Clone Make app to local workspace
Please be advised that this feature is in beta, meaning, it may encounter occasional bugs or inconsistencies, so proceed with an awareness of potential functionality limitations.
To start the development of an app in a local directory or git repository, or start tracking changes in your app, you need to clone the Make app to the local workspace.
Open the local folder
First, you need to open the folder where you intend to store the app, in Visual Studio Code.
Below, please, follow the section that corresponds to your development setup and choose:
'Local Directory' if you are working directly on your computer's file system
'Git Repository' if you are using version control with Git
The 'Git Repository' section describes the development in the Git repository using the GitHub Desktop app. Yet it's not obligatory, any preferred GUI tool or CLI can be used.
Local directory
Open Visual Studio Code and navigate to File > Open Folder
In the file manager, choose the folder where the folder with the app should be cloned.
In the pop-up window, click "Yes, I trust the authors" option.
Now, the current local directory in Visual Studio is set.
Git repository using GitHub Desktop app
Navigate to the GitHub Desktop app and open the repository where you intend to store the app.
Click Open in Visual Studio Code button.
In the pop-up window, click "Yes, I trust the authors" option.
Now, the current repository in Visual Studio is set.
Clone the app to the local folder
Once the repository in Visual Studio is set, you can proceed to cloning the app to the local folder.
In the opened window of Visual Studio Code, go to Make Apps Editor and right-click the app you wish to save to your repository. Select Clone to Local Folder (beta).
Read the text in the dialog window and confirm reading by clicking Continue.
Enter the workspace subdirectory name, where the app should be cloned to. If the subdirectory doesn't exist yet, it will be created. The default subdirectory is set to
src. Click Enter.
If you are going to store more than one app in the repository, you can create a subfolder by using the src/app-name path, where the app-name is the name of the app folder.
A dialog window asking whether common data should be included or not will pop up.
Exclude (more secure) - Select, if your app contains sensitive data, such as Client ID and Secret. Common data will not be stored in your local workspace or a repository.
Include (for advanced users only) - Select, if you want to store the common data in your local workspace or a repository. Be aware that storing common data outside of Make could potentially expose the app to vulnerabilities.
The app is now cloned to the local folder.
Start versioning the local app
Versioning is only available if you are using version control with Git.
This manual describes the development in the Git repository using the GitHub Desktop app. Yet it's not obligatory, any preferred GUI tool can be used.
The .secrets file with your Make API keys is only stored in the local folder. By default, the file is excluded from the git versioning.
To properly start the versioning of your app in the git repository, follow the steps below:
Go to the GitHub Desktop app and open the repository where you deployed the current version of your app. You will see a list of new files.
Enter the Summary of the commit and click Commit to main.
Now, the first version of your app is logged. Every new change or a new component in the app will be considered a new change.
Optionally, click Publish branch.
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