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Getting started

Objective. Create a small conversation flow and prove it works in the simulator before you connect a Meta account.

Prerequisites

  • A Fluenta workspace where you can create and edit a bot.
  • A simple customer journey to try, such as a greeting followed by one choice.
  • A Meta WhatsApp Business Account and phone number only when you are ready to send and receive live WhatsApp messages. You do not need either to build or test.

Use the design, test, and publish loop

Fluenta is a visual builder for WhatsApp conversation flows. The practical loop is to design the path on the canvas, test every path in the simulator, then publish a version when the flow is ready for live traffic.

  1. 1Design. Add nodes to the canvas, configure their content in the Inspect panel, and connect their output handles to define the next step. Every flow starts at the built-in Start node; it is not a palette item.
  2. 2Test. Use the Test panel to send messages and select options as if you were a customer. The simulator needs no WhatsApp number and no Meta setup.
  3. 3Publish. When the tested draft is ready, publish a version. Connecting your own Meta WhatsApp Business Account is a separate live-channel step, not a requirement for building or testing.

Take the shortest path to a tested flow

  1. 1From the workspace overview, select New bot, enter a name, and choose Create bot. After the overview refreshes, select the new bot to open its blank flow in the editor.
  2. 2In the Nodes sidebar, add a Message, Buttons, and Handoff node. You can click a node to place it on the canvas or drag it to a specific location.
  3. 3Select each node to configure it in the Inspect panel. Write the greeting in the Message node, add a choice in Buttons, and set the Handoff acknowledgement if you want one.
  4. 4Drag a connection from each output handle to the next node, for example Start → Message → Buttons → Handoff. Use one output per button option when choices should take different paths.
  5. 5Open the right-hand Inspect and Test sidebar, choose Test, then send a message in the simulator. Follow the greeting and select each available option.

Expected result

Expected result. You have a saved flow that starts with a greeting and can be exercised in the simulator. No Meta credentials, WhatsApp phone number, or live delivery setup was needed.

Common errors

I am looking for Meta credentials before I can test.
Do not connect Meta yet. The simulator runs the draft flow directly and requires neither a WhatsApp number nor Meta credentials.
The simulator does not reply after I send a message.
Make sure the Start node is connected to the first node and that every next step has the needed output connection. The simulator begins when it receives any message.
The test says the flow ended.
That means the path reached its end. Send another message to start a new run, or use Reset simulator before trying a different branch.

Related guides

Create your first botStart from a template or a blank canvas and build a working greeting-to-handoff flow.Test a flowWalk every branch in the simulator before a real contact ever sees the bot.Connect WhatsAppPaste your own Meta Cloud API credentials and verify the connection.