---
title: "Start from a blank codebase"
description: "Open a draft canvas with no repository behind it and turn it into a GitHub project later."
url: https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/15-start-from-a-blank-codebase
collection: "Set up your codebase"
updated: 2026-10-28
language: en
---

# Start from a blank codebase

Open a draft canvas with no repository behind it and turn it into a GitHub project later.

A blank codebase gives you a draft: a canvas with an empty page running in a Portal and no repository behind it. Use it to sketch before there is a project to connect, or to try the agents without touching your team's code.

## Steps

1.  Click **Add Codebase** in the sidebar. Codebase Setup opens with **Connect a New Codebase**.
    
2.  Under **Blank codebase**, click **Design on a blank canvas. Turn it into a GitHub project whenever you're ready.**
    
    ![The Blank codebase option at the bottom of the Connect a New Codebase card, highlighted](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/p6a1872808f187689a3937fa3/782wudNm11OKCrWb4oUZ2PtecfAna40CRMhCCrAiVpo49j2xdk7AMapenHVCyLKyr3hboA7okKW.png)

A canvas named **Untitled** opens with one Portal, **Codebase**, showing an empty page. The canvas is listed under **Drafts** in the sidebar, next to the demo canvas. **New Draft** on that page creates another one.

## Turn the draft into a GitHub project

When the design should live in a repository, click the GitHub button left of **Share** in the canvas header. In **Create a GitHub project**, fill in a **Name**, choose whether it is a **Public repository**, and click **Create**.

![The draft canvas with the GitHub button in the header highlighted](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/p6a1872808f187689a3937fa3/o3xQ8SrszuctdENaJK9dIinoDuD3zYXztjmjWB5dUhFMR3Jeobc6lq0ELnK40I3MQChD57paPbV.png)

## If it does not work

-   **The Portal stays black**: the page is still starting. It turns white after a few seconds.
    

## Related

-   [Connect a GitHub repository](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/11-connect-a-github-repository.md)
    
-   [Upload a codebase as a zip](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/16-upload-a-codebase-as-a-zip.md)
    
-   [Start your first session](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/9-your-first-session.md)

## Related

- [Connect a GitHub repository](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/11-connect-a-github-repository.md)
- [Upload a codebase as a zip](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/16-upload-a-codebase-as-a-zip.md)
- [What happens during setup](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/17-what-happens-during-setup.md)
- [Answer Auto-setup's questions](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/10-answer-auto-setup-s-questions.md)
- [Review and verify the setup config](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/14-review-and-verify-the-setup-config.md)