Learn to build AI agents for business.
A hands-on, project-based course that takes you from how AI actually works to building, evaluating, and safely shipping AI agents across marketing, lead generation, web, and operations. Beginner to professional — no engineering degree required.
What you'll learn
Eleven phases, foundation to applied. Each builds on the last — by the end, the applications aren't tricks, they're the foundations cashing in.
Foundations
How large language models actually work — next-token prediction, tokens, training, context windows, and why they hallucinate.
Prompting
Prompting as engineering a specification: context, examples, structured output, and iterating like an engineer.
Framing
The AI landscape and the leader's lens — what to build, what AI is good and bad at, and how to measure ROI.
Systems · Agents
What an agent really is, tool-calling, agentic patterns, context engineering and RAG, and multi-agent systems.
Wiring · Code
Just enough code fundamentals to read, reason about, and direct AI-generated code with confidence.
Inspection
Reliability: evals as the real moat, guardrails, and human-in-the-loop — the leap from demo to business-grade.
AI for Marketing
Brand voice at scale, the content repurposing engine, SEO and generative engine optimization, and ad creative.
AI for Lead Generation
Sourcing and enrichment, qualification and scoring, personalized outreach, and follow-up with CRM workflows.
AI for Web
AI as a pair programmer, brief-to-landing-page, embedded site chatbots, and technical SEO and shipping.
AI for Operations
Document extraction, inbox triage, scheduling and coordination, and a grounded company knowledge base.
Data, Cost & Governance
Model selection and cost, data privacy and security, the human-gate doctrine, and the ethics of using AI honestly.
How it works
Active recall, not passive video. You read, you're tested, you build — and you can't advance until you've actually got it.
Each sheet sets clear objectives, teaches the mechanism with worked examples, and gives you a textbook glossary of key terms — with read-aloud if you'd rather listen.
A mastery check gates every sheet: score 2 of 3 to sign off and advance. Stack combos for score as you go.
Each phase ends in a graded capstone project tied to a real business — your own, ideally — scored against a rubric.
Clear every lesson and project to unlock the certification exam. Pass at 80% to earn AI Architect.
Why I built this
I run real small businesses and build for others — websites, automation, AI systems that have to actually work. Every AI course I tried taught me to chat with a model, not to ship with one. Skillwright is the course I wished existed: mechanism-first, tested every step, and finished with projects you run on a real business. If that's the kind of learning you want, you'll feel at home here.
— Trent Bryant · Founder, Hand Coded Web
Frequently asked questions
The short version of who this is for and what you get.
Who is this AI course for?
Operators, founders, and professionals who want to actually build and deploy AI in a business — not just chat with it. It starts at foundations and goes to a professional level, so beginners and technically-comfortable learners both have a path.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. A full phase teaches just enough code fundamentals to read and direct AI-generated code. You don't need to be an engineer, but you will learn to reason about what an agent is doing.
What will I be able to do when I finish?
Explain how AI models work, design and spec AI agents, read the code underneath them, apply AI to marketing, lead generation, web, and operations, and wrap it all in evals and guardrails so it's safe to run in a real business.
How long does the course take and what does it cost?
It's self-paced across 45 lessons in 11 phases with 11 graded capstone projects and a certification exam. It's a one-time $199 launch price for lifetime access — pay once and it's yours, including the certification.
Is this course affiliated with Anthropic or Claude?
No. This is independent educational material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Anthropic. It references and links to official Anthropic resources for further study, but the course itself is independent.
Is the certification accredited?
It is a course-completion certificate, not an accredited industry credential. You earn it by passing every lesson, every graded project, and the final exam.
How do I access the course after I pay?
Instantly. The moment your payment clears, you're taken to a welcome screen that unlocks the course on your device — no waiting and no approval step. You'll also get a payment receipt by email from Stripe.
Do I need to create an account or password?
No. Skillwright has no logins to forget. Your purchase unlocks the course on the device you bought it on, and you're handed a private access link you can use to get back in.
What if I switch devices or clear my browser?
Use the private access link from your welcome screen to open the course on any device. Keep that link to yourself — it's your key. If you ever lose it, email hello@handcodedweb.com and we'll help you back in.
Is it really lifetime access?
Yes. One payment, no subscription, and no recurring charges. You keep access to the course and the certification track for the life of the product, including updates we make to the material.
What is your refund policy?
If you go through the early lessons and it's genuinely not for you, email hello@handcodedweb.com within 14 days of purchase and we'll make it right.
What do I need to take the course?
Just a web browser — there's nothing to install. Audio is optional; it powers the read-aloud feature and the sound effects, and you can mute it anytime.
How is the course structured?
Eleven phases, 45 lessons, and 11 graded capstone projects, finishing with a certification exam. You move up ranks from Apprentice to AI Architect as you complete each phase.
Who is Rivet?
Rivet is your build companion in the course. As you answer lesson checks correctly, Rivet upgrades — armor, gadgets, the works — and a wrong answer knocks pieces loose. Get Rivet to full Architect spec by the time you finish.
Will I get a certificate I can show clients or employers?
Yes — a Skillwright course-completion certificate, earned by passing every lesson, every graded project, and the final exam. It's a completion certificate, not an accredited industry credential.
Which AI tools and models does it cover?
The fundamentals are vendor-neutral and apply across today's major AI providers. The course references official Anthropic and Claude resources for deeper study, but what you learn isn't locked to a single tool.
Do I need to pay for AI API access separately?
The course itself is self-contained. Some optional hands-on practice may use a provider's free tier or your own API key, but nothing extra is required to complete the lessons, projects, or exam.
Is my payment secure?
Yes. Checkout is handled entirely by Stripe, a PCI-compliant payment processor. Your card details go straight to Stripe — we never see or store them.
Can I pay in installments?
If pay-over-time options like Klarna, Afterpay, or Affirm are available in your region, they'll appear as choices on the Stripe checkout screen. You still get full access right away.
How do I get help or contact you?
Use the contact form below, or email hello@handcodedweb.com directly. We're a small team and read every message.
Still have a question?
Email hello@handcodedweb.com, or send us a message and we'll get back to you.
Get Skillwright
- Lifetime access — pay once, it's yours
- 45 lessons across 11 phases, foundation to professional
- 11 graded capstone projects + certification exam
- Read-aloud, key-terms glossary, progress saved on your device
- Official Anthropic study resources mapped to every phase
No account needed. Pay once via Stripe and you're unlocked instantly on this device.
✓ 14-day make-it-right guarantee — try the early lessons, and if it's not for you, email us and we'll sort it out.
You own this course on this device.