# Quick start

1. Visit the [NGI Forge web UI](https://ngi.nixos.org) in your browser.
2. Browse the list of available applications.
3. Choose an application and click the **Run** button.
4. Follow the instructions to launch the application using your preferred runtime:
   - **Program** — launch a single CLI or GUI program
   - **Shell** — enter a shell environment with CLI or GUI programs
   - **Container** — run application services in OCI containers
   - **NixOS VM** — run application services in a NixOS virtual machine

Before running applications, make sure the [prerequisites](prerequisites.md) are met.

To install an application on a physical or virtual machine, click the
**Deploy** button and follow the [deployment](deployment.md) instructions.