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Three ways to build & manage
Everything in Foundation is configuration — so there are several ways to set that configuration, and they all hit the same backend. Pick whichever fits you; mix and match anytime.
The three surfaces
| Way | What it's like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard | Click through and configure visually | Fine-tuning specific settings |
| Wizard | Describe what you want; an AI agent configures it | Initial setup and big changes |
| Claude Desktop / MCP | Pure conversation, no UI at all | Doing it all by chat — great for non-devs |
These aren't different products — they're three doors into the same config. Set billing in the dashboard, then change a plan by telling Claude; it's the same app.
The Wizard
The wizard is an AI agent built into Foundation. You describe what you want, it asks clarifying questions, and it sets your app up.
You: "An app where photographers upload portfolios and clients pay for premium access."
Wizard: sets up user accounts (photographer + client roles), file storage for uploads, a free and a premium billing tier, entities for portfolios and galleries, and scoped access.
You: "Deploy it." → Done.
Anything you can do in the dashboard, the wizard can do through conversation.
Claude Desktop (or any MCP client)
Every Foundation app is an MCP server, so you can manage it from Claude Desktop — no browser.
- Copy your MCP connection URL and token from your account.
- Add it to Claude Desktop's MCP settings.
- Start talking.
"Create an app called BookClub with user accounts."
"Add an entity called Books with title, author, and rating."
"Enable billing with a free plan and a $10/month premium plan."
"Deploy it."You manage it the same way after launch:
"Show me users who signed up this week."
"Change the premium plan to $15/month."
"Who's connected to my API?"Sharing access
Through scoped permissions, you can let other people's agents into your app:
"Let Sarah's agent read the Books entity."
"Create a public scope that exposes the book catalog."Any AI agent that speaks MCP can interact with your app — within the permissions you set.
Which should you use?
- Non-dev, starting out → Wizard or Claude Desktop. Describe, don't configure.
- Want visual control → Dashboard.
- Live in your terminal or an agent → Claude Desktop / MCP.
No wrong answer, no lock-in. Next: Configure vs Build.