> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.specode.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Frequently Asked Questions

> Common questions about building healthcare applications with Specode

## General Questions

If you don't see your question here, reach out to support and we'll point you to the right doc.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What makes Specode different from other no-code platforms?" icon="sparkles">
    Specode uniquely combines:

    * **Speed of no-code** with full code ownership
    * **Healthcare focus** with built-in HIPAA compliance
    * **AI-powered development** for rapid iteration
    * **Custom code flexibility** without vendor lock-in

    You get the best of both worlds: rapid development and complete control.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Who owns the code developed through Specode?" icon="key">
    You own 100% of the application code your project produces. You can export it at any time, modify it independently, and deploy it anywhere.

    The AI Coder itself is proprietary Specode technology and runs within the Specode platform. It is not something you install separately or connect your own API keys to. Your subscription gives you access to the AI Coder for continued development. The code it generates, however, is entirely yours.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens if we want to take development in-house?" icon="code-branch">
    This is a supported path. You own 100% of the code, so the move is mostly logistics:

    * We hand over the GitHub repository with the full source code
    * The stack is standard (React, Tailwind, Shadcn, Convex) with no proprietary dependencies, so any development team can pick it up
    * Once you're self-hosting, there are no Specode platform fees

    Customers have done exactly this. [AlgoRX](https://www.specode.ai/portfolio/algorx) built and scaled their platform on Specode, then brought development in-house as the company grew.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do we know Specode will be around long-term?" icon="building">
    A fair question to ask of any platform you build on, and there are two answers.

    **Who's behind it.** Specode is built and operated by Topflight, a US-based healthcare software development company with more than a decade of building and maintaining clinical-grade applications, and an in-house engineering and compliance team.

    **What happens in the worst case.** Your app doesn't depend on our existence. You own the full source code on a standard stack, and you can export and self-host at any time. No lock-in means no stranded app.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What kind of support can I expect?" icon="headset">
    **Pro:**
    Consultation with a senior product manager, hands-on weekly team support, prompt guidance, bug fixes & small implementations, unblocking sessions on demand

    **Custom:**
    Everything in Pro, plus dedicated team support and managed services
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What does the Pro plan include?" icon="badge-check">
    Pro is **\$1,000/month** and includes:

    * **2,200 credits/month**
    * **Unlimited draft projects**
    * **1 published project**
    * **Production deployment**
    * **Hosting setup included**
    * **Custom domain support**
    * **Consultation with a senior product manager**
    * **Hands-on weekly team support**
    * **Prompt guidance for new features**
    * **Bug fixes & small implementations**
    * **Unblocking sessions on demand**

    **Compliance-ready production deployment**

    * **Backend hosting BAA is self-serve** for production deployments - you sign Convex's BAA directly in your dashboard, no negotiation needed. We handle the migration with zero downtime.
    * **Optional in-house penetration test:** **\$3,000** (available upon request).

    **What's not included**

    * Third-party services your app integrates with (telehealth video, messaging, eRx, analytics, etc.) may have their own fees and agreements, including BAAs where applicable.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What does the Custom plan include?" icon="crown">
    Custom starts at **\$5,000/month** and includes everything in Pro, plus:

    * **Managed services & coding**
    * **Dedicated team support**
    * **Custom AI agents**
    * **Advanced integrations**
    * **Unlimited published projects**
    * **Custom feature development**

    A complete hands-off solution with our team building and maintaining your app.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Are there ongoing monthly maintenance fees?" icon="dollar-sign">
    If you've exported the code and aren't using Specode, there are no platform fees—you manage the code yourself. If you're on Pro or Custom, there's a monthly subscription (see [pricing](https://www.specode.ai/#pricing)) that gives you credits, multi-project support, and additional features.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I buy extra credits if I run out of those included in my plan?" icon="dollar-sign">
    Yes - pay-as-you-go credits are available on all plans. Credits don't roll over into the next billing cycle.

    **Credit top-ups:**

    * **50 credits - \$20**
    * **300 credits - \$100**
    * **800 credits - \$260**
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is the Pro plan a one-time fee?" icon="circle-question">
    No. **\$1,000 is the monthly Pro subscription**, and it includes **2,200 credits per month** plus production deployment, team support, and more.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I cancel anytime? What happens if I cancel?" icon="circle-xmark">
    Yes. Pro is monthly and cancellable.

