The four tools and how they fit together

What you will learn

The operator stack has four tools. This lesson explains what each one does, how they connect, and what they cost. By the end, you will have a clear mental map of the system you are about to build.

Claude Code — your assistant

Claude Code is an AI tool made by Anthropic that runs in your terminal. You talk to it in plain English. It reads files, creates files, runs commands, and modifies documents — all with your permission. Nothing happens without you approving it first.

The difference between Claude Code and the AI chatbots you may have tried: Claude Code works directly on your computer. It does not live in a browser tab. It can read a folder full of client notes and write a report based on what it finds. It can build a script, run it, check the output, and fix problems — all within one conversation.

It also supports something called CLAUDE.md — a file where you write persistent instructions about your business. What tone to use. What your services cost. What conventions to follow. Claude reads this file every time a new conversation starts, so it never asks you the same basic questions twice. You will set this up in Module 12.

One example. You are in a folder that contains twelve client project files. You type: "Which clients have overdue deliverables?" Claude reads every file, checks the dates, and gives you a list. In a chatbot, you would have had to copy and paste each file into the chat window manually. Claude Code just reads them.

You will install Claude Code in Module 4.

Obsidian — your filing cabinet

Obsidian is a free note-taking application. It stores notes as plain text files on your computer — no cloud database, no proprietary format. You can open any Obsidian note in Notepad or TextEdit and read it. It is just a text file.

Why plain text matters: Claude Code can read and write plain text files directly. Your client notes, SOPs, meeting summaries, project plans, and lessons learned all live in one Obsidian vault — a fancy word for "folder." When Claude needs context about your business, it reads the vault. When Claude produces output, it writes to the vault. The vault is the shared workspace between you and Claude.

One example. You ask Claude to draft a proposal for a new client. Claude checks your vault for your current pricing sheet, your standard scope of work template, and your three most recent proposals. It writes the draft using your real numbers and your real language — not a generic template from the internet.

You will install Obsidian in the very next module. It is the first tool you set up because everything else depends on having a place to store and retrieve information.

Bitwarden Secrets Manager — your safe

Every tool you connect needs credentials. Your server has a password. Your email service has an API key. Your CRM has an access token. Those credentials need to live somewhere secure — and "a text file on my desktop" or "in my browser autofill" does not cut it when your tools need to access them programmatically.

Bitwarden Secrets Manager (BWS) is a vault specifically for credentials that tools and servers retrieve automatically. You store a credential once. When a tool needs it, it pulls the credential from BWS at runtime. You never paste passwords into config files or chat windows.

One example. You install Claude Code on your server. One of the tools Claude builds needs an API key for your email service. Instead of hardcoding the key into a file, you store it in BWS. The tool pulls the key from BWS when it runs. If you ever need to rotate the key, you change it in one place and everything that uses it picks up the new value automatically.

You will set up BWS in Module 10, after you have a server with real credentials to secure. There is no point setting up a safe before you have something to put in it.

The VPS — your always-on office

VPS stands for Virtual Private Server. It is a small computer in a data center that runs around the clock. You connect to it from your laptop over the internet. It costs about seven to ten dollars a month.

Right now, when you close your laptop lid, everything stops. A VPS does not stop. Claude Code on your VPS is available from any device, at any time. More importantly, the tools you build later — automated reports, monitoring scripts, recurring tasks — run on the VPS whether you are at your desk or not.

One example. You build a script that generates a weekly performance report for each client. You set it to run every Monday at 6 AM on the VPS. When you sit down Monday morning, the reports are already in your vault, ready to review and send.

You will provision your VPS in Module 6.

How the four tools connect

```
You (laptop) ──── SSH ────> VPS (always-on server)
│
├── Claude Code (does the work)
│ │
│ ├── reads/writes ──> Obsidian Vault (your knowledge)
│ │
│ └── retrieves ────> BWS (your credentials)
│
└── Your tools and scripts (run 24/7)
```

You connect to the VPS from your laptop. Claude Code runs on the VPS. Claude reads your vault for context and pulls credentials from BWS when it needs them. The tools you build run on the VPS continuously.

Everything starts local — on your own computer — and moves to the VPS once you are comfortable. That transition happens in Modules 6 through 9.

What this course covers and what it does not

This course builds the foundation: four tools, connected, operational, and used daily.

It does not cover:

• Databases or production deployment — that is F2: Self-Hosted Infrastructure
• Using a second AI to verify Claude's work — that is F3: Codex for AI Auditing
• Strategic AI positioning for your business — that is F4: AI Foundations for Your Agency
• Autonomous agents that run without supervision — that is F5: Agents for Agency Owners

Each of those courses builds on what you create here. F1 is the prerequisite for everything else. Get this foundation right and the advanced courses are straightforward extensions of what you already know.

What you will spend

| Tool | Monthly cost | When you need it |
|------|-------------|------------------|
| Claude Pro subscription | $20 | Module 4 |
| Contabo Cloud VPS | ~$7-10 | Module 6 |
| Bitwarden Teams + Secrets Manager | ~$4-6 | Module 10 |
| Obsidian | Free | Module 2 |
| Node.js | Free | Module 4 |
| Total | ~$31-36/month | |

Obsidian Sync ($4/month) is recommended for syncing your vault across devices but not required. Claude Max ($100/month) is an optional upgrade that provides higher usage limits.

The total minimum cost is roughly what you spend on two business lunches. For an AI assistant that runs around the clock on your own infrastructure, that is the best return on investment in your toolbox.

Where you are headed

The next module is your first installation. You will install Obsidian, create your vault, and make your first note. It takes about ten minutes, and you will have your first tangible result before you close this course for the day.