Getting Started with Encore.ts

Instructions

Install Encore CLI

bash

# macOS
brew install encoredev/tap/encore

# Linux/WSL
curl -L https://encore.dev/install.sh | bash

# Windows (PowerShell)
iwr https://encore.dev/install.ps1 | iex

Create a New App

bash

# Interactive - choose from templates
encore app create my-app

# Or start with a blank app
encore app create my-app --example=ts/hello-world

Project Structure

A minimal Encore.ts app:

code

my-app/
├── encore.app           # App configuration
├── package.json         # Dependencies
├── tsconfig.json        # TypeScript config
├── encore.service.ts    # Service definition
└── api.ts               # API endpoints

The encore.app File

cue

// encore.app
{
    "id": "my-app"
}

This file marks the root of your Encore app. The id is your app's unique identifier.

Define a Service

Create encore.service.ts to define a service:

typescript

// encore.service.ts
import { Service } from "encore.dev/service";

export default new Service("my-service");

Create Your First API

typescript

// api.ts
import { api } from "encore.dev/api";

interface HelloResponse {
  message: string;
}

export const hello = api(
  { method: "GET", path: "/hello", expose: true },
  async (): Promise<HelloResponse> => {
    return { message: "Hello, World!" };
  }
);

Run Your App

bash

# Start the development server
encore run

# Your API is now available at http://localhost:4000

Open the Local Dashboard

bash

# Opens the local development dashboard
encore run
# Then visit http://localhost:9400

The dashboard shows:

•All your services and endpoints
•Request/response logs
•Database queries
•Traces and spans

Common CLI Commands

Command	Description
`encore run`	Start the local development server
`encore test`	Run tests
`encore db shell <db>`	Open a psql shell to a database
`encore gen client`	Generate API client code
`encore app link`	Link to an existing Encore Cloud app

Add a Database

typescript

// db.ts
import { SQLDatabase } from "encore.dev/storage/sqldb";

const db = new SQLDatabase("mydb", {
  migrations: "./migrations",
});

Create a migration:

sql

-- migrations/1_create_table.up.sql
CREATE TABLE items (
    id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    name TEXT NOT NULL
);

Next Steps

•Add more endpoints (see encore-api skill)
•Add authentication (see encore-auth skill)
•Add infrastructure like Pub/Sub, cron jobs (see encore-infrastructure skill)
•Deploy to Encore Cloud: encore app link then git push encore