Orbit automatically detects the type of resource you're adding based on the content you provide. Each type has its own display format and capabilities.
Files
Upload any type of file — PDFs, documents, spreadsheets, presentations, images, and more. Large files are supported, with upload size limits depending on your plan (see the pricing page for details).
Files are stored securely and served via authenticated download links. When users view a file resource, they see the resource page with a download button.
Supported formats include: PDF, Word (.doc, .docx), Excel (.xls, .xlsx), PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx), images (PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG), ZIP archives, and many more.
Videos
Paste a YouTube or Vimeo URL and the video is embedded directly on the resource page with a responsive player. Orbit automatically detects video URLs and converts them to the correct embed format.
When you add a video, the title, description, and thumbnail are automatically retrieved from the video platform.
Over 300 additional embed providers are supported via the oEmbed protocol, including TikTok, Loom, Wistia, Spotify, SoundCloud, and many more.
Links
Paste any URL to create a link resource. Orbit automatically fetches the page title, description, and preview image (from Open Graph tags or by scanning the page).
Link resources display a preview card with a button to visit the external site. This is useful for curating external articles, tools, or reference material for your members.
Apps
Serve interactive web applications directly within your resource library. Apps are embedded via iframe and can optionally integrate with Orbit to identify users, check membership status, and store per-user data.
What Are App Resources?
App resources let you add interactive tools, calculators, dashboards, and other web applications alongside your files, videos, and links. This is especially useful for organizations that want to provide custom tools to their members — built with AI app builders like Lovable, Bolt, v0, or any web development framework.
When a user views an app resource, the application loads directly on the page in a seamless embedded view. Apps can also be opened in a new tab for a full-screen experience.
Creating an App Resource
- Go to Resources in the admin portal
- Click Add Resource and select the App tab
- Paste the URL of your web application
- The resource is created with the app embedded on its page
You can also set the App URL on any existing resource by editing it and entering a URL in the Embedded App section.
Orbit Connector SDK
Apps can optionally include the Orbit Connector SDK — a small JavaScript file that lets your app access the current user's identity, membership status, and per-user data storage. This enables tiered functionality where members get more than guests.
The SDK works automatically whether the app is embedded in Orbit, opened in a new tab, or running standalone during development — the same app URL works in all scenarios.
Access Control
Like all resources, app resources support access levels:
- Public — anyone can view and use the app
- Members only — only users with an active membership can access the app
When set to members only, non-members see a lock icon and a prompt to join. The app itself can also check membership status via the SDK for more granular control within the app.
Developer Documentation
For a complete guide to building apps — including SDK setup, API reference, authentication flows, permission gating patterns, data storage, testing, and step-by-step tutorials for AI app builders — see the Applications developer guide.