> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.skarmy.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Read the live preview

> What the preview pane is showing you, what each of its messages means, and how to wake it when it sleeps.

The preview pane on the right of the workspace shows your app running live. It reloads itself as the Builder works, so you watch each change land.

## What the preview is

The preview is a private, running copy of your app, for you, while you work. It is not the address you share.

|                  | Preview               | Published site        |
| ---------------- | --------------------- | --------------------- |
| Who can see it   | You, in the workspace | Anyone with the link  |
| Address          | Temporary             | `yourname.skarmy.ai`  |
| Updates          | As the Builder works  | Only when you publish |
| Sleeps when idle | Yes                   | No                    |

To get a shareable link, see [Publish your site](/publish/publish-your-site).

## What each message means

The preview is honest about its state instead of showing a blank frame. The small status pill above the pane and the message inside it tell you where things stand.

| Message                                                             | What is happening                                     | What to do                                                               |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `the team is building. The preview appears the moment it's running` | The Builder is setting up your first build.           | Wait. It appears on its own.                                             |
| `preview starting…`                                                 | The app is coming up. Normal at the start of a build. | Wait a few seconds.                                                      |
| `this session is asleep`                                            | The machine idled out between turns. Expected.        | Select **Wake preview**, or send your next message.                      |
| `waking the preview, back in a few seconds`                         | The machine is starting again.                        | Wait.                                                                    |
| `no live preview`                                                   | The build settled without a running app.              | Ask for a change to keep building, or publish.                           |
| `preview ended`                                                     | This build's preview has wound down.                  | Send a message to keep working.                                          |
| `this session has ended`                                            | The session is finished.                              | Select **Start fresh** to begin a new one.                               |
| `this session errored, no preview`                                  | The session ended with an error.                      | Select **Start fresh**. See [Troubleshooting](/account/troubleshooting). |

## Sleeping and waking

Between turns the machine running your app goes to sleep. This is deliberate: an idle machine still costs credits, so Skarmy stops it rather than billing you to watch nothing.

Waking takes seconds. Either:

* Select **Wake preview**, or
* Just send your next message — sending wakes it automatically.

<Note>
  Sleeping never loses work. Your files are restored into the new machine when it wakes.
</Note>

## Controls

| Control             | What it does                                         |
| ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| **Refresh preview** | Reloads the preview frame. Useful if it looks stale. |
| Open in new tab     | Opens the running app full-screen in its own tab.    |

Both are only active while a preview is actually live.

## Check it on a phone

The Builder is instructed to make what it builds hold up on a phone, but you should check. Open the preview in a new tab and narrow the window, or open that tab on your phone.

If something looks wrong at a narrow width, say so in the conversation:

```text theme={null}
The workshop schedule is cramped on mobile — give it more room.
```

## Verify

* The preview shows your app, not a status message.
* Changes you asked for appear within a few seconds of the Builder reporting them.
* The layout holds up when you narrow the window.

## Troubleshooting

| Problem                              | Fix                                                                                |
| ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Preview shows an old version         | Select **Refresh preview**.                                                        |
| Preview stuck on `preview starting…` | Reload the page. See [Troubleshooting](/account/troubleshooting).                  |
| Preview keeps sleeping               | Normal between turns. It wakes on your next message.                               |
| Preview looks broken mid-build       | The Builder usually fixes its own breakage. If it persists, describe what you see. |

## Next

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Publish your site" icon="globe" href="/publish/publish-your-site">
    Turn this into a link you can send.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Session states" icon="list-check" href="/account/session-states">
    Every state a session can be in.
  </Card>
</Columns>