Dark Factory: Courses to Build AI Agents You Own

AI agent systems you own. Hand your agent one zip, or study the modules. Persistent memory, multi-agent orchestration, local models. No coding. One-time purchase.

Programs and pricing

• Level 1: $79 one-time
• Level 2: $129 one-time
• SpecWeaver: $37 one-time
• Architect Bundle: $196 one-time - Level 1 + Level 2 + SpecWeaver ($245 separately, save $49)

Compare the programs or read the free primer.

The stakes

Memory in their cloud

Chat assistants remember you now. That memory is tied to their account. ChatGPT shows you a summary, and OpenAI says the summary is not everything it remembers.

Your data, on their terms

Every conversation, every decision, every workflow, sitting on infrastructure you don't control. OpenAI's pricing page tiers memory by plan, so how much it remembers depends on what you pay.

Vendor lock-in by design

Custom GPTs, agent platforms, proprietary memory layers. Each keeps your setup in its own store, in its own format. Moving it to another tool usually means rebuilding it by hand.

Export is a copy, not a move

ChatGPT will export your chat history. OpenAI's export docs don't list its memory of you, and describe no way to move it to another model.

The philosophy

Open source by default

Every component is documented. Every config is yours. No black boxes.

Local-first

Runs on your laptop. Your files stay on your disk. You pick the model, so you pick what gets sent to someone else's.

Model-agnostic

Claude today. Llama tomorrow. Your agents move with you. Your context comes with them.

No subscriptions

One-time purchase. Lifetime access. All future updates. Forever.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I start?

No coding needed, your AI agent does the building; you feed it the course and make the decisions. Level 1 runs either way: hand your agent the zip, or study the modules in order. New to all of this? Start with Level 1. If you already have a working assistant and want to scale to a team: Level 2. If you want the whole system + the spec tool that ties it together: Architect Bundle. Start with Level 1

What is a 'harness'?

The machinery around an AI model: what it can see, what it can touch, what it remembers, when it runs. Identity, memory, permissions, triggers, skills, all harness. The model does the raw thinking. The harness does everything else. Every AI product you have used is someone else's. Level 1 has you build your own around OpenCode or Claude Code, out of plain files on your machine, which is why it can be upgraded, customized, and carried to the next model instead of reset.

What is founder's pricing?

The current prices are held for the first 50 students, in exchange for an honest review once you've built. After the first 50, pricing moves to the regular rate.

How does the price compare to everything else teaching this?

Live cohort courses teaching agent engineering typically run $999-$2,499. AI engineering certification programs run up to $5,250. To be fair, those prices include live calls, coaching, or office hours. This doesn't: support is email. It does include a self-serve student group on Telegram and a completion certificate you earn by passing a practical exam. This is the system itself. One payment. Still running after the course ends.

Do I have to do them in order?

Level 1 is the prerequisite for Level 2. If you already understand agent skills, hooks (scripts that auto-run on events like session start), and persistent memory, you can jump straight into Level 2.

How long does this take?

Level 1 is 10 modules + bonus. Install Claude Code or OpenCode, hand it one zip, and answer its questions. That takes under 10 minutes. Or study the modules yourself in about 10 hours. Level 2 is 12 modules + bonus. Hand the zip to your agent on your Linux host (on Windows, in WSL2, the built-in Linux environment) and answer its questions, or study the modules yourself in about 13-14 hours. SpecWeaver is a tool you start using on day one.

Do I need to be a developer?

No. Install an app (OpenCode's desktop app works, no terminal required; Claude Code has a desktop app and a CLI too). Hand it the course zip and answer its questions. The agent writes the code. Study the modules in order if you want the full reasoning. You do not have to. The terminal is optional either way.

What if I want to switch models later?

You can. That is the point of keeping it in files. Switch from Claude to a local Llama tomorrow: your dated notes, decision log, skills and workflows stay on your disk. Memory a provider keeps on its own side stays with that provider.

Does this require a server?

No. Level 1 runs entirely on your laptop. Level 2 can run on one machine or scale across many, your choice.

How long do I have access?

Lifetime. One payment. Every future update is included, not just typo fixes, but the rewrites when OpenCode or Claude Code change how something works. Support is email, at support@darkfactory.education. A self-serve student group on Telegram and a completion certificate (earned through a practical exam) are included from your dashboard. There are no live calls, coaching, office hours, or done-for-you support: you are buying the course and the files, and they are yours whether or not anything else ever ships.

What if it doesn't work for me?

30-day guarantee on every program. Read everything in the browser, risk-free. Not for you? Email support@darkfactory.education for a full refund. Downloading the files makes the purchase final. The files are the product. Full policy: /refund.