> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://archie.com/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Overview > Build, extend, and integrate with apps you ship on Archie. The Developers tab covers the technical surface of Archie — APIs, custom functions, data access, integrations, environments, and GitHub workflow. This is for engineers building or extending Archie-generated apps directly in code. If you are looking for product-level documentation (blueprints, building, deployment), see the [Introduction tab](/introduction/getting-started/welcome). ## The Backend Console The Backend Console is the central command center for your application's server-side logic, data architecture, and infrastructure. It provides a unified interface to manage your database, explore your auto-generated APIs, and configure essential application services. ### Data Model The **Data Model** is the foundation of your application. Define the structure of your database without writing complex migration scripts. * **Tables:** Create and manage database tables (e.g., `users`, `audit_events`) to store your application records. * **Schema & Fields:** Define specific data types (Text, Number, Date, UUID) and configure relationships between tables. * **Views & Data Types:** Create SQL Views for complex data aggregation and define reusable Data Types (Enums) to standardize values across your schema. See [Data → Data Model](/features/backend/data-model/overview). ### GraphQL API Explorer The **GraphQL API Explorer** is an integrated GraphiQL environment that allows you to interact directly with your application's API. * **Auto-generated API:** The system automatically generates GraphQL Queries, Mutations, and Subscriptions based on your Data Model. * **Composer:** A visual tool to build queries by simply clicking fields, eliminating the need to type syntax manually. * **Documentation:** Access real-time, inline documentation for your schema to understand available fields and arguments. See [APIs → API Explorer](/features/backend/graphql-api-explorer/overview). ### REST API Explorer The **REST API Explorer** provides a comprehensive Swagger UI environment to test and interact with your auto-generated RESTful endpoints. * **Standardized endpoints:** Instantly test GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE operations for all your data models without any manual setup. * **Interactive testing:** Execute API requests directly from the browser, passing parameters, headers, and request bodies easily. * **OpenAPI documentation:** Access fully detailed OpenAPI (Swagger) documentation that automatically stays in sync with your data schema. See [APIs → REST API Explorer](/features/backend/rest-api-explorer/overview). ### SQL Playground For advanced data operations, the **SQL Playground** provides a raw SQL editor. * **Direct access:** Execute standard SQL queries (`SELECT`, `JOIN`, etc.) directly against your database tables. * **Debugging:** Ideal for testing complex logic or debugging data issues that are difficult to trace via the GraphQL API. See [Data → SQL Playground](/features/backend/sql-playground). ### Integrations Extend the capabilities of your application by connecting third-party services via the **Integrations** module. * **Communication:** Connect **Slack** or **Twilio** for messaging. * **Email:** Configure **SendGrid** for transactional emails. * **Payments:** Integrate **Stripe** for processing payments. * **E-commerce:** Integrate **Shopify** for managing your online store and products. See [Integrations → Overview](/features/backend/integrations/overview). ### App Services App Services manage the core infrastructure components required for a modern application: * **File Manager:** Configure storage providers like AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage, Filestack, or Azure Blob Storage to handle user uploads and file assets. * **Authentication Providers:** Set up secure login methods using the built-in Archie Auth, or external providers like Auth0, Google, AWS Cognito, or standard API Tokens. * **Roles (RBAC):** Define Role-Based Access Control to manage permissions and restrict what different users (e.g., Admin, Customer) can see or do. > **Note:** Authentication providers, gateway routes, file storage providers, and roles are all configured **per environment**. This guarantees isolation and allows you to maintain independent configurations for development, testing, and production. ### Environments The **Environments** feature provides Git-like branching for your entire backend, enabling isolated development, testing, and staging workflows. * **Branch:** Create new environments by cloning an existing one's database (full data or schema-only). * **Isolate:** Each environment has its own database, roles, providers, and API configuration. * **Diff:** Compare schemas between environments to see exactly what changed (tables, columns, indexes, enums, views, relationships). * **Copy configuration:** Optionally copy file providers, gateway routes, security settings, and environment variables when branching. See [Environments → Overview](/features/backend/environments/overview). ### Settings The **Settings** menu controls the global configuration and security of your project: * **API Keys:** Generate and manage API keys to allow external applications to securely connect to your backend. * **Environment Variables:** Store sensitive configuration values (like secret keys or external URLs) securely as key-value pairs. * **Network:** Configure CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) policies and set Rate Limits to protect your API from abuse. See [APIs → API Keys](/features/backend/settings/api-keys) and [Environments → Configuration](/features/backend/environments/configuration). ## What is here * **[Data Model](/features/backend/data-model/overview)** — tables, fields, relationships, views * **[GraphQL API Explorer](/features/backend/graphql-api-explorer/overview)** — auto-generated GraphQL surface * **[REST API Explorer](/features/backend/rest-api-explorer/overview)** — auto-generated REST surface * **[Custom functions](/features/backend/custom-functions/overview)** — server-side handlers * **[App Services](/features/backend/app-services/overview)** — auth providers, RBAC, file manager, custom APIs * **[Integrations](/features/backend/integrations/overview)** — Stripe, SendGrid, webhooks, custom integrations * **[Environments](/features/backend/environments/overview)** — branching, diff, merge, backups * **[Settings](/features/backend/settings/api-keys)** — API keys, environment variables, network policy * **[GitHub](/features/github/connecting)** — repository linking and code export ## Voice and assumptions These pages assume you read code, run a terminal, and understand HTTP, REST, GraphQL, and your project's stack. Where Archie's generator produces code, examples show actual file paths and call signatures.