
- [What's a table?](/v1/docs/what-is-a-table)
- [What's a field?](/v1/docs/what-is-a-field)
- [Relating tables in Quickbase](/v1/docs/what-are-table-to-table-relationships)

## To create an app from scratch

1. Sign in to Quickbase, and on the My apps page select **+New app**.
2. Choose **View legacy options**.![Options to create an app using Quickbase features and legacy options highlighted.](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/Create an app modal with View legacy options selected.png)
3. Select **Use a canvas**. [Visual Builder](/v1/docs/visual-builder) opens.
4. Visual Builder provides an easy way to create and update apps. You can create tables, add fields, and connect relationships, all by dragging and dropping items onto a canvas.

![Visual Builder canvas with tables and relationships](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/vb_500x285.png)

Using Visual Builder, you can test out configurations to determine the best data model for an app.
5. When you're ready to try out your app, select **Create app** in the top right. ![Create app button in Visual Builder](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/vb-create-button.png) You can always edit your app's structure at any time after creation.