Glossary

The words Caide uses, defined plainly.

Short definitions for the architecture and pricing terms you will see across the product, docs, and comparisons.

AI app builder

A tool that turns a natural-language prompt into a working application by planning, writing, and running code. Caide is a local-first AI app builder for React Native, Flutter, Next.js, and blank projects.

BYOK (bring your own key)

A model where you connect your own provider account or API key instead of buying inference from the app vendor. Caide BYOK is free forever, with no quota or token markup from Caide.

Local-first

An architecture where project files, state, and history live on your machine, and the app remains useful without a vendor cloud. Caide stores projects, SQLite state, and keys locally; model calls still need a provider.

Agent turn

One user prompt and the agent's full response cycle: context assembly, model streaming, tool calls, consent pauses, verification, and a checkpoint. Caide turns run through a single local engine.

App Blueprint

An interactive planning card that outlines routes, data models, component hierarchies, and tradeoffs before the agent writes code. Blueprints reduce rework by aligning architecture first.

DeviceLab

Caide's multi-device preview surface. It frames the running app as an iPhone, Android device, tablet, or desktop, with hot reload, console logs, diagnostics, and QR testing on physical phones.

LiveLab

Caide's live browser preview for web apps, with responsive viewports and optional preview tunnels. DeviceLab adds mobile hardware frames and device-specific controls on top.

Database branching

Creating an isolated, copy-on-write copy of a database for a feature thread. Caide can branch Supabase or Neon Postgres so the agent tests migrations without touching the main database.

MCP (Model Context Protocol)

An open protocol for exposing tools and data sources to AI models. Caide connects MCP servers over stdio and SSE to extend the agent's toolset.

Consent gate

A pause before a high-risk action, such as a shell command, file delete, package install, or database migration. The agent waits for explicit approval before proceeding.

Immutable framework

A project type chosen at creation that fixes the scaffolding, prompts, toolchain, and preview adapter for that stack. Caide supports React Native (Expo), Flutter, Next.js/Vite, and Blank.

Caide Agent

Caide's optional hosted agent. It costs ₦3,000 for 30 days after a 7-day / 500-credit trial and runs on OpenCode Console, so no provider key is required. It is the only paid surface.

OpenCode Console

The upstream inference service behind Caide Agent. The Console key is held by Caide's server; the desktop app never receives it.