RAPID Overview

RAPID is an orchestration layer for AI-assisted development. It manages the complexity of running AI coding tools inside containerized environments.

The Problem

AI coding assistants are powerful but require significant setup:

1. Environment Consistency — AI tools need consistent environments to work reliably
2. Context Preparation — Agents perform better with proper documentation and project context
3. Secret Management — API keys must be injected securely, not committed to repos
4. Container Isolation — Running AI agents in containers provides security boundaries
5. Tool Fragmentation — Each AI tool (Claude, OpenCode, Aider) has different setup requirements

Setting this up for each project is tedious, error-prone, and often results in inconsistent experiences.

The Solution

RAPID provides a single orchestration layer:

rapid start

1. Build/start dev container from devcontainer.json
2. Load secrets from 1Password/Vault into environment
3. Generate/update AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md from project context
4. Install AI CLI tools if missing (claude, opencode, aider)
5. Configure MCP servers if specified

rapid dev

1. Attach to running container
2. Launch configured AI CLI (claude, opencode, etc.)
3. AI tool reads instruction files for context
4. Developer works in AI-assisted chat interface
5. Optional: Launch multiple agents in split panes

rapid stop

1. Gracefully exit AI CLI session
2. Stop dev container
3. Cleanup temporary resources

Core Principles

1. Wrap, Don’t Reinvent

RAPID wraps existing AI coding tools rather than building another one. Claude Code, OpenCode, and Aider are excellent tools — RAPID makes them easier to use consistently.

2. Configuration as Code

Everything is defined in rapid.json:

• Which AI agents are available
• How secrets are loaded
• What context files to include
• Container configuration

3. Secure by Default

• Secrets never stored in plaintext
• Containers provide isolation
• API keys injected at runtime only

4. Multi-Agent Support

Run multiple AI tools concurrently in split panes. Use Claude for architecture questions while Aider handles implementation.

The RAPID Methodology

Beyond tooling, RAPID embodies a methodology for effective AI-assisted development:

Research (R)

Before engaging AI, gather context:

• Read existing documentation
• Understand codebase structure
• Identify patterns and conventions
• Review related implementations

Note

AI output quality correlates directly with context quality.

Augment (A)

Enhance gathered context with external knowledge:

• API documentation
• Framework references
• Design patterns
• MCP server integrations

Note

Projects don’t exist in isolation; external context improves AI understanding.

Plan (P)

Structure work before execution:

• Break complex tasks into steps
• Define acceptance criteria
• Identify dependencies
• Create todo lists

Note

Prevents AI from going off-track; maintains focus.

Integrate (I)

Ensure environment is ready:

• Start dev containers
• Load secrets
• Verify tooling
• Setup services

Note

A properly configured environment prevents mid-task failures.

Develop (D)

Execute with AI assistance:

• Generate code
• Test implementations
• Iterate on feedback
• Review and refine

Note

This is where value is delivered.

Comparison to Manual Setup

Task	Manual	With RAPID
Start container	devcontainer up, wait, attach	rapid start
Load secrets	Export vars, source .env, etc.	Automatic
Install AI tools	npm install -g, pip install, etc.	Automatic
Generate context files	Write AGENTS.md manually	Auto-generated
Switch AI tools	Exit, configure, restart	rapid agent <name>
Run multiple agents	Manual tmux setup	rapid dev --multi

When to Use RAPID

Good fit:

• Teams wanting consistent AI-assisted workflows
• Projects requiring secure secret management
• Developers using multiple AI tools
• Organizations with container-based development

Not necessary:

• Single-file scripts or quick experiments
• Projects not using containers
• When using only one AI tool without secrets