Getting Started with Studio: Build Your First Plugin

Last updated: October 25, 2026

Introduction

Studio lets clinical and operations teams build custom Canvas plugins using plain language. Simply describe what you want to create, and Studio helps you build, test, and deploy it.

This guide walks you through creating your first Studio project, step by step.

Tip: When in doubt, ask Studio!

Not sure what a button does, how to build something, or why something happened? Just ask in the Studio chat. Studio can answer questions and guide you through the process, so you can keep working without leaving Studio to search for help.

Getting Started

Open Studio. Sign in at platform.canvasmedical.com and select Studio › All projects in the sidebar.

Don’t see Studio? Ask your Organization admin for the Studio user role.

The two screens you'll use. Studio has just two views:

  • Overview: Displays all your projects as tiles, with one tile per plugin. Use the chat on the right to ask questions about Studio, such as “How do I get started?”, “What does this button do?”, or “What can I build?”

  • Project: Opens when you select a project. The left side shows your progress through the build process, while the right side is where you work with Studio. Documents created during the project, such as the User Plan and Technical Plan, appear in tabs at the top of the chat.

How a project moves

Every plugin moves through five stages:

Discovery → Build → Test → Review → Publish

You control when the project advances. Studio's AI assistant completes the work at each stage, then waits for you to approve moving forward.

You can also share projects with colleagues, giving them view-only or editing access.

For full detail on every screen and feature, see the Studio Reference Guide. If you manage Studio for your organization, see the Studio Admin Guide.

Step 1: Create a Project

Each Studio project creates one plugin. Start a new project for each plugin you want to build.

  1. From the Overview screen, create a new project.

  2. Give your project a descriptive name, such as "Overdue Follow-Up Reminder."

  3. Studio opens your project and asks what you'd like to build.

Step 2: Describe Your Plugin (Discovery)

During Discovery, you'll work with Studio to define what your plugin should do.

  1. Describe your idea. Explain what you want the plugin to accomplish and who will use it. No technical knowledge is required.

  2. Answer Studio's questions. Studio guides you through a series of questions to clarify your requirements. Use Back and Next to navigate, then Review your answers before submitting.

  3. Choose where your plugin shows up in Canvas. Studio will ask which part of Canvas the plugin lives in (for example, the patient chart or a background task). This determines how the plugin integrates with your workflow.

  4. Review your plans. Studio generates two documents, available in tabs above the chat:

    • User Plan: A plain-language summary of what your plugin will do.

    • Technical Plan: Details about how Studio will build it.

Review the User Plan to confirm it matches your expectations. If something needs to change, tell Studio in the chat. When you're satisfied, click Approve Plan & Start Building.

Step 3: Build and Configure Your Plugin (Build)

Studio builds your plugin automatically. You can follow its progress in the chat. Depending on your plugin, you may need to complete two actions:

  1. Fill in any settings it needs. If your plugin needs additional information, such as a web address or API key, a Configuration Required panel appears on the left. Each field includes instructions explaining what to enter and where to find it.

  2. Deploy for testing. Once the plugin is built and any required settings are filled in, a Deploy Now for Testing button appears in the timeline. Click it to put your plugin on your Canvas instance so you can try it.

Step 4: Test and Refine Your Plugin (Test & Iterate)

Testing helps confirm your plugin works as expected before publishing.

  1. Watch the deploy chip. After you click deploy, a small status chip appears in the chat and moves through Deploying… → Verifying… → Deployed (or Deploy failed, which you can click to see details).

  2. Complete the Testing Checklist. Studio runs automated checks and provides a checklist for you to test the remaining functionality in Canvas. Mark each test as Passed, Failed, or Skipped.

  1. Request changes as needed. If something doesn't work as expected, describe the issue in the chat. Studio can update the plugin and redeploy it for another round of testing.

  2. Check monitoring status. The status indicator below the chat input shows whether Studio is monitoring your plugin's activity. If monitoring stops, click Restart so Studio can continue tracking activity and troubleshooting issues.

You can repeat testing and make adjustments until the plugin meets your needs. Once all tests are marked Passed or Skipped, click Confirm Successful Testing.

Step 5: Review and Publish Your Plugin

Before publishing, Studio prepares a final summary of your plugin.

  1. Review the summary. Confirm the plugin meets your requirements. Pay special attention to the Before You Go Live section, which highlights important considerations before release.

  2. Publish or promote your plugin. The available action depends on the release process configured by your Studio Admin:

    • Direct release: Select Publish to {target} to release the plugin to the specified Canvas environment.

    • Gated release: Select Promote to {repo} to send the plugin through your organization's review process.

    • Release not configured: If no release strategy is available, ask your Studio Admin to complete the setup before proceeding.

For more information, see Publishing and updating Studio Plugins.

Additional Tips

  • Share screenshots or files: Attach images or documents in the chat to help Studio understand your requirements or troubleshoot an issue.

  • Pause or queue messages: Use the stop button to interrupt Studio while it's working. Messages entered while Studio is busy are queued until it finishes.

  • Resume a project: Studio saves your work automatically. Return to the Overview screen and use search or filters to find and reopen your project.

  • Collaborate with colleagues: Share your project with other Canvas users and grant view-only or editing access.

Configuration & Set Up

  • Your Canvas team must enable Studio for your organization.

  • Your Organization Admin must assign you the Studio user role in Canvas Platform.

FAQ & Troubleshooting

Q: Do I need to know how to code?

A: No. Describe what you want to build in plain language, and Studio handles the technical work.

Q: Can I build more than one plugin?

A: Yes. Create a separate Studio project for each plugin.

Q: Can a coworker help me on the same project?

A: Yes. Project owners can share projects with other Canvas users and grant view-only or editing access.

Q: What happens when I click Publish?

A: It depends on your organization's release settings. Studio may publish the plugin directly to a Canvas environment or send it through your team's review process. See "Publishing and updating Studio Plugins."

Q: I don't see a Publish button at all.

A: Your organization may not have configured a release strategy. Contact your Studio Admin for assistance.

Q: What if my deployment fails?

A: Deployment failures can happen during development. Studio can review the error and help troubleshoot the issue. If needed, describe the problem in the chat and ask Studio to fix it.

Q: Will I lose my work if I close Studio?

A: No. Your project, chat history, and plans are saved automatically. Reopen the project from the Overview screen to continue.

Next: Studio Reference Guide · Testing and deployment in Studio · Publishing and updating Studio plugins