Overview
Chat your way to a full-stack app with a live preview.
FAQ
What is a prompt, and which mode should I use?
A prompt is the instruction you give Lovable. Plan mode thinks through an idea without changing the project; Build mode makes the change. Plan first, build second.
Example prompts:
- Plan mode: I want a pre-order page for a small chai cafe. What are the three smallest steps to a working first version?
- Build mode: Add a pre-order form with name, pickup time and drink, and show a confirmation after submitting.
I’m stuck or unsure what to do next
Ask Lovable. It can read the project, explain what exists and suggest the next step. No idea at all? Describe who the app is for and what they are trying to do, then ask for a plan.
Example prompts:
- What should I build next? Look at what exists and suggest three small next steps in order of value for a demo.
- I’m stuck. Ask me the questions you need answered before you can continue.
It still isn’t working after many prompts
Reproduce it once more and note the exact error, what you expected and what happened. Give Lovable that, and ask it to diagnose before it changes anything. If the last version worked, restore it from the project history and retry with one smaller change.
Example prompts:
- Do not change anything yet. When I click Save, I expect a confirmation but nothing happens and the console shows [paste error]. Explain the cause, then fix only that.
- Check the console and network errors on this page and report them before fixing.
How do I know my project works?
Ask Lovable to test it in the browser and report what fails. Then check by hand as a stranger would.
Example prompt:
- Test the sign-up and first-order flow end to end in the browser and report every step that fails before fixing anything.
Check by hand:
- Open the published link in a private window
- Submit each form empty, then with real values
- Refresh after saving — the data should still be there
- Open it on your phone: no sideways scrolling
The published app looks different from the preview
The preview and the published link are not the same thing. Publish again so the latest changes go live, open the exact published URL in a private window, and retry. If Lovable flags a security check before publishing, fix it before going live.
Check by hand:
- Publish → confirm the URL shown matches the link you shared
- Private window, or sign out and back in
How do I add a database, accounts or something beyond a landing page?
For a new Lovable project, ask Lovable to enable Lovable Cloud. It sets up a database, accounts and server-side functions. Saved data, accounts or an admin view is what turns a page into a product. If the project is already connected to an external database, use that instead.
Example prompt:
- Enable Lovable Cloud and store pre-orders in a table instead of in memory. Show me the saved orders on a staff-only page.