The latest articles on DEV Community by Pushkar Pawar (@pushkar_7129). https://dev.to/pushkar_7129 https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4232498%2F4b85072c-186c-40ad-86f6-f623ed05ea56.png https://dev.to/pushkar_7129 en Pushkar Pawar Sat, 07 Nov 2026 17:09:14 +0000 https://dev.to/pushkar_7129/my-first-switch-hackathon-setting-up-an-ai-powered-workspace-a50 https://dev.to/pushkar_7129/my-first-switch-hackathon-setting-up-an-ai-powered-workspace-a50 <h1> My First Switch Hackathon: Setting Up an AI-Powered Workspace </h1> <h2> Introduction </h2> <p>For the Flip the Switch Hackathon, I decided to explore how an AI-powered workspace could help organise and manage creative tasks.</p> <p>My goal was to understand how Switch works, set up a local environment, and explore connecting an AI coding agent through OpenCode.</p> <h2> Setting Up Switch </h2> <p>I started by setting up Switch on my Windows computer. The process introduced me to several tools and concepts:</p> <ul> <li> <strong>Switch:</strong> The workspace I wanted to explore.</li> <li> <strong>Docker:</strong> Used as part of the local environment.</li> <li> <strong>PostgreSQL:</strong> The database used by the setup.</li> <li> <strong>OpenCode:</strong> The AI coding agent I explored connecting to Switch.</li> </ul> <p>Getting all these pieces installed and running took patience. I had to understand how the different tools fit together rather than treating setup as one single step.</p> <h2> Exploring OpenCode </h2> <p>I initially had an older OpenCode CLI version installed. I then downloaded a newer standalone version and checked that it worked from PowerShell.</p> <p>I also checked the available models and confirmed that OpenCode could respond to a simple test prompt.</p> <p>This helped me understand the difference between installing a tool, authenticating it, and connecting it to another application.</p> <h2> What Worked and What Didn't </h2> <p>I successfully got the local Switch server running and confirmed that the OpenCode CLI could run independently.</p> <p>However, I ran into a problem when Switch tried to verify the OpenCode provider sign-in. The provider verification did not complete, so I could not finish creating and connecting my intended agent.</p> <p>I decided not to pretend the integration was successful. Instead, I treated this as an important part of the learning experience.</p> <h2> What I Learned </h2> <p>This setup taught me a few useful lessons:</p> <ol> <li>A running local server does not automatically mean every integration is working.</li> <li>Version differences between tools can create confusing setup problems.</li> <li>Authentication and provider verification are separate from simply installing a CLI.</li> <li>Reading logs and testing one component at a time makes troubleshooting easier.</li> <li>It is important to document failures honestly, not just successful results.</li> </ol> <h2> Conclusion </h2> <p>My first experience with Switch was a learning journey through local development, databases, command-line tools, and AI agent integration.</p> <p>I did not complete the final provider connection, but I gained a better understanding of the setup process and the challenges involved in connecting independent tools.</p> <p>This experience has given me a starting point to keep experimenting with AI-powered workflows and build something more complete in the future.</p> <p><em>Created as my learning reflection for the Flip the Switch Hackathon.</em></p> hackathon beginners ai productivity