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

# Devset Quickstart: Run and Connect a Broker in 5 Minutes

> Install Devset with Docker, connect a Kafka or RabbitMQ broker, send your first message, and run your first workflow — all in under 5 minutes.

This guide walks you through the fastest path to a working Devset setup. By the end you'll have Devset running locally, connected to a broker, and you'll have dispatched your first message and executed your first workflow.

<Note>
  All data you create in Devset — connector configurations, schemas, and workflow definitions — is persisted in the Docker volume `devset-data`. Removing the container without removing the volume keeps your data intact.
</Note>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start Devset with Docker">
    Run the following command to pull the latest Devset image and start the container. The `-v devset-data:/data` flag mounts a named volume so your data survives container restarts.

    ```bash theme={null}
    docker run -p 8082:8082 -v devset-data:/data ghcr.io/devset-io/devset-ce:latest
    ```

    Wait for the log output to show the application has started. You'll see a Spring Boot startup banner followed by a line indicating the server is listening on port `8082`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the Devset UI">
    Open your browser and navigate to:

    ```
    http://localhost:8082
    ```

    The Devset frontend is served directly by the backend — there's no separate process to start. You should see the Devset home screen immediately.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect your first broker">
    Before you can dispatch messages or run workflows, you need to register at least one broker connector.

    1. Click **Settings** in the left sidebar.
    2. Select **Kafka Connectors** or **RabbitMQ Connectors** depending on your broker.
    3. Click **Add Connector** and fill in the connection details.

    **Example Kafka connector values:**

    ```
    Name:             local-kafka
    Bootstrap Server: localhost:9092
    ```

    **Example RabbitMQ connector values:**

    ```
    Name:     local-rabbit
    Host:     localhost
    Port:     5672
    Username: guest
    Password: guest
    Vhost:    /
    ```

    4. Click **Save**. Devset will test the connection and display a confirmation when it succeeds.

    <Tip>
      If your broker is running inside Docker, use `host.docker.internal` instead of `localhost` so Devset can reach it from inside its own container.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send your first message">
    With a connector in place, you can dispatch a single message using **Message Dispatch** — Devset's Postman-style message sender.

    1. Click **Message Dispatch** in the left sidebar.
    2. Select your connector from the dropdown.
    3. For Kafka, enter a **Topic** name. For RabbitMQ, enter an **Exchange** and optional **Routing Key**.
    4. Type a JSON payload in the message body editor:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "event": "user.signed_up",
      "userId": "u_01J9XZ",
      "timestamp": "2024-11-01T10:00:00Z"
    }
    ```

    5. Click **Send**. Devset dispatches the message to your broker and shows a success confirmation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Build your first workflow">
    Workflows let you compose and replay sequences of messages as a single executable scenario.

    1. Click **Flow Builder** in the left sidebar.
    2. Click **New Workflow** and give it a name.
    3. Drag a **Publish** stage onto the canvas from the stage palette.
    4. Configure the stage: select your connector, enter a topic, and provide a JSON payload.
    5. Click **Run Workflow**. Devset executes the workflow and streams the results back to the canvas.

    Each stage shows a pass/fail status inline. Open **Workflow Runs** in the sidebar to browse the full execution history.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Flow Builder Guide" icon="diagram-project" href="/guides/flow-builder">
    Learn how to build multi-stage pipelines, use variables, and chain events together on the canvas.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Installation" icon="circle-down" href="/installation">
    Explore Docker Compose setups and building Devset from source for local development.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>