How to Start a New Project in Antigravity (Quickstart Guide)

Quick Start Overview

This guide walks you through creating your first project with Antigravity, from setup to deployment. You'll learn how to leverage the AI Agent to build a complete application in minutes instead of hours.

Prerequisites

• Google account with Antigravity access
• Basic understanding of web development
• (Optional) Existing codebase or new project idea

Step 1: Access Antigravity

Open the Editor

1. Navigate to antigravity.google
2. Sign in with your Google account
3. The Antigravity editor opens automatically

Interface Overview

• Left Sidebar: Workspace selector and conversation history
• Main Panel: Chat interface for agent interaction
• Right Panel: Artifacts (plans, tasks, walkthroughs)
• Model Selector: Choose your AI model (bottom of chat)

Step 2: Create or Open a Workspace

Option A: Start a New Project

1. Click the "+" button in the left sidebar
2. Select "New Workspace"
3. Choose a directory location
4. Name your project folder

Recommended folder structure:
~/projects/my-antigravity-app/

Option B: Open Existing Project

1. Click the workspace button (left sidebar)
2. Select "Open Folder"
3. Navigate to your project directory
4. Click "Select Folder"

Multiple Workspaces

You can work on several projects simultaneously:

• Each workspace has independent conversation history
• Switch between workspaces instantly
• Agent maintains separate context per workspace

Step 3: Choose Your Model

Select the appropriate model for your project:

For Complex Projects:

• Gemini 3 Pro (High): Best for architecture-heavy work
• Claude Sonnet 4.5 (Thinking): Advanced problem-solving

For Quick Prototypes:

• Gemini 3 Pro (Low): Fast, cost-effective
• Claude Sonnet 4.5: Balanced performance

For Open-Source Projects:

• GPT-OSS: Specialized in community patterns

Change models anytime via the dropdown below the chat input.

Step 4: Start Your First Conversation

Example: Building a Task Manager App

Type your first message to the agent:

Create a task manager application with:
- User authentication (email/password)
- Task list with create, edit, delete
- Task categories and tags
- Due date reminders
- Dark mode support

Tech stack:
- Next.js 14 with App Router
- TypeScript
- Prisma with PostgreSQL
- Tailwind CSS
- shadcn/ui components

Writing Effective Prompts

Be Specific About:

• Features: List all required functionality
• Tech Stack: Specify frameworks and libraries
• Constraints: Design system, responsive requirements
• Data Models: Entities and relationships

Good Prompt Example:

Build a blog CMS with:

Features:
- Rich text editor for posts
- Image upload with optimization
- Post categories and tags
- Draft/publish workflow
- SEO meta fields

Tech:
- Next.js 14 App Router
- Prisma + PostgreSQL
- TipTap editor
- Uploadthing for images
- React Hook Form + Zod validation

Design:
- Use shadcn/ui components
- Responsive mobile-first
- Dark mode toggle

Poor Prompt Example:

Make a blog

(Too vague - agent needs more direction)

Step 5: Review the Implementation Plan

What You'll See

After submitting your request, the agent creates an Implementation Plan artifact:

Plan Includes:

1. File Structure: All files to be created/modified
2. Technical Approach: Architecture decisions
3. Dependencies: Required packages
4. Database Schema: Prisma models
5. API Routes: Endpoint structure
6. Components: UI component hierarchy

Plan Review Interface

The plan appears in the right panel with:

• Proceed Button: Start implementation immediately
• Comment System: Provide inline feedback
• Review Toggle: Submit feedback without proceeding

Providing Feedback

Click any section of the plan to add comments:

Common Feedback:

"Use server actions instead of API routes"
"Add input validation with Zod"
"Include unit tests for auth logic"
"Use AWS S3 instead of local storage"

Two Options

Option 1: Proceed Immediately

• Click "Proceed" if the plan looks good
• Agent starts implementation

Option 2: Request Changes

• Add comments to specific sections
• Click "Review" and submit feedback
• Agent revises the plan
• Review again when updated

