> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cowboy.inc/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Build with your coding agent

> Give your coding agent one prompt, and let it install the Cowboy skill and write, test and deploy your actor

You can build an actor by describing it to your coding agent. One prompt installs Cowboy's skill files, which teach the agent how to build on Cowboy, and the agent writes, tests and deploys the actor from there.

Before you start, you need the [`cowboy` CLI and `uv`](https://docs.cowboy.inc/getting-started/install), a coding agent such as Claude Code or Codex, and Node.js for `npx`. The CLI also comes with its own agent ([Build with Lasso](https://docs.cowboy.inc/build/lasso.md)).

## 1. Give your agent this prompt

Open your agent in an empty folder and paste this:

```text theme={"system"}
Install the Cowboy skill in this project using
npx skills add https://cowboy.inc --skill cowboy, unless it is already
available. Read the skill and the references needed for this task, then
help me [task].
```

In place of `[task]`, say what the actor should do, when it should run, and which network to use. Use Cloud unless you've been given another. For example:

> build an actor that checks the price of Bitcoin every hour, asks a model whether the move matters, and keeps the answer. Test it, then deploy it to Cloud, and start its schedule.

## 2. Let the agent build and deploy it

The agent creates the project, checks and tests it on your machine, then deploys it. Everything before the deploy is free. Once deployed, the actor keeps running after you close your editor, and pays for its own work from its balance. The [Quickstart](https://docs.cowboy.inc/getting-started/quickstart.md) shows the same steps by hand.

### What you do yourself

Two things stay with you, money and keys. The agent starts the credit claim, and you approve it at the link it gives you ([Billing](https://docs.cowboy.inc/hire/billing.md)). API keys you enter in your browser, not through the agent ([Your keys and your data](https://docs.cowboy.inc/hire/keys-and-data.md)).

## 3. Keep it or sell it

Your actor keeps running while it has money, and you can call it from the CLI or from an app. To change it, ask your agent to deploy a new actor: code can't change after a deploy, so the new one gets a new address.

If others could use it, list it in the General Store, where people pay to hire it. [Start a listing](https://cloud.cowboy.inc/general-store/submit).

## Next

* [Quickstart](https://docs.cowboy.inc/getting-started/quickstart.md)
* [Build your first actor](https://docs.cowboy.inc/developers/your-first-actor.md)
* [Where your code runs](https://docs.cowboy.inc/build/where-your-code-runs.md)


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