# Introduction (/introduction)

Build, deploy, and manage AI agents in a shared workspace.

![Sim Chat summarizing shipped and planned work beside the release tracker table.](/static/introduction/platform.webp)

## Start building \[#choose-how-to-build]

[Start with Chat](/chat)

Describe a task and build with Sim.

[Use the workflow builder](/workflows)

Connect blocks, test each step, and deploy.

[Build with the API](/api-reference/getting-started)

Create resources and run workflows from your application.

You can start in Chat and refine the same workflow in the builder. On self-hosted deployments, Chat depends on the deployment's configuration and can be disabled.

Follow [Getting started](/getting-started) to build and run your first workflow.

## Your workspace \[#workspace-resources]

A workspace holds the resources your team and agents use:

| Resource | Purpose |
| - | - |
| **[Workflows](/workflows)** | Executable logic made of connected blocks. Use Agent blocks for model reasoning and tools for actions such as sending email or querying an API. |
| **[Tables](/tables)** | Structured rows that workflows can read, update, and process. |
| **[Files](/files)** | Documents and media you upload, create, and share with agents. |
| **[Knowledge bases](/knowledgebase)** | Searchable documents. Retrieve relevant passages for an agent to use in its answers. |
| **[Logs](/logs-debugging)** | Run records and block inputs, outputs, errors, timing, and costs. |

[Deploy a workflow](/workflows/deployment) to make it available through an API, a chat interface, or an MCP server. MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets AI applications discover and call tools exposed by a server.

## Models and integrations \[#models-and-integrations]

Find supported services in the [integration catalog](/integrations). Add them as workflow blocks or tools an Agent can call.

For tools outside the catalog, connect an [external MCP server](/agents/mcp) or create a [custom tool](/agents/custom-tools). Configure the credentials and permissions each service requires.

## Choose a deployment \[#choose-a-deployment]

- **Sim Cloud:** Sign in at [sim.ai](https://www.sim.ai) to use the managed service.
- **Self-hosted:** Run Sim on your infrastructure with [Docker Compose](/platform/self-hosting/docker) or [Kubernetes](/platform/self-hosting/kubernetes). You can connect local models through Ollama or vLLM. Chat and external integrations can still require network access.

The core source is available on [GitHub](https://github.com/simstudioai/sim) under the Apache 2.0 license. Enterprise features use a separate license that requires an active Enterprise subscription for production use. See [self-hosting](/platform/self-hosting) for installation requirements and configuration.

## Related docs \[#related-docs]

- [Getting started](/getting-started): Build and run a simple summarizer.
- [Chat](/chat): Build and manage workspace resources conversationally.
- [Workflows](/workflows): Blocks, connections, triggers, and execution.
- [Quick reference](/quick-reference): Look up builder actions.