> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.flowcp.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.flowcp.ai/guides/onboarding-checklist.md).

# Onboarding checklist

The onboarding checklist is a guided **Getting started** panel that walks a new user through every step required to go from an empty workspace to receiving their first MCP client request.

## Where it appears

* **Getting started** — a dedicated page at `/onboarding`, reachable from the **Getting started** entry at the top of the sidebar.
* **Connect page** — the same checklist is shown as a card above the connect form at `/connect`, so it's the first thing a new user sees after signing up.

The sidebar entry and the connect-page card disappear once you dismiss the checklist (see [Dismissing and restoring](#dismissing-and-restoring)).

## The steps

Each step is **detected automatically** from your workspace data — there is nothing to tick off by hand. A step shows as complete as soon as the underlying work is done. The checklist tracks your **primary app** (the first app you created in the workspace).

| Step                           | Marked complete when                                                           | Where to go                                                         |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Connect your app**           | You've connected at least one app                                              | [Connect your API](/guides/connect-your-api.md)                     |
| **Import your API**            | Your API's OpenAPI document has imported and validated                         | [Connect your API](/guides/connect-your-api.md)                     |
| **Enable a tool**              | At least one tool is enabled (tools start disabled by default)                 | [Review and customize tools](/guides/review-and-customize-tools.md) |
| **Configure MCP Auth**         | A server has OAuth or a shared credential assigned, or explicitly uses no auth | [Configure MCP Auth](/guides/configure-oauth.md)                    |
| **Publish your MCP server**    | A server branch has been published                                             | [Publish your MCP server](/guides/publish-your-mcp-server.md)       |
| **Receive your first request** | An AI client has made at least one tool call                                   | [Execution logs](/reference/execution-logs.md)                      |

Every incomplete step has an action button that links straight to the page where you complete it. A progress bar shows how many of the six steps are done.

## Dismissing and restoring

Once you've received your first request — or any time you'd rather hide the checklist — click **Dismiss**. This hides the **Getting started** sidebar entry and the card on the connect page for everyone in the workspace.

You can bring it back at any time: open `/onboarding` directly and click **Restore checklist**.

## Related

* [Quickstart](/getting-started/quickstart.md) — the same flow written out as a walkthrough.
* [Agent-driven onboarding](/guides/agent-driven-onboarding.md) — automate these steps with the FlowCP MCP server.