Build Your First Local Project

Ready to build and run your first AI agent on your local machine? In Episode 2 of our Astro getting-started series, Developer Advocate Pooja Mistry walks you step-by-step from zero to a live, running agent environment. Learn how to authenticate the Astro CLI, scaffold a new agent project, understand key configuration files, and use Claude Code to implement real autonomous skills. You'll see how Astro configures integrations locally, leverages the unified AI Gateway to avoid vendor lock-in, and launches a local web chat interface to test and debug your agent before deployment. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • Authenticating the Astro CLI • Scaffolding your project • Understanding the 3 essential agent files • Using Claude Code & Mastra to build out agent logic • Connecting models via the Astro AI Gateway to manage costs and routing • Managing environment secrets locally • Launching and testing your agent and inspecting logs Up Next: In Episode 3, we’ll show you how to push your agent to the Astro Blueprint Registry and deploy it live across your team! Resources & Docs: • Astro AI Platform: https://astropods.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=onboarding-to-astro • Documentation: https://docs.astropods.com/welcome?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=onboarding-to-astro 0:00 - Introduction: Building Your First Agent Locally 0:13 - CLI Install & Authentication (`ast login`) 0:28 - Scaffolding an Agent Project (`ast project create`) 0:44 - The 3 Core Files: `astropods.yml`, `AGENTS.md` & `CLAUDE.md` 1:38 - Implementing Logic with Claude Code & Mastra 2:30 - Routing Models with the Astro AI Gateway 3:23 - Configuring Local API Keys (`ast project configure`) 4:01 - Starting Your Agent & Local Chat UI (`ast project start`) 4:43 - What's Next: Pushing to the Blueprint Registry #AstroAI #Astropods #ClaudeCode #AIAgents #Anthropic #DeveloperTools #SoftwareEngineering #AgenticAI #Mastra