Skip to content

Getting Started

Start here if you are new to the Polkadot Products Devnet. This section helps you choose the right path: trying the Polkadot app as a user, or building a Product that runs inside it.

This is a devnet

The Polkadot Products Devnet is a preview environment. Devnet tokens have no real value, on-chain state may be reset, and platform behaviour and interfaces may change without notice. Do not use it to hold anything of value.

Choose your path

  • For users

    Install the Polkadot app or open the web gateway at dev-dot.li. From there you can create a devnet account, get funds, and open apps already published on the network.

    Start using the platform →

  • For developers

    Build a web app, register a .dot name, publish it to the Devnet, and use platform services such as accounts, signing, chains, contracts, and storage through the Product SDK.

    Start building →

What this Devnet lets you try

The Devnet connects the user app, naming, app delivery, and developer tooling into one public preview:

  • Use the Polkadot app with an on-device account, a People Chain username, chat, and devnet payments.
  • Use Products through .dot addresses, either in the app or through the web gateway at dev-dot.li.
  • Publish your own Product as a static web app and bind it to a .dot name so others can open it the same way.

Getting test funds

Devnet accounts are funded from the Polkadot faucet; some app builds can also fund new accounts automatically. The tokens carry no value, but you still need them for fees and app flows.

How it fits together

The main idea is simple: a user opens a .dot name, the platform resolves that name to an app bundle, and the app runs in a host that provides the wallet and chain services.

flowchart LR
  U[User in the Polkadot app or web gateway] --> N[".dot name"]
  N --> R[DotNS resolves the name to content]
  R --> A[App bundle fetched and sandboxed]
  A --> S[Platform services: accounts, signing, chains, storage]

For the deeper model, read the architecture overview.

Learn more