# Introduction (/introduction)



Sim is the open-source AI workspace where teams build, deploy, and manage AI agents. Connect models and tools, store shared data, and inspect what happens when an agent runs.

## Choose how to build [#choose-how-to-build]

| Method | Use it to |
| --- | --- |
| **[Chat](/chat)** | Describe what you need and ask Sim to create or edit workspace resources. Open what it creates, run it, and check the result. |
| **[Workflow builder](/workflows)** | Connect blocks into agent logic, configure their inputs, and inspect execution step by step. |
| **[API and SDKs](/api-reference)** | Create resources and run deployed workflows from your application. |

You can start in Chat and refine the same workflow in the builder. On self-hosted deployments, Chat depends on the deployment's configuration and can be disabled.

Follow [Getting started](/getting-started) to build an agent with web search tools and structured output.

## Workspace resources [#workspace-resources]

A workspace holds the resources your team and agents use:

| Resource | Purpose |
| --- | --- |
| **[Workflows](/workflows)** | Executable logic made of connected blocks. Use Agent blocks for model reasoning and tools for actions such as sending email or querying an API. |
| **[Tables](/tables)** | Structured rows that workflows can read, update, and process. |
| **[Files](/files)** | Documents and media you upload, create, and share with agents. |
| **[Knowledge bases](/knowledgebase)** | Searchable documents. Retrieve relevant passages for an agent to use in its answers. |
| **[Logs](/logs-debugging)** | Run records and block inputs, outputs, errors, timing, and costs. |

[Deploy a workflow](/workflows/deployment) to make it available through an API, a chat interface, or an MCP server. MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets AI applications discover and call tools exposed by a server.

## Models and integrations [#models-and-integrations]

Use the [integration catalog](/integrations) to connect supported models, communication services, productivity apps, search tools, and databases. These tools let agents research a topic, process documents, update business systems, and return results to another application.

For tools outside the catalog, connect an [external MCP server](/agents/mcp) or create a [custom tool](/agents/custom-tools). Configure the credentials and permissions each service requires.

## Choose a deployment [#choose-a-deployment]

* **Sim Cloud:** Sign in at [sim.ai](https://www.sim.ai) to use the managed service.
* **Self-hosted:** Run Sim on your infrastructure with [Docker Compose](/platform/self-hosting/docker) or [Kubernetes](/platform/self-hosting/kubernetes). You can connect local models through Ollama or vLLM. Chat and external integrations can still require network access.

The core source is available on [GitHub](https://github.com/simstudioai/sim) under the Apache 2.0 license. Enterprise features use a separate license that requires an active Enterprise subscription for production use. See [self-hosting](/platform/self-hosting) for installation requirements and configuration.

## Related docs [#related-docs]

* [Getting started](/getting-started): Build and test a research agent.
* [Chat](/chat): Build and manage workspace resources conversationally.
* [Workflows](/workflows): Blocks, connections, triggers, and execution.
* [Quick reference](/quick-reference): Look up builder actions.