Your First Living System in 5 Minutes

Ready to build your first business app? This guide will take you from idea to working application in just 5 minutes.

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What is Taskade Genesis?

Genesis turns a single prompt into a working app.\nIt creates the UI and connects it to your workspace.\nYou iterate by describing changes in plain English.

Want the deeper “why it works” model?\nStart with Workspace DNA.

Before You Start

What You Need

• ✅ A Taskade account - Sign up free if you don't have one

• ✅ A business problem to solve - Something that wastes your time or frustrates customers

• ✅ 5 minutes of focused time - No distractions, just you and your business challenge

What You Can Build

By the end of this guide, you'll have built and published a fully functional app. It can be a client portal, tracker, or dashboard. The only limitation is your imagination. Genesis handles the technical complexity, you focus on business value.

What You'll Learn

• How to turn business problems into app descriptions

• How to use Genesis to build complete applications

• How to test and refine your app

• How to share and use your app with customers or team members

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Step 1: Identify Your Business Problem (1 minute)

Start by thinking about something in your business that could work better. Common problems Genesis solves:

Customer Frustrations

• "Customers keep calling to book appointments when we're busy"

• "People submit support requests through random channels"

• "Clients don't know the status of their projects"

Team Inefficiencies

• "We lose track of inventory and run out of popular items"

• "Following up with leads happens inconsistently"

• "Important tasks fall through the cracks"

Data Chaos

• "Customer feedback is scattered across emails and reviews"

• "I can't see which products are performing well"

• "Team performance data is hard to track"

Your turn: Write down the ONE business problem you want to solve first.

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Skip the theory.\nFollow the steps below.\nIf you want the underlying model, read Workspace DNA.

Step 2: Craft Your App Description (2 minutes)

Now turn your problem into a clear description using this proven formula:

The Magic Formula

WHO uses it + WHAT they need to do + WHAT happens automatically

Template to Copy

I run a [YOUR BUSINESS TYPE] and need [WHO WILL USE THIS] to [WHAT THEY NEED TO DO].

They should be able to [SPECIFIC ACTIONS THEY TAKE], and when they do, the system should [AUTOMATIC RESPONSES/ACTIONS].

I want to [HOW YOU'LL USE THE DATA] so I can [BUSINESS OUTCOME YOU WANT].

Real Examples

Restaurant Owner:

I run a restaurant and need customers to submit feedback about their dining experience. They should rate food quality, service speed, and overall satisfaction on a 1-5 scale, plus leave optional comments and upload photos. When someone gives us 3 stars or lower, immediately alert our manager via Slack so we can follow up personally. I want to see all feedback in a dashboard so I can track trends and improve our service.

Yoga Studio:

I run a yoga studio and need clients to book classes online and pay in advance. They should see available class times, choose their preferred instructor, and pay a deposit. When someone books, send them a confirmation email with class details and add the appointment to our Google Calendar. I want to track which classes are most popular so I can schedule more of them.

Consultant:

I'm a business consultant and need potential clients to request proposals through my website. They should fill out their business challenges, budget range, and timeline, plus upload any relevant documents. When someone submits a request, send me an instant Slack notification and add their information to my CRM. I want to track which types of projects people request most so I can focus my marketing.

Your turn: Write your app description using the template above.

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Step 3: Build Your App with Genesis (1 minute)

Now the magic happens - Genesis turns your description into a working app.

Access Genesis

1. Log into Taskade at taskade.com

2. Navigate to your workspace (create one if you don't have it)

3. Look for the AI prompt box at the top of your workspace

4. Click "Create with AI" or the Genesis icon

Generate Your App

1. Paste your description into the prompt box

2. Click "Generate" or press Enter

3. Watch Genesis work - it will show you progress as it builds

4. Wait 30-90 seconds for your complete app to appear

What Genesis Creates

While you wait, Genesis is building all four components of your app:

• 📊 Database - Smart storage for all your business data

• 🤖 AI Assistant - Learns your business and helps users

• ⚡ Automations - Connects to email, Slack, and other tools

• 📁 File Management - Handles uploads and document storage

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Step 3.5: Add Context Files (Optional - 30 seconds)

Supercharge your app with reference materials. Genesis can analyze uploaded files to better understand your brand, requirements, and design preferences.

