pages/aistudio-build-mode.txt

route: /gemini-api/docs/aistudio-build-mode
title: Build apps in Google AI Studio
description: Learn how to build full-stack applications using the vibe coding experience in Google AI Studio.

This page describes how to use Google AI Studio to quickly build (or "vibe
code") and deploy apps that test out the latest capabilities of Gemini like
Nano Banana and the Live
API. Google AI Studio supports building web apps
with full-stack runtimes and native Android apps with Kotlin and Jetpack
Compose — all through natural language prompting.
Get started
Start vibe coding in Google AI Studio's Build mode. You can
start building in a few ways:
Start with a prompt: In Build mode, use the input box to enter a
description of what you want to build. Select AI Chips to add specific
features like image generation or Google Maps data to your prompt. You can
even say what you want using the speech-to-text button.
"I'm Feeling Lucky" button: If you need a creative spark, use the "I'm
Feeling Lucky" button, and Gemini will generate a prompt with a project idea
to get you started.
Remix a project from the gallery: Open a project from the App
Gallery and select Copy App.
Once you run the prompt, you'll see the necessary code and files get generated,
with a live preview of your app appearing on the right-hand side.
What is created?
When you run your prompt, AI Studio creates a complete application. You can
choose to build a web app or a native Android app using the platform
picker.
For web apps (default), AI Studio creates a full-stack environment that
includes:
Client-side: a web frontend (React is the default).
Server-side: a Node.js runtime that allows for secure API calls,
database connections, and npm package usage.
For Android apps, AI Studio generates a Kotlin and Jetpack Compose project
that you can preview in a browser-based emulator, install on a physical device,
and publish to the Play Store for testing. Learn more about building Android
apps.
You can view the code that gets generated by selecting the Code tab in the
right-hand preview pane. The Antigravity Agent intelligently manages
multiple files across your stack, ensuring that changes are propagated
correctly.
The Antigravity Agent
The Antigravity Agent is the main AI functionality within Google
Antigravity and now the core components of the
agent harness is powering the Build mode experience in Google AI Studio. It goes
beyond simple code generation by maintaining context of your entire project,
managing multiple files, and understanding complex instructions to build robust,
full-stack applications.
Key capabilities include:
Context awareness: maintains context of previous prompts and file states.
Multi-file management: handles dependencies across multiple files.
Verified execution: verifies code updates to reduce hallucinations.
Full-stack capabilities
Google AI Studio unlocks the power of the modern web ecosystem, allowing you to
build more than just client-side prototypes.
Server-side runtime & npm: use the vast library of npm packages. The
agent will automatically identify and install packages as needed for your
app (e.g., specific libraries for data visualization or API clients). You
can also request specific packages if desired.
Secrets management: securely store API keys and secrets in the
Settings menu. These are accessible in your server-side code, keeping
them safe from client-side exposure.
Multiplayer: build real-time collaborative experiences directly within
AI Studio. The server-side runtime manages the state and connections required
for users to interact together.
Firebase Firestore and Authentication: automatically provision and set up Firebase,
including Firestore database (persistent data storage) and
Firebase Authentication (sign-in flows, specifically "Sign in with Google").
The agent handles the entire setup process and even writes the code in your
app for these services.
Google Workspace integrations: Connect your app to Google Workspace
APIs like Gmail, Sheets, Docs, Drive, Calendar, and more. AI Studio handles
all the OAuth configuration automatically.
Learn more about developing full-stack apps
Android apps
You can also build native Android apps using Kotlin and Jetpack Compose.
Preview your app in a browser-based Android emulator, install it on a physical
device using ADB in the browser, and publish to the Play Store for internal
testing.
Learn more about building Android apps
Continue building
Once Google AI Studio generates the initial code for your application, you
can continue refining it:
Build in Google AI Studio
Iterate with Gemini: Use the chat panel in Build mode to ask Gemini
to make modifications, add new features, or change the styling.
Edit the code directly: Open the Code tab in the preview panel to
make live edits.
Develop externally
For more advanced workflows, you can export the code and work in your preferred
environment:
Download and develop locally: Export the generated code as a ZIP
file and import it into your code editor.
Push to GitHub: Integrate the code with your existing development and
deployment processes by pushing it to a GitHub repository.
Key features
Google AI Studio includes several features to make the building process
intuitive and visual:
Create and iterate on full stack apps: Create full stack apps with just
a prompt and iterate through chat or annotation mode. Annotation mode
lets you highlight any part of your app's UI and describe the
change you want.
Share and deploy your app: You can share your creations with others to
collaborate or showcase your work. When sharing, API calls count toward your
usage limits. If you use paid models, costs may apply. Then when your app is
ready, deploy to Cloud Run.
App gallery: The App Gallery provides a visual library of project ideas.
You can browse what's possible with Gemini, preview applications instantly,
and remix them to make them your own.
Deploy or archive your app
Once your application is ready, you can deploy it:
Cloud Run: deploy your application as a scalable service.
Pricing for Google Cloud Run may apply based
on usage. To learn more about deployment, see
Deploying from Google AI Studio.
GitHub: export your project to a GitHub repository.
Limitations
This section lists current limitations of build mode in Google AI Studio.
API Key management
When you create a new app that uses the Gemini API, AI Studio automatically
configures your Gemini API key as a secret in the app's server-side environment.
You can view and manage this key in the Secrets panel.
Automatic setup: Your GEMINI_API_KEY is set up for you — no manual
configuration is required to start building.
Server-side only: API keys are injected into the server-side runtime and
are never included in client-side code.
Existing apps: For apps built before May 14, 2026, the agent will
automatically upgrade your Gemini API integration to the recommended
server-side approach the next time you modify the app's Gemini features.
Deployment outside Google AI Studio
Cloud Run: When you deploy to Cloud Run from AI Studio, your API key is
included securely in the server-side environment. The deployed app will use
your API key for all users' Gemini API calls.
ZIP download: If you download your app as a ZIP file to run it
elsewhere, you will need to set up the GEMINI_API_KEY environment variable
in your hosting environment. Since your app's Gemini API calls are made from
server-side code, the key is not exposed to end users.
Error when sharing apps
If you share your app and your end user runs into a 403 Access Restricted
error when using the shared URL, it may be due to one of the following:
Browser extensions: privacy extensions like Privacy Badger may be blocking the app. Disable the extension to avoid the error.
Build issues: there may be issues with the current code. Prompt the
agent to "fix any build issues with the current code" and then reshare the
URL.
FAQ
What is Build in AI Studio?
AI Studio Build is a platform designed to take you from
…