> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.transmuter.3mergen.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connecting Cloud Accounts

> Set up the cloud services where your product will live -- GitHub, Vercel, and Convex.

Before Transmuter can build and deploy your product, you need to connect three cloud accounts. These are the services where your product's code, hosting, and database will live -- and you own all of them.

<Note>
  All three services offer free tiers that are sufficient for getting started. You will not need to
  pay anything to these services during development. Costs only apply when your product gets real
  traffic.
</Note>

## Why do I need these accounts?

Transmuter does not lock your product into our platform. Instead, your product lives on industry-standard services that you control:

| Service    | What it does              | Why you need it                                                                          |
| ---------- | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **GitHub** | Stores your code securely | Like a vault for your product's source code. You can access, modify, or move it anytime. |
| **Vercel** | Hosts your product online | Makes your product fast and available to users worldwide. Handles traffic automatically. |
| **Convex** | Powers your database      | Stores your product's data (users, content, transactions) with real-time updates.        |

## The Cloud Setup Wizard

Transmuter guides you through connecting each service step by step. The wizard appears automatically after Tech Discovery, or you can access it from **Settings > Connected Accounts**.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Connect GitHub">
    If you already have a GitHub account, click **Connect GitHub** and authorize Transmuter to create repositories on your behalf.

    If you do not have an account, click **"I need to create one"** and Transmuter opens the signup page in a new tab with instructions. Once you have created your account, come back and connect it.

    <Tip>
      If you use GitHub for work, you can choose whether to create repositories in your personal account or your organization's account.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  {" "}

  <Step title="Connect Vercel">
    Similar to GitHub -- click **Connect Vercel** if you have an account, or create one first. If you
    signed up for GitHub already, you can create your Vercel account with one click using "Sign up
    with GitHub."
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect Convex">
    Convex requires a deploy key instead of an OAuth connection. Transmuter shows you a step-by-step guide (with screenshots) for:

    1. Creating a Convex account (one click if you have GitHub)
    2. Finding your deploy key in the Convex dashboard
    3. Pasting it into Transmuter
  </Step>

  <Step title="Additional services (if needed)">
    Depending on your product's needs (identified during Tech Discovery), Transmuter may ask for additional service credentials -- for example, a Stripe account for payments or a Resend account for emails. Each one comes with step-by-step instructions.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Skipping steps

You can skip any step and come back to it later. However, the building process cannot start until the required services are connected. Your dashboard shows a **"Complete Setup"** banner until all required connections are in place.

## Managing connections

After initial setup, you can manage your connected accounts from **Settings > Connected Accounts**. From there you can:

* Disconnect and reconnect a service (for example, to switch to a different account)
* Check the status of each connection
* Re-authorize if a connection has expired

<Warning>
  Disconnecting a service after your product is deployed does not take your product offline. It only
  means Transmuter cannot push updates to that service until you reconnect.
</Warning>

<Snippet file="support-cta.mdx" />