What are Quick Apps
Quick Apps let you build an AI agent on DIAL without writing code. You pick a model, write its instructions, and connect the tools, skills, and files it needs; the model then decides which to use for each request. This page explains what a Quick App is, when to choose one, and the ways to create one. It is for app developers choosing how to build on DIAL, and assumes you know the DIAL app types.
How a Quick App works
A Quick App has three parts:
- A model that reads the user's message, decides when to call tools, and writes the answer.
- Instructions, the system prompt that sets its purpose, tone, and scope.
- Add-ons: Toolsets, other agents, skills, files, and built-in tools such as a Python interpreter and web access.
The model works in a loop: it answers, or calls tools, reads their results, and continues until it can answer. Each tool call shows as a stage in DIAL Chat, so users see what the agent did.
A Quick App is a regular DIAL application. It is called through the Unified API like any other, shared and published like any other, and can itself be a tool of another Quick App. Behind it, the Quick Apps Backend runs every Quick App from its JSON manifest; see DIAL Quick Apps.
When to choose a Quick App
A Quick App fits when:
- The task is something a capable model can do in one pass, given clear instructions and the right tools.
- You want to compose existing models, agents, APIs, and MCP servers, without code to write or host.
- You want to try an idea, test it, and change it in minutes.
- Users should be able to build their own agents.
For full control of the code and infrastructure, build a Custom App. For a Python app that DIAL hosts, build a Code App. For a side-by-side comparison, see When to use which.
Ways to create a Quick App
| Where | For | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| The Quick App editor in DIAL Chat | Anyone; the editor covers the common settings, and Edit JSON covers the rest | Build a Quick App, and the tutorial |
| The applications API | Developers automating app creation and updates | Create a Quick App through the API |
| The DIAL Core configuration | Administrators who provide Quick Apps to everyone | Quick App applications |
All three produce the same manifest. Its fields are in the Quick App manifest, and complete manifests are in Examples.
Sharing and access
A new Quick App is visible only to you. You can share it with other people, or publish it to the Catalog through an approval. See Sharing and publishing.