> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.brainboard.co/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.brainboard.co/getting-started/start-with-template.md).

# Start with a template

### Overview

Using a template is one of the quickest ways to get started with Brainboard. By providing you with pre-built architecture templates, we ensure that you begin with a tried-and-true infrastructure design and save your time during the initial setup. You can always edit these templates as you need.

### **Starting with a template**

Here are the steps you can follow to begin with templates:

1. Once you are logged into your Brainboard account, navigate to the home page by clicking <mark style="color:$primary;">Home</mark> in the left menu.
2. Then, click <mark style="color:$primary;">`Create architecture`</mark> button in the <mark style="color:$primary;">**Recent architectures**</mark> section. As an alternative, you can click the <mark style="color:$primary;">`Create architecture`</mark> button available at the bottom of the left menu.

{% hint style="info" %}
As an alternative to the first two steps mentioned above, you can simply click on the <mark style="color:$primary;">**`Templates`**</mark> option in the left menu to begin with templates.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://2733077811-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F7YhVIZuz5Brv8kisTlFL%2Fuploads%2FyLEFsp04yTXKg90YC8J9%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=7ccdd1aa-ef64-4f45-8890-463584208cd2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Once the menu opens, you have the following three primary paths to start your project.

* **From scratch**: Start with a blank canvas.
* **From your infrastructure**: Import existing Terraform files or sync from a cloud provider.
* **From a template**: Access the catalogue of pre-built designs.

3. Choose <mark style="color:$primary;">**`From a template`**</mark> to gain access to the template catalogue.

<figure><img src="https://2733077811-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F7YhVIZuz5Brv8kisTlFL%2Fuploads%2Ft8BeisdoDDUHiku4nQo6%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=c25b0f14-919d-435c-b613-c972b6eccc91" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

4. Next, to use the desired template, select it on the <mark style="color:$primary;">**Start from a template**</mark> screen by simply clicking on it.
5. Once you have selected your desired template, click the <mark style="color:$primary;">**`Use template`**</mark> option on the next screen. Here, you will be prompted with the <mark style="color:$primary;">**Create architecture from template**</mark> popup modal to confirm the template details.
   1. On top of this pop-up modal, you can view the total number of resources that are used in the selected template.
   2. **Project:** You can select the project to associate the new architecture design with.
   3. **Environment:** You can select the desired environment here. For example, **Development, UAT**, etc.
   4. **Architecture name:** Edit the name of the new architecture as you need.
   5. **Architecture description:** Provide any additional details of the architecture design.

Once you have finalised the new architecture details, you can click the <mark style="color:$primary;">**`Create architecture`**</mark> button given at the bottom right corner of the modal.

<figure><img src="https://2733077811-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F7YhVIZuz5Brv8kisTlFL%2Fuploads%2F4nLcbkzR8rff9NCHdRpb%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=4302ed97-a3b1-4c53-84a2-48f6f5bf8fe9" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

You will be navigated to the Brainboard canvas, where you can review your design and make further changes.

***

### Using a Template

After choosing a template, the visual diagram and associated `Terraform` code is loaded onto the design canvas, where you can:

1. Customize resources by manually renaming parts and changing variables to meet your unique needs.
2. Make use of <mark style="color:$primary;">**Brainy**</mark>: To change the template, use natural language prompts
3. Run Validation: To make sure the template's configuration is accurate inside your particular environment variables, run `Terraform` Validate.

{% hint style="info" %}
If your team frequently uses the same architecture patterns, storing them as **Private Templates** guarantees architectural uniformity and significantly speeds up subsequent deployment cycles.
{% endhint %}

***

Shared below is additional information to help you sort the template that best fits your needs.

### Filtering Templates

The templates catalogue screen provides powerful filtering tools to help you find the right architecture.

<mark style="color:$primary;">**Filters:**</mark> If you click on this option, the <mark style="color:$primary;">**Filters**</mark> pane will be expanded on the right side of the screen. where you can filter designs by:

* **Scope**
* **Terraform Providers**
* **Tags**

{% hint style="success" %} <mark style="color:$primary;">**Scope**</mark>: Select the source library for your templates. You can choose :

1. **All Scopes:** Displays every template available to you across both public and organizational libraries.
2. **Public:** Access a collection of high-quality architecture patterns provided by Brainboard that cover common cloud deployment scenarios.
3. **Organization:** Access your company’s internal library of private infrastructure patterns tailored specifically for your team.
   {% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %} <mark style="color:$primary;">**Terraform Providers**</mark>**:** To view templates unique to that environment, choose your desired cloud provider(*<mark style="color:$primary;">AWS, Azure, GCP</mark>*`,` etc.).
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %} <mark style="color:$primary;">**Tags**</mark>**:** Using tags, you can filter the specific infrastructure components like `Networking`, `Database`, `Compute`, or`Serverless`, etc.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
You can convert any architecture you have designed into a Private Template. This allows you to build a reusable collection of authorized infrastructure patterns, ensuring architectural uniformity and significantly accelerating future deployment cycles.
{% endhint %}

<mark style="color:$primary;">**Search bar**</mark>**:** To locate particular use cases, such as `landing zone`, `kubernetes`, `security`, you can utilize the search bar.<br>

<figure><img src="https://2733077811-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F7YhVIZuz5Brv8kisTlFL%2Fuploads%2FK69fW1phQPjpuDk7CDIS%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=b7c7fa5f-969d-4fb8-85bd-22a16d0e1825" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

5. To make your view more user-friendly when selecting the desired filter, you can sort the filtered results by clicking the <mark style="color:$primary;">**`Name`**</mark>**&#x20;dropdown**. Options include sorting by

* Name (ascending/descending)
* Cloud provider(ascending/descending)
* date the template was last updated(ascending/descending)

<figure><img src="https://2733077811-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F7YhVIZuz5Brv8kisTlFL%2Fuploads%2FyY1G0Q3VDQImoNHnJz1B%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=6c14f5bb-bdee-4663-a9a0-e2d1ab4a1311" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>