Step 6: Watch Task Groups Execute

Understanding Task Groups

The agent breaks work into parallel Task Groups:

Example Task Group:

Task Group: User Authentication
├── Subtask 1: Prisma schema for User model
├── Subtask 2: Auth API routes
├── Subtask 3: Login/Register components
└── Subtask 4: Session management

Real-Time Progress

You'll see:

• Progress Indicators: Current subtask status
• File Pills: Quick access to changed files
• Expandable Details: Step-by-step actions
• Pending Approvals: Commands requiring permission

Monitoring Execution

File Changes: Click file pills to view current state:

[prisma/schema.prisma] [app/api/auth/[...].ts] [components/LoginForm.tsx]

Expanded View: Toggle to see detailed steps:

• File reads
• Code generation
• Dependency installation
• Terminal commands

Step 7: Handle Pending Steps

Common Pending Steps

Terminal Commands:

npm install next-auth @prisma/client
npx prisma generate
npx prisma migrate dev

Browser Actions:

Open localhost:3000
Test login flow
Verify dark mode toggle

Approval Workflow

1. Review pending step description
2. Check command safety
3. Click "Approve" or "Reject"
4. Agent continues upon approval

Auto-Approval Settings

For trusted commands, enable auto-approval:

• Package installations
• Database migrations
• Linting/formatting
• Build commands

Step 8: Review the Walkthrough

Completion Artifact

When finished, agent generates a Walkthrough:

Contents:

1. Summary: What was built
2. File Changes: Complete list
3. Screenshots: UI components (if applicable)
4. Videos: Browser interactions (if applicable)
5. Next Steps: Testing and deployment recommendations

Example Walkthrough

# Task Manager Application - Complete

## What Was Built
- User authentication with NextAuth.js
- CRUD operations for tasks
- Category and tag management
- Due date reminders with date-fns
- Dark mode with next-themes

## Files Created
- prisma/schema.prisma (User, Task, Category models)
- app/api/auth/[...nextauth]/route.ts
- app/api/tasks/route.ts
- components/TaskList.tsx
- components/TaskForm.tsx
- components/CategoryFilter.tsx

## Files Modified
- package.json (added dependencies)
- tailwind.config.ts (dark mode configuration)
- app/layout.tsx (providers setup)

## Screenshots
[Screenshot of task list interface]
[Screenshot of dark mode toggle]

## Testing Recommendations
1. Run `npm run dev`
2. Create test user at /register
3. Add sample tasks
4. Test category filtering
5. Verify dark mode persistence

Step 9: Test Your Application

Local Development

Start the development server:

npm run dev

Testing Checklist

Functionality:

• [ ] All features work as specified
• [ ] Forms validate correctly
• [ ] Data persists to database
• [ ] Error states display properly

UI/UX:

• [ ] Responsive on mobile/tablet/desktop
• [ ] Dark mode switches correctly
• [ ] Loading states visible
• [ ] Accessibility (keyboard navigation)

Performance:

• [ ] Pages load quickly
• [ ] No console errors
• [ ] Images optimized
• [ ] API responses fast

Request Fixes

If issues found, simply tell the agent:

"The task deletion confirmation modal doesn't appear"
"Dark mode doesn't persist after page reload"
"Add loading spinner to form submission"

Agent will fix issues and update the walkthrough.

Step 10: Setup MCP Integrations (Optional)

Why Use MCP?

Connect Antigravity to your development tools:

• Database: Automatic schema awareness
• GitHub: Search for patterns and examples
• Linear: Create issues from TODOs
• Deployment: Monitor build logs

Quick Setup

1. Click "..." dropdown (top of side panel)
2. Select "MCP Store"
3. Browse available integrations
4. Click "Install" on desired servers
5. Follow authentication prompts

Recommended for New Projects

Prisma Server:

• Agent sees your database schema
• Suggests correct table/column names
• Helps with migrations

GitHub Server:

• Searches your repos for patterns
• Finds similar implementations
• Suggests best practices

Netlify/Heroku:

