Your First Project
In Zentro, a project represents one service or product — for example, my-app-backend or analytics. Each project can have multiple environments (Dev, Staging, Production), each with its own database connection.
This structure lets you keep your databases organized and ensures you always know which environment you're connected to.
Creating a Project
Open the Projects panel
On the left sidebar, click the Projects icon or press Ctrl+Shift+P.
Create a new project
Click New Project, enter a name (e.g. my-app), and confirm.
Add an environment
Inside your project, you'll see three default environments: Dev, Staging, and Production. Click any of them to configure its database connection.
Add a connection
Fill in your database credentials:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Host | Database server address (e.g. localhost, db.example.com) |
| Port | Default: 5432 (PostgreSQL), 3306 (MySQL), 1433 (SQL Server) |
| Database | Name of the database |
| Username | Database user |
| Password | Stored securely in the OS keychain — not in any config file |
Test the connection
Click Test Connection. If it succeeds, click Save.
Understanding Environments
The environment you're currently in is always displayed prominently in the toolbar. You'll never wonder "wait, is this prod?" again.
| Environment | Indicator | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Dev | Blue | Normal usage, no restrictions |
| Staging | Yellow | Visual warning on write operations |
| Production | Red | Full safety guardrails (Pro feature) |
When you connect to a Production environment, Zentro activates the production overlay: a persistent visual indicator, and (on Pro) confirmation prompts before any write operation.
Switching Between Environments
Click the environment selector in the top bar. The entire UI updates to reflect the active environment. Your editor tabs, schema explorer, and data grid all switch context.
Next Steps
- Connecting to a Database — connection strings, SSH tunnels, SSL
- SQL Editor — writing and running queries
- Pro Early Access — unlock production safety features for free