---
title: "Frequently asked questions"
description: "Run Auto locally, connect your agent and build your first playbook. Answers about setup, Auto Cloud and team deployments."
url: "https://on.auto/faq"
last_updated: "2026-10-11T20:18:58-07:00"
---

# Frequently asked questions

## Who is Auto for?

People who know how a business responsibility should be carried out. That includes marketing and business specialists. Engineers help with integration, reliability and production operation.

## Do I need to write code?

You can define and run a reasoning function through your agent without writing code. The [local quick start](https://on.auto/docs/get-started/local) uses a few terminal commands to start the server and needs a model provider API key to run the example. Your agent can help with setup.

## Which agents can I use?

The quick start includes instructions for Claude Code, Claude Desktop and Codex. Claude Code and Codex connect to the local HTTP endpoint directly. Claude Desktop uses a local bridge. See [Connect your agent](https://on.auto/docs/get-started/local#connect-your-agent).

## Do I need an Auto Cloud account?

No. You can run Auto locally and connect your agent today. Auto Cloud is coming soon for people who prefer a hosted playbook. [Request an invite](https://on.auto/request-invite).

## Is this another chat window?

Your existing agent is the primary interface. It helps define and use a playbook; Auto stores reusable definitions and runs them outside that conversation. [Auto Studio](https://studio.on.auto/) presents the playbooks and runs stored by your local Auto Runtime.

## Can an agent use just one function?

Yes. An agent can call a saved function directly and decide which functions to use. Workflows coordinate those same reusable functions as steps. See the [MCP reference](https://on.auto/docs/reference/mcp) for the supported operations.

## Can I run it myself?

Yes. Start with the [local quick start](https://on.auto/docs/get-started/local). For an authenticated deployment your team can share, see [Self-hosting](https://on.auto/docs/self-host). [Xolvio Professional Services](https://www.xolv.io/contact-us) can help with production setup and support.

## Does it learn on its own?

Dream is planned to explore history and propose connections or methods worth testing. These inspirations need evaluation. Model and method improvements go through explicit changes and tests. [Dream is coming soon](https://on.auto/docs/concepts/history-and-dream).

## Do I need Apollo?

No. Apollo GraphOS can help expose existing APIs to an agent, and is one integration option. It is not required to run the Auto runtime. See [using Apollo alongside Auto](https://on.auto/docs/integrations/apollo).

## Can you build a playbook with us?

[Build Brains](https://buildbrains.co/) works mainly with marketing teams. [Xolvio](https://www.xolv.io/) provides integration and production engineering. You can also [contact Auto](https://on.auto/contact-us) about the platform.

## Sitemap

See the [full documentation and product sitemap](https://on.auto/sitemap.md) for related pages.