> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.nuvolos.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.nuvolos.com/how-to-guides/common-workflows.md).

# Common workflows

Common Workflows is the canonical home for procedures every Nuvolos role performs the same way - accepting an invitation, starting and stopping applications, working with files, taking and restoring snapshots, distributing content, and inviting users. The role-specific guides (Instructors, Students, Researchers) link here whenever they touch one of these shared procedures, rather than duplicating the steps.

Each page in this section follows the same shape: a single-line **Outcome** describing what you will have done, a **Before you start** block with prerequisites, the steps themselves, and (where useful) role-specific notes at the bottom for the cases where the procedure has slightly different consequences depending on your role.

The pages in this section:

* **Accepting an invitation** - joining Nuvolos for the first time, choosing your identity provider, troubleshooting the wrong-email case.
* **Starting an Application** - launching an application from the Dashboard or from your instance.
* **Stopping an Application** - the four ways to stop a running application.
* **Working with files** - uploading files, cloning Git repositories, downloading from URLs, mounting external storage.
* **Snapshots - Overview, Create, Restore, Delete** - the snapshot lifecycle.
* **Requesting roles** - submitting a role request when you can see content but cannot interact with it.
* **Distribution** - the staging-and-distribute click-flow used to push files, tables, or applications between instances.
* **Inviting users** - the invitation click-flow used by Space Administrators.

If you arrived from a role-specific guide, follow the procedure here and return to your role document for the role-specific application. If you arrived directly, the procedures stand alone - you do not need to read in any particular order.

### Where to go next

* For role-specific applications of these procedures, see [How-to › For Instructors](/how-to-guides/workflows-for-instructors.md), [How-to › For Students](/how-to-guides/workflows-for-students.md), or [How-to › For Researchers](/how-to-guides/workflows-for-researchers.md).
* For the conceptual model behind Instances, snapshots, distribution, and roles, see [Concepts](/concepts/nuvolos-basic-concepts.md).
* For the technical reference on Applications, storage, data storage, and configuration, see [Reference](/reference/applications.md).
* For administrative procedures (organisation and Space management, resource monitoring), see [Administration](/administration/user-account-management.md).