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Getting Started

In this guide you'll authenticate with GitLab, install the Invent Claude skills, and use them to scaffold your first micro-app.

note

Before starting, make sure you've reviewed the prerequisites.

Step 1: Authenticate with GitLab​

In your terminal, run:

glab auth login --hostname gitlab.apptrium.io

The prompts appear in this order. Most are autofilled — just press ENTER.

  1. API Hostname — press ENTER (autofilled with gitlab.apptrium.io).
  2. SSH Hostname — press ENTER (autofilled with gitlab.apptrium.io).
  3. Authentication method — select Token.
  4. What domains does this host use — press ENTER (autofilled).
  5. Authentication token — paste your GitLab authentication token. It's stored as the External Registry Token entry in your LastPass shared folder. If it's expired, message the technical onboarding team for a new one.
  6. HTTPS Auth with GitLab credentials — select Yes.
  7. Host API protocol — type https.

Step 2: Configure the Claude Marketplace​

In your terminal, start Claude Code:

claude

Then at the Claude Code prompt, run:

/plugin marketplace add git@gitlab.apptrium.io:invent/frontend/ai/claude-skills.git

This is a Claude Code slash command — not a shell command. It only works at the Claude Code prompt. It registers Invent's Claude skills marketplace so you can install our skills in the next step.

Step 3: Install the Skills​

At the Claude Code prompt, run each of these (one at a time):

/plugin install gitlab-mr@invent-skills
/plugin install widget-update@invent-skills
/plugin install create-invent-widget@invent-skills

(Slash commands, not shell commands.)

SkillPurpose
gitlab-mrOpens GitLab merge requests with AI-generated descriptions.
widget-updateUpdates widget settings, defaults, metadata, and layout.
create-invent-widgetScaffolds a new micro-app from the Invent template (used in Step 4).

Step 4: Create a Micro-App​

For this example, you'll create a default template using the create-invent-widget skill.

At the Claude Code prompt, run:

/create-invent-widget

(Slash command, not a shell command.)

Then:

  1. When prompted, select your group (URL shared on Slack or by email) — this is where the micro-app will live.
  2. Answer the prompts:
    • Add the name
    • Select Dashboard widget when asked for the widget type
    • Add the description and title
  3. Confirm you want to create the widget with the parameters — Claude will confirm this step.
  4. Grant approval for the next steps as Claude asks for permission. Claude Code asks before running shell commands or modifying files — approve each prompt to continue.

Step 5: Notify the Team & View Your App​

Once the create-invent-widget skill finishes:

  • Claude opens the new repo for you on GitLab.
  • The repo is also cloned to the directory where you ran Claude Code.

Verify the pipeline ran successfully: open the new repo on GitLab and check the latest pipeline in the commit history.

Message the Invent Technical team on Slack so we can register your app to your portal. Include:

  • The new repo URL
  • Confirmation that the GitLab pipeline ran successfully

Step 6: Add Your App to a Dashboard​

Your app is now registered, but it still needs to be placed on a dashboard before users can see it. This is done in the Dashboard Composer (inside the Host application):

  1. Open the Dashboard Composer.
  2. Click Add micro app to open the Micro App Library.
  3. Find your new app, select it, then position and configure it on the dashboard.

For the full walkthrough and screenshots, see Adding Widgets to Dashboard.

Sample micro-app created from the template