Quickstart
Get Started
docker compose.To launch with the default configuration in one command, pipe the quick-start compose file into Docker Compose:
curl -fL https://docs.monospace.io/quick-start | docker compose -f - up
This starts the same services as the compose file in step 1, in the foreground. Once Monospace is running, skip to Access the Studio UI.
Configure Docker Compose
Create a docker-compose.yaml file with your Monospace configuration. This example sets up:
- Monospace — the application
- PostgreSQL — system database
- RabbitMQ — event bus for email delivery and, in clustered mode, metadata sync between replicas
- Redis — query result cache
Start the Services
Launch all services using Docker Compose:
docker compose up -d
Wait for all containers to start (this may take 1-2 minutes on first run).
Verify services are running:
docker compose ps
MONOSPACE_LICENSE__KEY and restart. See Licensing.Access the Studio UI
Once all services are running, access the Monospace Studio interface:
Studio UI: http://localhost:8100
A fresh instance has no users, so Studio opens onboarding instead of a sign-in page. Create the first administrator account:
- Full Name
- Password
Accept the End User License Agreement, then click Continue. Studio signs you in and moves on to creating your first workspace.

Create Your First Workspace
Your organization is the top-level tenant. Within an organization you have workspaces that contain your schemas and data source connections.
Onboarding asks for your first workspace:
- Workspace Name — the name shown in Studio
- Workspace URL — the slug in the workspace's Studio and API URLs, filled in from the name
- Workspace Logo — optional
Click Continue to create the workspace.

Configure a Data Source
Onboarding then asks you to add a data source. Every workspace includes a built-in PostgreSQL data source, Workspace Database, which is enough for local development. Click I'll do this later to skip this screen.

To connect an existing database instead, click Add Data Source, choose a connector, and enter the connection details. Connecting multiple databases to a single workspace is a core capability of the platform.

To add more data sources later, go to Data Model > Data Sources and click Add Source.
The last onboarding screen, Connect to your workspace, shows how to connect to the workspace over MCP, the SDK, or REST. Click Finish setup to open the workspace.
Configure a Collection
Navigate to Data Model to view your Collections. If you connected an existing database, the collections you imported already appear there thanks to Database Introspection.
Each collection has tabs for managing Columns, Relations, and other configuration.

To create a new collection, click Add Collection and specify a name.

Once created, you can add fields to define the shape of your data.

Manage Your Data
Head to the Content module to browse, create, and edit items within your collections.

Next Steps
Now you're up and running with the basics. Explore the platform further:
- Organization Hierarchy — Understand the hierarchy of organizations, workspaces, and data sources
- Data Model — Define collections, columns, and relationships across your data sources
- Data Connectors — Connect additional databases
- Access & Permissions — Control who can access and modify your data