Why Add Context?

Genesis becomes significantly more powerful when you provide reference materials:

• 🎨 Brand Consistency - Upload logos, color palettes, and style guides

• 📋 Form Examples - Share existing forms or data structures

• 🖼️ Visual Inspiration - Include screenshots or mockups of desired layouts

• 📊 Data Samples - Provide examples of how you want information organized

Adding Context Files

1. After app creation, click "Edit with AI" in the preview

2. Upload files by dragging them into the chat or clicking the attachment button (📎)

3. Describe your changes referencing the uploaded files

Example Prompt:

"Update this contact form to match our brand guidelines. Use the colors and fonts specified in the uploaded PDF. Apply our logo to the header."

Types of Context Files

File Type	Purpose	Examples
Brand Assets	Visual identity	Logos, color palettes, fonts
Reference Forms	Data structure	Existing forms, surveys, applications
Screenshots	UI inspiration	Website designs, competitor apps
Documents	Requirements	Business rules, process flows, SOPs

File Upload Tips

• PDF files work great for brand guidelines and documentation

• Images (PNG/JPG) perfect for logos and screenshots

• Text files useful for code snippets and requirements

• All uploaded files are stored in your project's Media tab for future reference

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Step 4: Test Your App (1 minute)

Your app is ready! Now test it thoroughly before sharing with others.

Preview Your App

1. Click "Preview" to see your live app

2. Open it like a real user would - try booking, submitting feedback, etc.

3. Fill out forms completely - use realistic test data

4. Check your email and Slack - did you get the automated notifications?

Test Checklist

• ✅ User experience: Is it easy to understand and use?

• ✅ Mobile-friendly: Does it work well on phones and tablets?

• ✅ Data capture: Is important information being saved?

• ✅ Automations: Are emails and notifications working?

• ✅ File uploads: Can users attach photos/documents seamlessly?

• ✅ File processing: Are uploaded files being handled correctly by automations?

• ✅ Professional appearance: Does it look polished and branded appropriately?

Common First-Time Issues

• No notifications received? Check your email/Slack integration settings

• Form looks wrong? Describe the visual changes you want

• Missing fields? Tell Genesis what additional information you need

• Wrong automation timing? Specify exactly when actions should happen

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Step 5: Perfect Your App (30 seconds)

Need adjustments? Genesis makes changes instantly through conversation.

Common Refinements

Visual Updates:

"Make the submit button larger and green"
"Add our company logo at the top"
"Use our brand colors: blue (#4A90E2) and white"

Functionality Changes:

"Only send alerts for ratings below 3 stars instead of 4"
"Add a field for customer phone numbers"
"Send confirmation emails immediately after booking"

Automation Tweaks:

"Also post new bookings to our #appointments Slack channel"
"CC the office manager on all customer emails"
"Send me a daily summary of all submissions"

Making Changes

1. Describe what you want to change in plain English

2. Click "Update App" or similar button

3. Wait for Genesis to implement your changes (usually 10-30 seconds)

4. Test the changes to make sure they work as expected

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Step 6: Share It!

Your app is ready for the real world! You've built something that solves a real business problem, and now it's time to put it in front of actual users.

