getting-started.md

copyright	lastupdated	keywords	subcollection
years 2020, 2024	2024-08-13	app-configuration, app configuration, getting started, getting started with app configuration	app-configuration

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Getting started with {{site.data.keyword.appconfig_short}}

{: #getting-started}

{{site.data.keyword.appconfig_full}} is a centralized feature management and configuration service for use with web and mobile applications, microservices, and distributed environments. Instrument your applications with {{site.data.keyword.appconfig_short}} SDKs, and use the {{site.data.keyword.appconfig_short}} dashboard or {{site.data.keyword.appconfig_short}} administrator API to define features flags or properties, which are organized into collections and targeted to segments. Change feature flag states in the cloud to activate or deactivate features in your application or environment, often without restarting. You can also manage the properties for distributed applications centrally. {{site.data.keyword.appconfig_short}} also provides the option to enable or disable configuration aggregation. It facilitates a Cloud Governance SME with up-to-date configuration data of IBM Cloud resources in one place so that comprehensive information is available for governance and compliance initiatives. {: shortdesc}

{{site.data.keyword.appconfig_short}} currently offers four pricing plans: Lite, Basic, Standard, and Enterprise.

You need an {{site.data.keyword.cloud}} account. If you don't have an account, create one here{: external}. Log in to your {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} account. {: note}

The basic steps that get you started:

1. Create an {{site.data.keyword.appconfig_short}} service instance

2. Create a collection

3. Integrate {{site.data.keyword.appconfig_short}} service SDKs

4. Create segments

5. Target feature flags to segments or Target properties to segments

6. Target collections to feature flags or Target collections to properties

7. Enable feature flag (ON/OFF).

8. Enable Configuration Aggregator (ON/OFF).