---
title: "Initialize the Project"
url: https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/flask/init-project/
description: "Build a Lead Manager application and host it on AppSail. The app connects to your Zoho CRM account using Catalyst connectors, and enables you to view, create, update, or delete leads from the Leads module in your CRM."
last_updated: 2026-10-30T17:47:18Z
service: All Services
type: tutorial
related_links:
  - name: "Catalyst CLI"
    url: /en/cli/v1/cli-command-reference/
  - name: "Initialize Resources"
    url: /en/cli/v1/initialize-resources/introduction/
  - name: "Catalyst AppSail Help"
    url: /en/serverless/help/appsail/introduction/
  - name: "Project Directory"
    url: /en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/introduction/
---

# Initialize the Project

You can now begin working on your Catalyst project from the CLI. The first step is to initialize the project in an empty directory. This will be the home directory of your project, and all of the project files will be saved in it. 

You can learn more about this from the [Project Directory Structure help page](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/introduction/). You can learn about initializing a project in detail from the [CLI help documentation](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/initialize-resources/introduction/).

For this application, you will be initializing the [AppSail](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/serverless/help/appsail/introduction/) component alone. The *AppSail* component will be initialized in the **Node.js** programming stack.

1. Create a folder for the project on your local machine and navigate to it from the terminal.

2. Initialize a project by executing the following command from that directory:

```sh
catalyst init
```

3. Navigate using the **arrow keys** and select your preferred portal and click **Enter**. If you have no other organizations associated with the account, then the default will be selected automatically.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_catalyst_init](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_catalyst_init.webp)

> **Info:** You can find out more about Catalyst’s multi-org portal feature in this [help document](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/getting-started/catalyst-organizations/#access-the-multi-org-portal).

4. The CLI will now ask you to associate a Catalyst project with the directory. Associate it with the project that we created earlier from the console. Select **LeadManager** from the list and click **Enter**.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_cli_proj_sel](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_cli_proj_sel.webp)

5. Select **AppSail** using the space bar, then click **Enter** to initialize.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_sel_appsail](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_sel_appsail.webp)

6. The CLI will prompt you to choose between [Catalyst-Managed Runtime](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/serverless/help/appsail/catalyst-managed-runtimes/key-concepts/) and [Docker Image](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/serverless/help/appsail/custom-runtimes/container-registry-services/). Because you are creating this project from one of the Catalyst-Managed Runtime, select **Catalyst-Managed Runtime** and click **Enter**. 
![catalyst_alien_city_cli_appsail_setup_start](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/alien-city-appsail-express/aliencity-appsail-selection.webp)

7. The CLI will initiate the *AppSail* service.
    - As you are creating your own project, enter "`n`" and click **Enter** for the prompt asking if you wish to get started with a list of recommended projects.
        ![catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_appsail_start_cli](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_appsail_start_cli.webp)

    - Enter "`Y`" in the prompt to initialize the *AppSail* service in your current directory.
        ![catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_appsail_process_cli](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_appsail_process_cli.webp)

8. Enter "`LeadManagerApp`" as the name of your AppSail service, and enter your project directory path as the build path of your AppSail service.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_springboot_appsail_nme](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_springboot_appsail_nme.webp)

9. Choose the latest runtime of **Python** as the programming stack, and click **Enter**.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_python_py_choice](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_python_py_choice.webp)

The AppSail service has been initialized for your Lead Manager application.
![catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_python_appsail_init_cmpltd](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_python_appsail_init_cmpltd.webp)

The directory will be created in the standard structure, and it will contain the [`app-config.json`](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/serverless/help/appsail/catalyst-managed-runtimes/key-concepts/#the-app-configjson-file) file which includes the configuration of your AppSail service , along with the standard project configuration files such as the [`catalyst.json`](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/catalyst-json/) file and a hidden `.catalystrc` file.

This is the structure of the **LeadManager** project’s directory initialized with the *AppSail* service.
![catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_python_pre_setup](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_python_pre_setup.webp)

### Deploy the Application

You need to deploy the application to the console to fetch the required **application URL**. We need this URL when we register the client in the [Zoho API console](https://api-console.zoho.com/) to get the required `Client ID` and `Client Secret` values.

> **Info:** We will be re-deploying the application service once we have completed coding and adding the `Client ID` and `Client Secret` values to the application.

Enter the following CLI command to deploy the application:

```sh
catalyst deploy
```

Now, to acquire the application URL:

1. Navigate to the [AppSail](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/serverless/help/appsail/introduction/) component present under the *COMPUTE* section of the **Catalyst Serverless** section of the console.
  ![catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_python_service_listing](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_python_service_listing.webp)

  You will be able to view that your application has been deployed as an AppSail service.

2. Now click your AppSail service, and you will be able to view the application URL.
  ![catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_python_appsail_url](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_python_appsail_url.webp)

> **Info:** We will discuss more about the `catalyst deploy` CLI command and the AppSail service, after we re-deploy the application, towards the end of the tutorial.

### Create Additional Folders & Files

You need to create two folders in the root directory to store your client code:

* `static`: Will contain the JS and CSS scripts required to complete the application
* `templates`: Will contain the HTML code of the app

You also need to execute the following command to create the "**main.py**" code file.

```sh
touch main.py
```

This file will be used to store your backend code.

This is the current structure of the LeadManager project’s directory:
![catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_python_current_dir](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/leadmanager-appsail/catalyst_tutorials_leadmanager_appsail_python_current_dir.webp)