• Monitors deployment logs
• Debugs build errors
• Suggests configuration fixes

Common Project Types

1. Full-Stack Web App

Prompt Template:

Create a [app type] with:

Backend:
- Next.js API routes
- Prisma + [database]
- Authentication
- [specific features]

Frontend:
- React components
- [UI library]
- Responsive design
- [state management]

2. Dashboard/Admin Panel

Prompt Template:

Build an admin dashboard with:

Features:
- User management (CRUD)
- Analytics charts
- Data tables with filtering
- Export to CSV/PDF
- Role-based permissions

Tech:
- Next.js 14
- Recharts for charts
- TanStack Table
- shadcn/ui

3. API Service

Prompt Template:

Create a REST API with:

Endpoints:
- [list endpoints]

Features:
- JWT authentication
- Rate limiting
- Input validation
- Error handling
- API documentation

Tech:
- Next.js API routes
- Prisma ORM
- Zod validation

4. Landing Page

Prompt Template:

Build a landing page with:

Sections:
- Hero with CTA
- Features grid
- Testimonials
- Pricing table
- Contact form

Requirements:
- Fully responsive
- Animations (Framer Motion)
- Dark mode
- SEO optimized

Project Setup Best Practices

1. Start with a Clear Goal

Define your MVP before starting:

• Core features only
• Simple tech stack
• Minimal dependencies

Add complexity iteratively.

2. Use Implementation Plans

Always review plans before proceeding:

• Catch architectural issues early
• Adjust tech choices
• Reduce scope if needed

3. Leverage Project Blueprints

For common patterns, use structured blueprints:

Goal: User authentication system
Stack: Next.js + Prisma + NextAuth
Steps:
1. Setup Prisma User model
2. Configure NextAuth providers
3. Create login/register pages
4. Add protected routes
Constraints: Email/password only, no OAuth

4. Iterative Development

Break work into phases:

1. Phase 1: Core functionality
2. Phase 2: Error handling
3. Phase 3: UI polish
4. Phase 4: Testing & optimization

5. Connect MCP Early

Install relevant integrations before starting:

• Database servers for schema access
• GitHub for pattern discovery
• Deployment platforms for monitoring

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Agent Doesn't Understand

Problem: Vague requirements lead to incorrect implementation

Solution: Be more specific:

Instead of: "Add a form"
Use: "Add a form with email, password fields,
     validation, and submit button using React Hook Form"

Wrong Tech Stack

Problem: Agent uses different libraries than you want

Solution: Specify exact packages:

"Use Formik for forms, not React Hook Form"
"Use Axios for API calls, not fetch"
"Use Material-UI, not shadcn/ui"

Too Much Code

Problem: Agent creates more than needed

Solution: Add constraints:

"Create only the User and Post models, nothing else"
"Implement just the login page, skip registration for now"

Plan Never Completes

Problem: Agent stuck on pending approval

Solution: Check for:

• Pending terminal commands requiring approval
• Browser actions waiting for interaction
• MCP permissions not granted

Next Steps

Now that you've created your first project:

1. Explore Examples: Antigravity Projects Examples
2. Build a Dashboard: How to Build a Dashboard with Antigravity
3. Learn Best Practices: Antigravity Best Practices
4. Compare Tools: Antigravity vs Cursor vs Windsurf

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does project generation take? Simple projects: 2-5 minutes. Complex apps: 10-30 minutes.

Can I pause and resume? Yes, conversations persist. Return anytime and continue.

What if I don't like the result? Request changes: "Refactor the auth system to use server actions"

Can I export the code? Yes, all files are in your workspace folder. Commit to git as usual.

Does it handle database setup? Agent creates Prisma schema and migrations. You run migrations manually or auto-approve.

Conclusion

Starting a project in Antigravity is as simple as:

1. Open a workspace
2. Describe what you want
3. Review the plan
4. Let the agent build

The AI handles boilerplate, setup, and implementation while you focus on requirements and architecture.

Start building your first Antigravity project today!

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