## Stripe Apps: Building and Managing Applications

This documentation set provides comprehensive guidance on developing, deploying, and managing applications within the Stripe ecosystem. It covers the entire lifecycle of a Stripe App, from initial setup and design to advanced features, distribution, and maintenance.

### Key Areas of Focus:

*   **Getting Started with Stripe Apps:** Learn the fundamental concepts and begin building your first app. This includes understanding how Stripe Apps work, creating an app, and exploring common use cases.
*   **Development and Design:** Dive into the technical aspects of building your app. This includes adding server-side logic, building user interfaces with UI extensions, leveraging UI components, and adhering to design patterns for a consistent and intuitive user experience.
*   **Authentication and Authorization:** Securely connect your app to Stripe and external services. Explore different API authentication methods, implement authorization flows, and manage sensitive data with the Secret Store API.
*   **App Configuration and Management:** Configure various aspects of your app, such as enabling sandbox support, handling different operating modes, and setting up app settings pages.
*   **Distribution and Deployment:** Learn how to make your app available to users. This includes understanding distribution options, publishing to the Stripe App Marketplace, and managing app versions and releases.
*   **Testing and Debugging:** Ensure your app functions correctly through various testing strategies and utilize developer tools for a smoother development process.
*   **Migration:** If you have existing legacy extensions, this section provides guidance on migrating them to the modern Stripe Apps platform.
*   **Reference and Best Practices:** Access detailed references for app manifests, CLI commands, permissions, and UI extension SDKs. Explore design patterns and quality requirements to ensure your app meets Stripe's standards.

### Core Concepts:

*   **Stripe Apps:** The primary platform for extending Stripe's functionality and integrating with third-party services. Apps can be distributed privately or published on the Stripe App Marketplace.
*   **UI Extensions:** Allow developers to embed custom user interfaces directly within the Stripe Dashboard, enhancing user experience and providing interactive elements.
*   **API Authentication:** Various methods are available to authenticate requests to the Stripe API on behalf of users, including Platform keys, OAuth 2.0, and Restricted API Keys (RAKs).
*   **App Manifest (`stripe-app.json`):** A configuration file that describes how your app integrates with the Stripe platform, including permissions, authentication types, and redirect URIs.
*   **Stripe Apps CLI:** A command-line interface tool to help create, develop, configure, and upload your Stripe apps.
*   **UI Components:** A library of pre-built, customizable components that adhere to Stripe's design system, enabling consistent and accessible user interfaces.

This documentation set is designed for developers looking to integrate their services with Stripe or build custom solutions within the Stripe Dashboard.