# Selfdriven Octo Cardano Build Getting Started Navigator > Cardano.Build Navigator - Skill: `tomevault-io/selfdriven-octo-cardano-build-getting-started-navigator` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/selfdriven-octo-cardano-build-getting-started-navigator` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/selfdriven-octo-cardano-build-getting-started-navigator/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/selfdriven-octo-cardano-build-getting-started-navigator --- # Cardano.Build Navigator This Skill helps Claude quickly extract and structure the best links from the **Cardano.Build** community index so developers can get moving fast. ## Scope Curate from sections commonly present on the site, such as: - Where Do I Start • Cheat Sheets • Coding Quick Starts • AI • Alliances • Community • Discussions/Help • Diagrams • Educational Resources • Events • Gaming Dev Resources • Inspiration • Identity / SSI • Information Security • Infrastructure • Network • Open Source • People To Follow • Project Resources • Research • Services • Staying Safe • Things • UTXO Family > Primary source: https://cardano.build/ (and the backing repo `selfdriven-octo/cardano-build`). Use this site as the canonical index. ## Instructions 1. **Identify the user’s intent** Map their ask to site sections (e.g., *Aiken*, *Lucid*, *Marlowe*, *APIs/Indexers*, *SSI/Identity*, *Infrastructure/Node*, *Security*, *Education*). 2. **Collect candidates from Cardano.Build** - Pull relevant links and one-line descriptors from the live page. - If the site is momentarily inaccessible, fall back to the GitHub repo’s `docs/` or the most recently mirrored content. 3. **Prioritize quality** - Prefer official docs, SDKs, and maintained repos. - Keep only build-relevant materials (no price/market content). - De-duplicate near-identical links; keep the clearer one. 4. **Output a compact, structured brief** - Start with a **TL;DR** (3–6 bullets). - Provide **Top Picks (3–8)** with link, one-line “why”, and when to use. - Add **Alternatives / Also worth a look** if helpful. - Include a **Mini “First 5 Steps”** if the user asked “where to start”. - End with **Updated:** `` and **Source:** `cardano.build`. 5. **Style & constraints** - Short, skimmable bullets. - Plain Markdown. - Include raw links (not embedded images). - If the user asks for *regional* context (e.g., Oceania meetups), surface relevant community/event links. 6. **Safety & correctness** - Don’t recommend unmaintained or clearly deprecated tools unless explicitly requested (label them as legacy). - For wallets, node ops, or smart-contract examples, prefer sources with clear version notes (e.g., Aiken v*, Plutus v3, Lucid docs). ## Templates ### A. General “Where do I start?” (Cardano dev) **TL;DR** - Bullet 1–3 about best “hello world” path and toolchain. **Top Picks** - **Getting Started (official):** — Why this first; what you’ll achieve. - **Language/Tool #1:** — What it’s for; when to choose it. - **SDK/API:** — What it’s for; quick win example. **First 5 Steps** 1. Install … 2. Scaffold … 3. Build/test … 4. Connect to … 5. Deploy or simulate … **Updated:** YYYY-MM-DD **Source:** https://cardano.build/ ### B. Category drill-down (e.g., “Identity / SSI”) **TL;DR** - 2–4 bullets summarizing what’s on offer. **Top Picks** - **Identus / Atala PRISM docs:** — VC/DID focus, when to use. - **Libraries/SDKs:** — Key features; maturity. - **Tools / Playgrounds:** — What you can try in minutes. **Also worth a look** - Bullet list of 2–5 more links with one-liners. **Updated:** YYYY-MM-DD **Source:** https://cardano.build/ ## Examples ### Example 1 — “Give me the fastest path to ‘Hello, World’ smart contract” **TL;DR** - Use **Aiken** for a clean devex and modern toolchain. - Pair with **Lucid** for JS/TS off-chain code. - Test locally; deploy later. **Top Picks** - **Aiken (language & toolchain):** https://aiken-lang.org — Modern Plutus-Core path; great docs and DX. - **Lucid (JS/TS SDK):** https://lucid.spacebudz.io — Build transactions/dApps in JS/TS. - **Developers portal:** https://developers.cardano.org — Official overview and references. **First 5 Steps** 1. Install Aiken; run `aiken new` and compile. 2. Write minimal validator; run local tests. 3. Use Lucid to construct a tx calling your script. 4. Simulate; inspect UTxOs. 5. Wire to a wallet adapter and run end-to-end. **Updated:** YYYY-MM-DD **Source:** https://cardano.build/ ### Example 2 — “Best APIs/indexers to query chain data” **Top Picks** - **Koios:** https://www.koios.rest — Community API; broad coverage. - **Dandelion:** https://dandelion.link — Free community endpoints. - **Ogmios:** https://ogmios.dev — Lightweight bridge to `cardano-node`. - **UTxO RPC:** https://utxorpc.org — Shared gRPC spec for UTxO chains. - **Cardanoscan API:** https://docs.cardanoscan.io — Explorer-backed endpoints. **Updated:** YYYY-MM-DD **Source:** https://cardano.build/ ### Example 3 — “Identity / SSI starting points” **Top Picks** - **Identus / PRISM docs:** — VC/DID on Cardano. - **Standards & tooling:** . - **Playgrounds / demos:** — Try issuance & verification flows. **Updated:** YYYY-MM-DD **Source:** https://cardano.build/ ## Notes - This Skill is a navigator/curator: it doesn’t decide *which* on-chain approach is “best” universally; it matches user intent to the strongest resources on **cardano.build** and explains why. - Keep answers current; prefer links that show clear versioning (Aiken/Plutus/Lucid versions, node compatibility). --- > Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/selfdriven-octo) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.