# Deploy from a template or Git URL
URL: https://openship.io/docs/guides/deploy-template-or-url.md

Two quick ways to start a project without connecting your own GitHub — paste a public repo link, or pick a ready-made starter from the template grid.

import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

Not every project starts from a repo you own. Sometimes you just want to put someone else's public
project online, or spin up a fresh app from a blank starter. Openship has two shortcuts for exactly that,
and neither one asks you to connect your GitHub account first.

Think of it like a library. You can borrow a book by its exact catalog link (**a Git URL**), or grab one
off the "new and popular" shelf that's already set up for you (**a template**). Both land you on the same
checkout desk — Openship's normal setup screen.

<Callout title="What you need first">
- An Openship account (you're already in if you can see the dashboard).
- For the **Git URL** path: the web address of a **public** GitHub repository.
- For the **Template** path: nothing at all — Openship provides the starter code.

Deploying a repo you *own* (including private ones)? Use [Deploy from GitHub](/docs/guides/deploy-from-github) instead.
</Callout>

## Import by pasting a Git URL

This is the fastest way to try out any public GitHub project — no account linking, no permissions to grant.

<Steps>

<Step>

### Open the Git URL tab

Go to the **Library** page (the **New project** button lands you here too) and click the **Git URL** tab.

<Callout title="Screenshot">Library page, **Git URL** tab — the "Import from Git URL" panel with a single link field. *(screenshot pending)*</Callout>

</Step>

<Step>

### Paste the repository link

Copy the project's page address from GitHub — the plain `https://github.com/owner/repo` link in your
browser's address bar — and paste it into the box. Then press **Import Repository**.

<Callout title="It has to be a public GitHub repo" type="info">
This box reads **public** repositories on **github.com**. You don't need to connect anything — Openship
just fetches the code. Private repos and other hosts won't work here; for those, connect your account with
[Deploy from GitHub](/docs/guides/deploy-from-github).
</Callout>

</Step>

<Step>

### Finish on the setup screen

Openship reads the repo and drops you on the same setup screen as any other deploy: it shows the framework
it detected, the build command, and the web address your app will get. From here, the steps are identical to
a normal GitHub deploy — [choose where it runs and press Deploy](/docs/guides/deploy-from-github#the-click-by-click-way).

</Step>

</Steps>

## Start from a template

No code yet? A template is a ready-made starter app that Openship hosts for you. Pick a framework and you
get a working project to build on — like starting a document from a blank template instead of an empty page.

<Steps>

<Step>

### Open the Template tab

On the **Library** page, click the **Template** tab. You'll see a grid of framework tiles — things like
**Next.js**, **Astro**, **Express**, **Django**, and more.

<Callout title="Screenshot">Library page, **Template** tab — the grid of framework starter tiles. *(screenshot pending)*</Callout>

</Step>

<Step>

### Pick a framework

Click the tile for the stack you want. That's the whole choice — Openship uses its matching starter as the
source, so there's nothing to paste or fill in.

</Step>

<Step>

### Finish on the setup screen

Just like the URL path, you land on the standard setup screen with everything pre-filled. Review it if you
like, then [choose where it runs and press Deploy](/docs/guides/deploy-from-github#the-click-by-click-way).
When the build finishes, you get a live link to your brand-new app.

</Step>

</Steps>

## Prefer the terminal?

The Git URL path is really just "make a project pointing at this owner and repo." You can do the same from
the CLI — split the link's `owner` and `repo` out of `github.com/owner/repo`:

```bash
# For https://github.com/openship/example →  owner = openship, repo = example
openship project create --name my-app --git-owner openship --git-repo example

# Ship it
openship deploy
```

## If something goes wrong

<Callout title="“Enter a valid GitHub repository URL”" type="warn">
Openship couldn't find an owner and repository in what you pasted. The box only accepts **github.com**
links shaped like `https://github.com/owner/repo`. This error usually means the link points at another
host (like GitLab or Bitbucket), or it's missing the owner or the repository name. Copy the address from
the repo's page on GitHub and try again.
</Callout>

<Callout title="The import worked but the build failed" type="error">
Open the build screen and read the last few red lines — that's the real reason. Common causes are a missing
build command, a missing environment variable, or the app listening on the wrong port. See
[Troubleshooting → Deployments](/docs/troubleshooting/deployments) for fixes.
</Callout>

<Callout title="It's a private repo" type="warn">
The Git URL box only reaches **public** code. To deploy a private repository, connect your GitHub account
first — see [Deploy from GitHub](/docs/guides/deploy-from-github).
</Callout>

## What next?

<Cards>
  <Card title="Deploy from GitHub" href="/docs/guides/deploy-from-github" description="Connect your account to deploy your own repos — including private ones — and redeploy on every push." />
  <Card title="Add a custom domain" href="/docs/guides/custom-domains" description="Put your app on your own name with automatic HTTPS." />
  <Card title="Environment variables" href="/docs/guides/environment-variables" description="Give your app its secrets and settings, safely." />
</Cards>