# Using RealScout with AI tools

## What works today

The API works with AI coding tools that run on your computer and can make web requests: **Claude Code**, **Cursor** and **Codex**. They read your token from the `REALSCOUT_API_TOKEN` environment variable (see *Keeping your token safe*) and call the API for you.

The API doesn't yet work with **Claude.ai** or **ChatGPT** chat. Those apps have no way to accept a token safely, and pasting it into the chat isn't safe.

## Getting started

Copy the starter prompt beside this guide into your AI tool. It tells the tool where this reference is, the base URL, and to read your token from `REALSCOUT_API_TOKEN`. Finish the last line with what you want, for example:

- "List my contacts with the highest Scout Score."
- "Which of my contacts were active this week?"
- "Tag everyone who viewed a listing in Henderson with `Henderson`."

Your tool should call `GET /me` first. That confirms the token works and shows which scopes it has.

## Before you let a tool make changes

A token with `contacts:write` lets the tool edit, tag and archive your contacts. Ask the tool to show you what it plans to change before it runs, and start with a read-only token until you trust the workflow.

## Example
```text
I want to use the RealScout API to work with my own RealScout data.

Read the API reference first: https://bump.sh/realscout/doc/realscout-api/llms.txt

- Base URL: https://www.realscout.com/api/agent/v1
- Authenticate with the header "Authorization: Bearer <token>". My token is in the REALSCOUT_API_TOKEN environment variable. Read it from there; never print it, log it, or ask me to paste it.
- Start by calling GET /me to confirm the token works and to see which scopes it has.

Then help me with: 
```