# 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.

1. Copy your MCP connection URL and token from your account.
2. Add it to Claude Desktop's MCP settings.
3. 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](/understand/configure-vs-build).