> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lstack.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Project runtimes

> Configure, build, start, and inspect the software represented by an LStack project.

Project runtimes let LStack manage the software represented by a project. Runtime configuration is separate from AI worker execution: a project may have a runtime even when no worker is active.

## Runtime modes

| Mode      | Use case                                                         |
| --------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `cli`     | Run a command and capture its output and exit status             |
| `service` | Manage a long-running local service                              |
| `site`    | Run a web application with a browser-facing URL and health check |
| `stack`   | Manage a multi-service Docker Compose application                |

## Build sources

Container-backed runtimes can use a project Dockerfile, a prebuilt image, or a Compose configuration. The dashboard exposes build, start, stop, restart, rebuild, health, and log operations appropriate to the configured mode.

<Info>
  Docker is required for container-backed runtimes. `stack` mode also requires Docker Compose v2.
</Info>

## Templates

Runtime templates provide starting configurations for common project types. Applying a template updates runtime configuration only; it does not create a ticket or automatically ask a worker to change the project.