Managing vs running

Foundation apps involve two different API surfaces, and mixing them up causes a lot of confusion. Keep them separate.

The management surface — how you configure the app

This is how you (or your agent) set the app up: the dashboard, the MCP management tools, and a REST management API. Same configuration underneath, three ways in. "Enable billing," "add an entity," "deploy" — all happen here.

The runtime surface — what your app exposes

This is what your finished app offers to its own users and their agents: the REST endpoints and MCP server for your entities, actions, and integrations. "List the books," "create an order," "charge this customer" — your app's runtime API, used by the app you built and anyone you grant access.

Why it matters

	Management surface	Runtime surface
Who uses it	You / your building agent	Your app + its users & their agents
What it does	Configures the app	Runs the app's features
Examples	"Enable billing," "add an entity"	"List books," "create an order"

So "configure via REST" (you setting up the app) is a completely different thing from "your app has a REST API" (what you expose to your users). When a doc says API, check which one it means — these docs always make it clear.

That's the whole mental model. From here, pick a capability in Configure, or jump to the Quickstart.