# Getting started

What Rack Maker does, who it is for, and what you can do with and without an account.

Source: https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/docs/getting-started

## What Rack Maker does

Rack Maker is a free web app for planning homelab and self-hosting racks. You pick a rack, place trays, shelves, printed brackets and devices in it, and Rack Maker keeps the layout honest:

- clearances and fits are checked as you go;
- the bill of materials and a quote build themselves;
- the printed parts come out as STL files.

It runs in your browser. There is nothing to install.

![The editor with a DeskPi RackMate TL1 project: the Parts palette, the rack in 3D, and the details sidebar with its checks](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/docs/shots/editor/overview-light.webp)

*A RackMate TL1 project in the editor. The summary says 2 checks are failing.*

## Who it is for

- **Homelab builders** planning a small rack of mini PCs, switches, routers and power, who want to know it fits before they buy or print anything.
- **DeskPi RackMate owners**, with the TL1 and T0 frames and their printed trays ready to use.
- **Anyone with odd hardware.** If a device is not in the catalog, you can [model it](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/docs/modeler) from its size, a photo or its datasheet.
- **People who share builds.** A project is a link: send it to a friend, or hand out a read-only link.

## What you can use

| Area                             | What it is for                                                                                                 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Projects](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/)                    | Start a project, open one by its id or link, or pick one you opened before.                                    |
| The editor                       | One rack and what is in it, in 3D and as a front elevation. See the [editor guide](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/docs/editor).              |
| [Catalog](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/catalog)              | Every rack, mount, device and printed part Rack Maker knows about. See [the catalog](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/docs/catalog).           |
| [Device modeler](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/catalog/model) | Measure a device or design a part, and get a 3D model with its ports. See [the device modeler](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/docs/modeler). |
| [Credits](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/credits)              | The licence and credits of every model file, and everyone who contributed to the catalog.                      |

## Without an account, and with one

Without an account you can browse the catalog, open any project someone shares with you, edit it, and try the device modeler in your browser.

Creating, copying or importing a project needs an account, and so does keeping what you model. [Accounts and sign-in](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/docs/getting-started/accounts) lists what each needs.

## Where to go next

- [Accounts and sign-in](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/docs/getting-started/accounts)
- [Your first project](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/docs/getting-started/first-project)
- [Concepts](https://rack-maker.cbnsndwch.dev/docs/getting-started/concepts): racks, mounts, devices, projects, revisions, namespaces and licences