Quick start
If you only do one thing, run the provenance demo first. It shows what Shard actually does: route one AI workflow across personal, private, and public capacity while explaining every decision.
What you bring
A question and a few source notes
What Shard does
Chooses the best place for each step
What you can inspect
Answer, receipts, and the map
Fastest to understand
Provenance demo
Best for ownership
Run your own node
Best for builders
Use the API + SDK
Best for first-time visitors. You will see the final answer, the raw receipts, and the full provenance graph together.
Best when you want your own PC or team hardware in the routing mix before public fallback.
Best for developers. Keep chat for compatibility, then move to tasks when you need workflow observability.
Simple rule
New to Shard?
Open the provenance demo first. It is the clearest explanation of the product.
Need your own hardware involved?
Run a node so Shard can prefer your own machine or your team’s machines.
Building software?
Keep chat for compatibility and use the workflow APIs when you need routing evidence.
The shortest explanation
“Why did this AI step run there?”
The Shard demo answers that question with receipts, provenance, and a final result you can actually inspect.
