> [Agent navigation index](/llms.txt)

# Application types

Brix supports full-stack Hono and Preact applications, browser-only managed React applications, and integrations with independently hosted applications. Choose the runtime and ownership model before following the rest of the guides.

## Full-stack Preact

Use `brix create app <name>` for server-rendered pages, Hono API routes, Preact islands, HTML fragments, and managed Panda styling. This is the application model used by the [pages](/docs/pages), [islands](/docs/islands), and [server](/docs/server) guides. Only interactive islands ship component JavaScript to the browser.

## Build a managed application

[Create a managed React SPA or Contentful App, use the Brix runtime, and understand its browser-only boundary.](/docs/react-managed)

Use `brix create react-app <name>` for a React SPA or `brix create contentful-app <name>` for a Contentful App SDK and Forma 36 project. These applications do not use Hono routes, Preact islands, Panda, or managed Storybook. Their production output is a browser bundle.

## Integrate an external host

[Adopt an existing React project into a workspace without replacing its build system.](/docs/react-external)

An external application retains its own runtime and lifecycle commands. It can consume shared contracts and libraries through declared direct dependencies. See [external workspace applications](/docs/workspaces-external) for other hosts and cross-origin integration.