Build a dApp - Inco Docs

The create-inco-app CLI allows you to create a new full-stack confidential dApp with a Next.js frontend, Anchor programs (Rust), and the Inco Solana SDK. It is the easiest way to get started building on Inco for Solana.

Basic usage

npx create-inco-app@latest

pnpm create inco-app@latest

yarn create inco-app

bunx create-inco-app@latest

On installation, you’ll see the following prompts:

What is your project named?            my-app
What would you like to scaffold?       Full monorepo / Programs only / Frontend only
Which chain would you like to use?     SVM
Which contract framework?              Anchor                          (skipped for frontend-only)
Which wallet provider?                 Solana Wallet Adapter / Privy   (skipped for programs-only)

After the prompts, create-inco-app will create a folder with your project name and install the required dependencies.

Scaffold modes

Choose what to generate with --template (or the second prompt). Programs-only and frontend-only are scaffolded at the project root (no monorepo wrapper).

Full monorepo (default)
Programs only
Frontend only

Anchor programs and frontend in one workspace.

npx create-inco-app@latest my-app --chain svm --framework anchor --wallet privy --yes

pnpm create inco-app@latest my-app --chain svm --framework anchor --wallet privy --yes

yarn create inco-app my-app --chain svm --framework anchor --wallet privy --yes

bunx create-inco-app@latest my-app --chain svm --framework anchor --wallet privy --yes

my-app/
├── programs/         # Anchor workspace — confidential-pool + confidential-token
├── frontend/         # Next.js app (wallet provider + Inco Solana SDK wired up)
├── scripts/          # sync-programs.mjs (syncs IDLs + program IDs after deploy)
└── package.json      # workspace root (npm run dev, programs:build, ...)

Just the Anchor workspace — no frontend.

npx create-inco-app@latest my-programs --template contracts --chain svm --framework anchor --yes

pnpm create inco-app@latest my-programs --template contracts --chain svm --framework anchor --yes

yarn create inco-app my-programs --template contracts --chain svm --framework anchor --yes

bunx create-inco-app@latest my-programs --template contracts --chain svm --framework anchor --yes

my-programs/
├── programs/         # Rust programs
├── tests/
├── Anchor.toml
└── Cargo.toml

Scripts: anchor build (build), anchor test (test), anchor deploy (deploy).

Just the Next.js dApp — no programs. Wire it to an already-deployed program.

npx create-inco-app@latest my-frontend --template frontend --chain svm --wallet privy --yes

pnpm create inco-app@latest my-frontend --template frontend --chain svm --wallet privy --yes

yarn create inco-app my-frontend --template frontend --chain svm --wallet privy --yes

bunx create-inco-app@latest my-frontend --template frontend --chain svm --wallet privy --yes

my-frontend/
├── app/              # Next.js App Router
├── components/       # Providers.tsx (wallet) + UI
├── hooks/            # Inco Solana SDK integration
├── idl/              # program IDLs
└── lib/

Reference

npx create-inco-app@latest [project-name] [options]

The following options are available:

Option	Description
`-h` or `--help`	Show all available options
`-v` or `--version`	Output the version number
`-t` or `--template <value>`	Scaffold type (`monorepo`, `contracts`, `frontend`)
`-f` or `--framework <value>`	Contract framework (`anchor`)
`-w` or `--wallet <value>`	Wallet provider (`solana-wallet-adapter`, `privy`)
`-c` or `--chain <value>`	Chain type (`svm`)
`-y` or `--yes`	Skip prompts, use defaults
`--install`	Auto-install dependencies after scaffolding
`--git`	Initialize a git repository
`--use-npm`	Explicitly tell the CLI to bootstrap using npm
`--use-pnpm`	Explicitly tell the CLI to bootstrap using pnpm
`--use-yarn`	Explicitly tell the CLI to bootstrap using Yarn
`--use-bun`	Explicitly tell the CLI to bootstrap using Bun

Project Structure

The scaffolded project is a monorepo with two workspaces:

my-app/
├── programs/              # Anchor workspace (Rust programs)
│   ├── programs/
│   │   ├── confidential-pool/     # Privacy-preserving lottery
│   │   └── confidential-token/    # Encrypted token system
│   ├── tests/             # Integration tests
│   └── Anchor.toml        # Anchor configuration (devnet)
└── frontend/              # Next.js app (pre-configured for Solana devnet)
    ├── components/
    │   ├── Providers.tsx       # Wallet provider setup
    │   └── ConfPool.tsx        # Example dApp component
    ├── hooks/
    │   └── useConfPool.ts      # Inco Solana SDK integration
    └── idl/                    # Program IDLs (auto-synced)

The frontend is pre-configured for Solana devnet. All wallet providers connect to devnet by default, no network configuration changes are needed.

