Dark Factory: Courses to Build AI Agents You Own

Self-paced courses: build AI agent systems you own. CLI agents, persistent memory, multi-agent orchestration, local models. No coding needed. One-time purchase.

Programs and pricing

Compare the programs or read the free primer.

The stakes

Memory wiped on whim

The chatbot you trained on your project forgets every session. New model launch? Start over. Service deprecated? Goodbye context.

Your data, on their terms

Every conversation, every decision, every workflow, sitting on infrastructure you don't control. When the price triples, you're stuck.

Vendor lock-in by design

Custom GPTs, agent platforms, proprietary memory layers. Each keeps your setup in its own store, in its own format, with no export another tool can read.

No backup. No portability.

Try exporting your project knowledge from a closed agent system. You can't. It was never yours.

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. 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, about 10 hours, a focused weekend. Level 2 is 12 modules, about 13-14 hours of focused work. SpecWeaver is a tool you start using on day one.
Do I need to be a developer?
No. You need to install an app (OpenCode's desktop app works, no terminal required), follow the lessons in order, and answer your agent's questions. The agent writes the code. Claude Code works too. It has a desktop app as well as a CLI. The terminal is optional either way.
What if I want to switch models later?
You can. The whole point is portability. Switch from Claude to a local Llama tomorrow. Your memory, your skills, your workflows, all of it stays.
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.