> Portal Navigation:
> 
> - Append `.md` to any URL under `https://dev.wix.com/docs/` to get its markdown version.
> - Pages are either content pages (article or reference text) or menu pages (a list of links to child pages).
> - To get a menu page, truncate any URL to a parent path and append `.md` (e.g. `https://dev.wix.com/docs/sdk.md`, `https://dev.wix.com/docs/sdk/core-modules.md`).
> - Top-level index of all portals: https://dev.wix.com/docs/llms.txt
> - Full concatenated docs: https://dev.wix.com/docs/llms-full.txt

## Resource: About Project Development

## Article: About Developing Wix CLI Apps

## Article Link: https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/project-development/about-project-development.md

## Article Content:

# About Project Development with the Wix CLI

Once you've created a Wix CLI app, most of your work happens in your local files and the terminal. This section covers what comes after initial setup: building your backend, managing configuration, testing and monitoring your code, and shipping your app to production. If you're new to the CLI itself, [About the Wix CLI](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/about-the-wix-cli.md) introduces the tool and the structure of a generated app.

## Identify your CLI

If you're picking up an existing app, it's worth confirming whether it runs on the current Wix CLI or the legacy version, since the development workflow differs between them. If you're not sure, here's [how to tell which CLI your project uses](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/project-development/determine-which-cli-your-project-uses.md).

## Keep your commands up to date

The CLI gains new commands over time. When it does, you can [pull the latest commands into an existing app](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/project-development/add-new-cli-commands-to-existing-projects.md) so you have everything the current version offers.

## Build your backend

When your app needs server-side logic, such as calling third-party APIs, working with a database, or exposing your own API, you have two ways to build it:

- **HTTP endpoints** are the simplest option. Start with [how HTTP endpoints work](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/supported-extensions/backend/http-endpoints/about-http-endpoints.md), then [add one to your project](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/supported-extensions/backend/http-endpoints/add-http-endpoints-to-your-project.md).
- **A self-hosted backend** lets you integrate your own server, built with any technology you like. Learn how to [set one up](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/project-development/self-hosted-backend/implement-a-self-hosted-backend-for-your-cli-app.md) and [authenticate the requests it receives](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/project-development/self-hosted-backend/authenticate-incoming-requests-to-your-self-hosted-backend.md).

Maintaining an older app? You can move existing backend code onto HTTP endpoints by migrating from [HTTP functions](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/supported-extensions/backend/http-endpoints/migrate/migrate-from-http-functions-to-http-endpoints.md) or [web methods](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/supported-extensions/backend/http-endpoints/migrate/migrate-from-web-methods-to-http-endpoints.md).

## Manage environment variables

Keep configuration values and secrets, such as API keys, out of your code and access them safely across environments. You can read up on [how environment variables work in the CLI](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/project-development/environment-variables/about-environment-variables-in-the-cli.md), then [add and manage your own](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/project-development/environment-variables/manage-environment-variables-in-the-cli.md).

## Test and monitor

Validate your code as you build by [writing unit tests for your project](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/project-development/test-and-monitor/write-unit-tests-for-a-wix-cli-project.md), and run them automatically on every pull request by [integrating the CLI into your CI/CD pipeline](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/project-development/cd-workflows.md). Once your app is live, [connect it to Sentry](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/project-development/test-and-monitor/monitor-your-cli-app-with-sentry.md) to track errors and performance in production.

## Build and deploy

When your app is ready, [build its assets, create shareable previews, and release a version](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/project-development/build-and-deploy-a-project-with-the-wix-cli.md) for distribution.

## See also

- [About the Wix CLI](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/about-the-wix-cli.md)
- [Quick Start a Wix CLI App](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/get-started/quick-start-a-wix-cli-app.md)
- [About Extensions in the Wix CLI](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/frameworks/wix-cli/supported-extensions/about-extensions-in-the-wix-cli.md)
- [Wix CLI Command Reference](https://dev.wix.com/docs/wix-cli/command-reference/introduction.md)