Examples

With default options

npx create-inco-app@latest

pnpm create inco-app@latest

yarn create inco-app

bunx create-inco-app@latest

With Anchor and Solana Wallet Adapter

npx create-inco-app@latest my-app --framework anchor --wallet solana-wallet-adapter --chain svm --yes

pnpm create inco-app@latest my-app --framework anchor --wallet solana-wallet-adapter --chain svm --yes

yarn create inco-app my-app --framework anchor --wallet solana-wallet-adapter --chain svm --yes

bunx create-inco-app@latest my-app --framework anchor --wallet solana-wallet-adapter --chain svm --yes

With Anchor and Privy

npx create-inco-app@latest my-app --framework anchor --wallet privy --chain svm --yes

pnpm create inco-app@latest my-app --framework anchor --wallet privy --chain svm --yes

yarn create inco-app my-app --framework anchor --wallet privy --chain svm --yes

bunx create-inco-app@latest my-app --framework anchor --wallet privy --chain svm --yes

Build & Test Programs

Run the test command from the project root — it builds, deploys to a local validator, runs tests, and automatically syncs the program IDs and IDLs to the frontend:

cd my-app
npm install
npm run programs:test

cd my-app
pnpm install
pnpm run programs:test

cd my-app
yarn install
yarn programs:test

cd my-app
bun install
bun run programs:test

After the test completes, the frontend .env is automatically updated with the deployed program IDs. Then run the frontend:

cd my-app && npm run dev

cd my-app && pnpm run dev

cd my-app && yarn dev

cd my-app && bun run dev

Open http://localhost:3000 to see your dApp.

For Privy, you need a Privy App ID with Solana (SVM) enabled. Set NEXT_PUBLIC_PRIVY_APP_ID in frontend/.env.local before running the frontend. For Solana Wallet Adapter, no additional configuration is needed — it works out of the box.

Inco Solana SDK Integration

The scaffolded app uses @inco/solana-sdk for client-side encryption. On-chain, the Anchor programs use inco-lightning CPI for encrypted operations.

Client-side encryption

import { encryptValue } from "@inco/solana-sdk/encryption";
import { hexToBuffer } from "@inco/solana-sdk/utils";

// Encrypt a value before sending on-chain
const amount = BigInt(Math.floor(parseFloat("100") * 1e9));
const encryptedHex = await encryptValue(amount);

// Pass encrypted value to your Anchor program
const tx = await program.methods
  .mintTo(hexToBuffer(encryptedHex), 0)
  .accounts({
    mint: mintAddress,
    account: tokenAccountAddress,
    mintAuthority: publicKey,
    incoLightningProgram: INCO_LIGHTNING_PROGRAM_ID,
    systemProgram: SystemProgram.programId,
  })
  .transaction();

On-chain encrypted operations (Rust)

use inco_lightning::instructions::*;

// Encrypted addition
e_add(ctx, pool.pool_balance, participant.deposit_amount)?;

// Encrypted comparison
e_eq(ctx, participant.index_handle, pool.winner_index)?;

// Random encrypted value
e_rand(ctx)?;

// Grant decryption access
allow(ctx, handle, allowed_address)?;

See Encryption and Attested Decrypt for full details.

Choose Your Wallet Provider

Each wallet provider has its own setup. Select one to see the provider configuration:

Solana Wallet Adapter

Native Solana wallets (Phantom, Solflare)

Privy

Embedded wallets & social login

Quick Reference

Command	Description
`npm run programs:test`	Build, test, and sync programs to frontend
`npm run programs:build`	Build Anchor programs only
`npm run programs:sync`	Sync IDLs and program IDs to frontend
`npm run dev`	Start frontend

​Basic usage

​Scaffold modes

​Reference

​Project Structure

​Examples

​With default options

​With Anchor and Solana Wallet Adapter

​With Anchor and Privy

​Build & Test Programs

​Inco Solana SDK Integration

​Client-side encryption

​On-chain encrypted operations (Rust)

​Choose Your Wallet Provider

Solana Wallet Adapter

Privy

​Quick Reference

Basic usage

Scaffold modes

Reference

Project Structure

Examples

With default options

With Anchor and Solana Wallet Adapter

With Anchor and Privy

Build & Test Programs

Inco Solana SDK Integration

Client-side encryption

On-chain encrypted operations (Rust)

Choose Your Wallet Provider

Quick Reference