Use the fw-app-dev skill to scaffold app projects and implement core features on Freshworks Platform 3.0+. The skill enforces current manifest, request-template, and serverless patterns and blocks legacy Platform 2.x output.
Generate an app
Run /fw-app-dev in your AI assistant chat window to scaffold a new app. Use a prompt for quick starts, or a PRD when you have structured requirements.
Generate an app from a prompt
Describe your use case in natural language after the /fw-app-dev command.
The following example creates a Bitly integration in the Freshdesk ticket sidebar:
/fw-app-dev Create a Bitly app for the Freshdesk ticket sidebar. The app must include a button that calls the Bitly API to shorten the current ticket URL and displays the result in the UI.Generate an app from a PRD
Reference a Markdown PRD file in your project folder when generation should follow a written specification.
- Save your PRD as a Markdown (.md) file in the project folder.
- In the chat window, run:
/fw-app-dev use @<filename>.md to generate the appSample PRD (optional)
The following example shows a typical PRD structure.
Generated app structure
When a UI is required, fw-app-dev scaffolds the front-end with the React meta framework, the same stack as the FDK react-starter-template. A full-stack SMI app adds server/server.js so the UI can invoke serverless functions in the same app package.
The following table summarizes the front-end and back-end output for each app type.
| App type | Front-end output | Back-end output |
|---|---|---|
| Front-end app | React components in app/components/, Crayons UI, metaConfig.framework set to react in manifest.json | None |
| Full-stack SMI app | React components in app/components/, Crayons UI, metaConfig.framework set to react in manifest.json | server/server.js for SMI handlers and events |
| Serverless app | None | server/server.js |
Verify the app
After fw-app-dev completes generating the project:
- Open a terminal in the generated app directory.
- Run fdk run.
- Open the tunnel URL and load the app in your product account.
- Confirm the app renders in the target placeholder and core interactions work.
If fdk validate reports errors, use /fdk-fix in the chat window or continue to Review and validate the app.
Note If you installed the toolkit before the React meta framework update, fw-app-dev may still generate vanilla JavaScript front-ends (for example, app/scripts/app.js). Run npx @freshworks/fw-dev-tools update, restart your IDE, and generate a new app.
For detailed configuration options, see the fw-app-dev command reference.