# Surface Development Guide
**Version:** 0.25.1
**Audience:** Anyone with admin access to a Chat Switchboard instance
---
## Overview
A surface is a full-screen application mode in Chat Switchboard. The platform ships with core surfaces (Chat, Notes, Settings, Admin, Workflow) that cannot be uninstalled. Extension surfaces are uploaded as `.surface` archives via the Admin panel and can be enabled, disabled, and uninstalled at runtime.
This guide covers everything needed to build, package, install, and manage surfaces using only a running instance β no access to the Go codebase required.
---
## Quick Start
Create a minimal surface in under 5 minutes:
### 1. Create the files
**manifest.json:**
```json
{
"id": "hello",
"version": "1.0.0",
"title": "Hello World",
"description": "Minimal surface example",
"route": "/hello",
"auth": "authenticated",
"scripts": ["js/hello.js"],
"styles": ["css/hello.css"],
"source": "extension"
}
```
**js/hello.js:**
```javascript
(function() {
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
if (window.__SURFACE__ !== 'hello') return;
var root = document.getElementById('surfaceRoot');
if (!root) return;
root.innerHTML =
'' +
'
' +
'
' +
'
' +
'
π
' +
'
Hello from a Surface
' +
'
Waiting for app initβ¦
' +
'
' +
'
' +
'