Developing an Application

You develop apps in Service Studio, the main IDE in OutSystems. A new app usually contains one module with a user interface, and you can use that module to start building your app.

If you're just starting with OutSystems, here are some useful resources:

• Create your first app by following instructions from the tutorial Create Your First Reactive Web App.
• If you prefer an interactive guide, start Service Studio, and from the Help menu select Build an App in 5 min tutorial.
• For an in-depth free video course, check out Becoming a Reactive Web Developer.

For developers already familiar with OutSystems, explore the sections in this chapter for more information.

• Use Data

  Find information on how to define your data model, query the database and manipulate query results.

  Featured Article:

  • Data Modeling
  • Edit data while developing
  • Query Data

  See More

• Design UI

  In this section, you can find information regarding how to define the navigation and user interface of your applications (CSS, Layout, Images), how to gather and validate input from users, and how to build an OutSystems UI Architecture to customize the look & feel of your applications..

  Featured Article:

  • Screen
  • Accessibility
  • Screen Templates

  See More

• Implement Application Logic

  Learn more about implementing and reuse actions, iterating lists, and handling exceptions. Find more about the lifecycle of screens and blocks.

  Featured Article:

  • Edit expressions
  • AI-assisted development
  • Actions in Reactive Web and Mobile Apps

  See More

• Use Processes (BPT)

  Use OutSystems Business Process Technology (BPT) to design and manage your business processes and integrate them into your applications.

  Featured Article:

  • Processes
  • Create a Process Flow
  • Use Callback Actions

  See More

• Use Timers

  Learn how to use Timers to execute asynchronous logic.

  Featured Article:

  • Create and Run Timers
  • Monitor Timers

• Reuse and Refactor

  Reuse functionality from other modules to avoid repeated code and to achieve a modular design.

  Featured Article:

  • Use Actions to Encapsulate Logic
  • Expose and reuse functionality between modules
  • Handle Changes in Exposed Functionality

  See More

• Secure the Application

  Learn how to define the security model for your applications. Use roles and permissions management to restrict access to application screens, interface elements and operations by its end users.

  Featured Article:

  • End User management
  • User Roles
  • Restrict Access to an Internal Network

  See More

• Troubleshooting Applications

  Learn how to troubleshoot and debug your applications.

  Featured Article:

  • Debugging Applications
  • Log Information in Action Flows
  • Troubleshoot Service Actions Using Logs

  See More

• Merge the Work

  Integrate other developers' changes into your module by using the merge feature. It works with both visual and textual elements.

  Featured Article:

  • The merge feature and team collaboration
  • Compare and merge example with conflicts

• SEO in Reactive Web Apps

  Redirect URLs and create site and Screen URLs to to improve user experience and search page ranking.

  Featured Article:

  • Sitemap.xml and robots.txt

• Testing your application

  Overview of options, resources, and tools to implement automated testing in your OutSystems environment .

  Featured Article:

  • Develop for Testability
  • Component testing with BDDFramework tools

Articles in this Section

• Application Templates

  Use application templates to bootstrap an app.

• Service Studio Shortcuts