Plan what you can build with Forge
10 min
Beginner
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:
- Get inspired to build apps by browsing the Atlassian Marketplace.
- Locate Forge documentation for templates, modules, and UI options.
- Distinguish between Forge UI Kit and Custom UI, and when to use each.
Get inspired in Atlassian Marketplace
To get inspiration and understand what’s possible with Forge, a great place to start is the Atlassian Marketplace. You can explore thousands of apps built for Jira, Confluence, and other Atlassian apps.
While the Marketplace doesn’t currently let you filter specifically for Forge-built apps, many app listings will mention Forge in their descriptions, documentation, or support materials. Newer apps, those built by Atlassian, labeled “runs on Atlassian,” or cloud-only apps, are more likely to be built using Forge. Exploring these apps can give you a sense of what Forge can do, what problems it can solve, and how developers are using it to extend the Atlassian ecosystem.
Find templates and modules in documentation
To build an app in Forge, you’ll need to explore what’s possible. When building a Forge app, you don't start from scratch, you work within a framework of options that define what your app can do and how it interacts with Atlassian apps.
You will need to get familiar with the core building blocks of Forge: templates, modules, and UI frameworks, and learn how they work together to help you create powerful custom apps.
To do this, you need to know where to find documentation to start planning your own apps.
If it’s in documentation, you can build it
And if you’re thinking of building something, chances are the documentation has guidance, examples, or references to help you do it.
Atlassian's documentation is your development map and defines what is possible with Forge. As Atlassian expands the platform, new modules, events, and UI capabilities are added there first.
👇This is the Atlassian Forge documentation.
The Modules section of the Atlassian documentation provides a comprehensive list of all the available modules you can use in your app. Each module represents an extension point in Atlassian apps, like Jira work item panels or Confluence macros, and includes details about how and where it can be used, configuration examples, and supported UI options.
👇This is the Forge modules section of the Forge documentation.
In addition to exploring modules, it's also helpful to review the available UI Kit components when planning your Forge app’s interface. The full list of UI Kit components is found in the Forge UI Kit components reference. Each component listing includes an overview as well as usage examples.
👇This is the UI Kit section of the Forge documentation.
Browsing these documentation lists can help you explore what’s possible, validate your ideas, and identify the right combination of modules or UI Kit elements for your app. Whether you're building something simple or planning a complex app, documentation is a valuable tool for translating your idea into a finished app.
Jumpstart development with real-world examples
Example apps are a great way to jumpstart your development by providing real-world examples of how to integrate apps with Atlassian apps, giving you a solid foundation to build on. These apps are designed to be adaptable, so you can explore their code and tweak them to fit your own needs. Or you can use them as inspiration for something completely new.
You can check them out here: Example apps
👇This is the work item translator example app.
This app allows you to add translation options to your Jira issues to work across languages.
It uses the jira.issuePanel module to add a panel that translates the issue’s summary and description fields into various languages by integrating with a third-party API.
Get hands-on with Forge
Atlassian also provides tutorials and guides to help you learn by doing. They walk you through practical app-building scenarios so you can build confidence and skill with the Forge platform.
Start with beginner-friendly tutorials, then move into more advanced topics. Each tutorial is broken into clear, manageable steps and includes working code examples, so you can focus on applying what you learn to real-world problems.
Let’s look at one of the more advanced app from the Rovo tutorials.
👇This is the Q&A Rovo Agent for Confluence tutorial app.
Connect with other developers in the Community
The Atlassian Community is a great place to connect with other users, share knowledge, and get help with Atlassian apps. Whether you're troubleshooting your Forge app, looking for best practices, or want to look for new ideas, the community offers forums, learning resources, and events to support you. You can ask questions, contribute insights, and even attend local meetups to network with other professionals. Atlassian experts and product teams often engage in discussions, making it a valuable space to stay updated on new features and improvements.
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Build and deploy a Forge app
- Build your first app
- Create the app
- Develop the app
- Deploy your app
- Get your app onto an Atlassian site
- Access your app
- Update an installed app