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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). Stopped resources still cost a small amount because they hold disk; hibernated resources cost nothing while asleep. 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.