Bolt

What Bolt does

Bolt generates web applications from a description and runs them inside the browser using StackBlitz's in-browser runtime, so installing packages, starting a dev server and previewing changes all happen without a remote container or local setup. You iterate conversationally, and the file tree and terminal remain visible and editable, so you can fix something by hand instead of arguing with the agent about it. Projects can be exported, pushed to GitHub or deployed to a hosting provider in a click. It suits front-end prototyping, hackathon work and anyone who wants a running application in minutes. The limitations come from the same design that makes it fast: running in the browser constrains which back-end technologies work, larger projects slow the editor down, and token consumption per message means extended debugging sessions burn through an allowance faster than the equivalent work in a conventional editor.

How to use it

Open bolt.new and start typing; you can generate a first app before creating an account, though signing in is needed to save work, and a daily plus monthly token allowance applies on the free tier. Describe the application in one detailed prompt covering pages, data and behaviour, because the initial build is cheaper than a long series of corrections. Once the preview appears, make small edits directly in the file tree rather than prompting, which saves tokens and is usually faster for styling or copy changes. Use the built-in terminal to run commands and inspect errors, and paste error text back into the chat when you do need the agent's help. The main practical limits are environment and tokens: server technologies that cannot run in the browser runtime are unavailable, and every message includes project context, so long conversations grow expensive. Connect GitHub early and export regularly so nothing important lives only in the browser.

Best for

• fast prototypes
• front-end apps
• demos
• hackathons
• learning by building

Strengths and limitations