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Getting Started · 5 min · Beginner

Getting Started with SparkCloud

A 5-minute orientation: what SparkCloud is, what you can build on it, and how billing works.

SparkCloud is a small, focused cloud platform for the things developers actually deploy: Linux containers, in-browser dev environments (Spaces), Postgres databases, static sites (Tiles), and a CDN. Everything is billed in a single virtual currency called credits.

What you can run

  • Containers — long-running Linux servers with SSH access. Use them for backends, bots, game servers, or anything you would normally SSH into.
  • Spaces — full VS Code in your browser, on a real Linux box. Just name it, click open, and code from anywhere.
  • Databases — managed Postgres with snapshot backups.
  • Tiles — static websites with custom domains, SEO tags, and optional password gates. No node or container required.
  • CDN — drop files into a bucket, get a private URL.
  • AI — chat completions and an OpenAI-compatible API surface.

How billing works

Every node service runs on one Dynamic plan — a single flat rate per hour, with CPU and RAM that fluctuate to your workload (no tiers to pick). Dynamic resources are metered per minute and only while they are actually awake — sleeping and hibernated resources cost nothing. Persistent (always-on) resources bill every hour whether or not anything is using them. When your balance hits zero, resources freeze rather than being deleted — top up and they unfreeze automatically.

Your first 10 minutes

  1. Top up credits (or redeem a voucher) so you have a balance.
  2. Create a container or a space.
  3. Wait ~30 seconds for it to provision.
  4. SSH in (containers) or click Open (spaces).
  5. When you're done, hibernate to stop the meter.