Publishing Options

1. Private Use: Keep it within your workspace for team use

2. Custom Domain: Publish under your branded domain (e.g., app.yourcompany.com)

3. Share with Community: Publish to the global Taskade marketplace for others to discover and fork

4. Public Link: Get a shareable URL for external users

Getting It Live

1. Click "Publish" in the top-right corner

2. Choose your publishing option:

   • Public Link: Instant shareable URL

   • Custom Domain: Professional branded experience

   • Community Sharing: Help others while showcasing your skills

3. Copy the link and share with your intended audience

Community Sharing Benefits

If you've built something that could help other businesses:

• Share with Community: Your app appears in the marketplace

• Help Others: Teams worldwide can fork and use your solution

• Build Reputation: Showcase your problem-solving skills

• Get Feedback: Community reviews help improve your solutions

Professional Deployment

For business use, consider these options:

• Custom Domain: portal.yourcompany.com instead of random URLs

• Branded Experience: Remove all Taskade references for white-label solutions

• SSL Security: Automatic HTTPS for professional trust

• Global CDN: Fast loading worldwide

Share your success story and get featured:

• Post about your creation on LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit, or your favorite platform

• Show before/after: "I had this business problem, now I have this solution"

• Tag us @taskade — we love seeing what you've built

• Join our community to see what other makers are working on

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Real Success Stories

Here are what other users built in their first 5 minutes:

Maria - Restaurant Feedback System

Problem: "Customers left reviews on Google but we saw them too late to respond to problems."

Genesis Prompt: "I need customers to rate their dining experience and leave comments, with instant Slack alerts for any rating below 4 stars."

Result: "I get immediate notifications about unhappy customers and can follow up personally. Our Google reviews improved from 3.8 to 4.6 stars in two months!"

David - Yoga Studio Booking

Problem: "Appointment booking was all phone calls and double-bookings were common."

Genesis Prompt: "I need clients to book yoga classes online, pay deposits, and get calendar invites, with automatic confirmations."

Result: "Saves me 2 hours every day. No more double-bookings, and I get paid in advance. Clients love the convenience!"

Sarah - Inventory Alerts

Problem: "I never knew when products were running low until customers complained they were out of stock."

Genesis Prompt: "I need to track inventory levels and get email alerts when items drop below 10 units, with automatic reorder suggestions."

Result: "Haven't had a stockout in 6 months! My supplier gets orders automatically and I can focus on sales instead of counting inventory."

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What's Next?

Congratulations! You've built your first Genesis app. Here's how to take it further:

Immediate Next Steps

1. Share your app with real users and customers

2. Monitor the data coming in and usage patterns

3. Collect feedback on what works well and what could be improved

4. Make refinements based on real-world usage

Expanding Your App

• Add more automation connections to other business tools

• Create related apps for other business processes

• Train team members to build their own solutions

• Scale up with enterprise features as you grow

Learning Resources

• Examples & Templates → - Explore apps for your industry

• Best Practices → - Write better prompts and get better results

• Advanced Features → - Unlock sophisticated business capabilities

• Troubleshooting → - Fix common issues and optimization tips

Get Help

• Help Center: help.taskade.com

• Video Tutorials: youtube.com/taskade

• Community: taskade.com/community

• Email Support: [email protected]

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Quick Reference Card

Keep this handy for your next app:

The 5-Minute Process

1. Identify problem - What frustrates you or your customers?

2. Write description - WHO + WHAT + AUTOMATIC ACTIONS

3. Build with Genesis - Paste prompt and click Generate

4. Test thoroughly - Try all features as real user would

5. Perfect & share - Make adjustments and go live

Magic Formula Template

I run a [BUSINESS TYPE] and need [USERS] to [ACTION].
They should [SPECIFIC STEPS], and when they do,
[AUTOMATIC RESPONSE]. I want to [DATA USAGE] so I can [OUTCOME].

Testing Checklist

• ✅ User experience smooth and intuitive

• ✅ Mobile-friendly design

• ✅ All data being captured correctly

• ✅ Automations sending notifications

• ✅ File uploads working if needed

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Next steps

• Copy a working prompt: Living System Examples & Templates\n- Improve prompts: Living System Best Practices\n- Publish professionally: Custom Domains & Branding\n- Fix common issues: Living System Troubleshooting