> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.beam.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quick start: create your first agent

> Create an agent from a template, review its Flow and integrations, test it, and publish when it is ready.

Start with an agent template when you want a prebuilt starting point. The template gallery lets you filter, search, and create an agent from the templates available in your workspace.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/beamai/5sjMFBB-gamSkrEM/01-getting-started/quickstart/agent-templates-current.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=5sjMFBB-gamSkrEM&q=85&s=c0db7df8661eea47f36a5bf5db38161d" alt="Agent templates gallery with category filters, template cards, Create agent buttons, and pagination" width="1020" height="660" data-path="01-getting-started/quickstart/agent-templates-current.png" />
</Frame>

<h2 id="before-you-begin">
  Before you begin
</h2>

You need access to a Beam workspace. Decide what the agent should do and which integrations it needs before you choose a template.

<h2 id="create-an-agent-from-a-template">
  Create an agent from a template
</h2>

1. Open **Agent templates** from the workspace navigation.
2. Use **Categories** or **Search agents by name** to find a suitable template.
3. Read the template card's category, name, and description.
4. Select **Create agent**.

The available template catalogue can change. Use the live template card as the source of truth for the template's current purpose.

<h2 id="review-the-flow">
  Review the Flow
</h2>

Open the created agent's **Flow**. The Flow page contains the agent graph and provides **Test mode** and **Publish** controls in its header.

Select a node to review its sidebar configuration. For a tool node, the current sidebar includes **Parameters**, **Settings**, and **Evaluation**. Parameters include input variables, the selected model, output variables, and integrations.

<Card title="Build a Flow" icon="diagram-project" href="/02-building-agents/agent-fundamentals/flow-configuration/flow-configuration">
  Learn how to work with the Flow canvas and node configuration.
</Card>

<h2 id="configure-inputs-and-integrations">
  Configure inputs and integrations
</h2>

Review each node's input variables and choose the fill method that matches the value source. Configure the integrations the agent needs before testing the Flow.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Variable Fill" icon="sliders" href="/02-building-agents/agent-configuration/variables-state/variables-state">
    Choose how node inputs receive values at runtime.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Integrations" icon="plug" href="/02-building-agents/agent-configuration/integrations/integrations">
    Connect and manage the services an agent uses.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<h2 id="test-before-publishing">
  Test before publishing
</h2>

Enable **Test mode** from the Flow header to test the Flow with data from past executions. Test runs are separate from live Tasks, and integrations are sandboxed so tests do not create, update, or delete live records.

<Card title="Test Mode" icon="vial" href="/03-running-operations/debugging-testing/test-datasets/test-datasets">
  Learn how Test mode works and where to review test Tasks.
</Card>

<h2 id="publish-the-agent">
  Publish the agent
</h2>

When the Flow is ready, select **Publish** from the Flow header. Review the Flow and its integrations before publishing.

<Card title="Publishing and deployment" icon="rocket" href="/02-building-agents/advanced-patterns/publishing-deployment/publishing-deployment">
  Review the current publishing options.
</Card>

<h2 id="next-steps">
  Next steps
</h2>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Run and review Tasks" icon="list-check" href="/03-running-operations/task-management/task-executions/task-executions">
    Review the agent's Task executions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Monitor performance" icon="chart-line" href="/04-observability-analytics/overview-analytics/overview-analytics">
    Review available agent analytics.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.