---
title: Get started with the OCP developer platform
slug: optimizely-connect-platform/docs/get-started-with-the-ocp2-developer-platform
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-23T12:37:04.808Z
---

:::hint{type="info"}
**📘 Important**
To build custom apps for the Optimizely Connect Platform (OCP) **App Directory**, you must be an Optimizely partner or a customer, and your organization must have developer access enabled. Developer access is turned off by default. Contact [Optimizely Support](https://support.optimizely.com/hc/en-us) to enable it for your organization. Until Optimizely enables developer access, the **Developer** role is not available in the **Admin Center**. See [Developer Portal overview](docId\:mAHird1ThWGsH0Z0LJyaN) for information.
:::

To get started building custom apps in the Optimizely Connect Platform (OCP) developer platform, complete the following:

1. Decide which type of app you want to build. See [Plan your app](docId:7hUWxLOUlUd_YjHaL0bPk) for app type selection guidance and prerequisites.
2. Ask an administrator in your organization to grant you the **Developer** role in the **Admin Center** for the OCP instances you work with. See [Developer Portal overview](docId\:mAHird1ThWGsH0Z0LJyaN) for information.
3. Click **Developer Portal** in OCP and select **Generate API Key**. Copy the key and store it securely. See [Developer Portal overview](docId\:mAHird1ThWGsH0Z0LJyaN) for information.
4. [Configure the OCP developer platform command-line interface (CLI)](docId\:TBNojk2UclFnAMYVTs-6h) with your API key to develop, manage, and publish your OCP app.
5. [Register and scaffold an app](docId\:FPLtQed8pujmUTZimRJQy) to create your app project, then [build your app](docId\:ZJxlVTAgqjyerHeR5h9N_) to implement its functionality.

:::hint{type="info"}
**📘 Note**
If you use an AI coding agent such as Claude Code, Cursor, or GitHub Copilot, install the [OCP skill](https://github.com/optimizely/ocp-skills) for accurate, OCP-specific code suggestions and guidance. See the [installation guide](https://github.com/optimizely/ocp-skills#installation).
:::

## Developer accounts and organizations

OCP has two separate levels of access for a partner organization and its customer organization. To build, manage, and publish apps, you need a **Developer** role in a Connect Platform instance. **Developer** roles are only available for organizations with developer access. However, you do not need the **Developer** role to install and manage apps on your customer's organization. With any role in your customer's instance, you can install apps you developed in your own organization. See [Developer Portal overview](docId\:mAHird1ThWGsH0Z0LJyaN) for details.