    If you cancel, **your production app goes offline**. Before cancelling, you can export your code if you plan to self-host elsewhere.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I upgrade my plan?" icon="arrow-up-right">
    1. Click your **project name** (from an active project) or **profile icon** (from the main dashboard)
    2. Select **Settings**
    3. Click **Change Plan**
    4. Choose your new plan and complete payment

    Your account, projects, and all your work transfer automatically - nothing is lost when you upgrade.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Technical Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can Specode integrate with other healthcare systems?" icon="plug">
    **Yes, extensive integration capabilities:**

    * EHR/EMR systems (Epic, Cerner, etc.)
    * Laboratory information systems
    * Pharmacy networks
    * Insurance verification systems
    * Third-party APIs
    * Custom integrations via webhooks

    We provide robust APIs and documentation for seamless connectivity.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I add API integrations to my app?" icon="code">
    **1. Tell the AI what integration you want**

    Example: "I want to add Twilio SMS notifications when appointments are booked."

    **2. Ask the AI what credentials you need**

    Example: "What API keys do I need to add in Project Settings for Twilio to work?"

    The AI will tell you exactly which keys to get (e.g., Account SID, Auth Token).

    **3. Get your API keys from the external service**

    Sign up or log into the service (Twilio, Stripe, etc.) and copy your credentials.

    **4. Add the keys to Project Settings**

    Go to **Project Settings → Integrations**, scroll to the bottom, and add your key/value pairs.

    **5. Tell the AI you added the keys**

    Example: "I added my Twilio credentials. Here are the values: \[paste keys]. Can you verify the integration works?"

    The AI will execute or test the integration with your credentials.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How does Specode ensure HIPAA compliance?" icon="shield-check">
    HIPAA compliance is built into every layer:

    **Platform-Level Security:**

    * End-to-end encryption
    * Secure authentication infrastructure
    * Protected data storage (Convex)
    * Regular security updates

    **Features You Build:**

    * Role-based access controls
    * Audit logging
    * Custom data retention policies

    **Built-in HIPAA Compliance Agent:**

    Specode includes a HIPAA Compliance Agent that scans your codebase for potential HIPAA violations - no setup required. Run it on demand from the Compliance Center inside the AI Coder. The agent uses a multi-agent system (two independent scans merged and verified by a third) to reduce false positives, and categorizes issues by severity (Critical, High, Medium, Low). You can copy flagged issues into the AI Coder chat to fix them, then re-run the scan to confirm. Each scan takes roughly 3-4 minutes and costs approximately 1 credit. All scan history is saved so you can track compliance progress over time.

    The agent currently covers authentication and session security, data handling, and common compliance pitfalls, with additional categories coming over time.

    Our AI helps you implement these compliance features using healthcare best practices. The backend infrastructure (Convex) provides the secure foundation; you build the application-specific safeguards on top.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do you ensure the quality of AI-generated code?" icon="robot">
    Several layers of structure and review sit between a prompt and your production app:

    * **Staged builds with approval gates.** Maestro's three specialized agents (Planning, Design, Implementation) take you from roadmap to design system to working code, and you approve each stage before the next one starts. Code gets written against an approved plan.
    * **Healthcare-specific skills.** For common healthcare patterns (patient intake, scheduling, provider search, MFA, and more), the AI follows structured playbooks built on proven healthcare workflows. It asks the right clarifying questions and builds to healthcare UX best practices instead of improvising from scratch.
    * **HIPAA Compliance Agent.** Run on-demand scans of your codebase from the Compliance Center. Issues come back ranked by severity, and you can re-run the scan after fixes to confirm they're resolved.
    * **Pre-launch review.** Before your app goes live in production, our team reviews it for security and HIPAA compliance.
    * **Hands-on engineering on Custom.** If you're on the Custom plan, our engineers build alongside your team or take over development entirely, working directly with the code.

    And since you own the full source code on a standard stack, your own developers can audit it at any time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do you validate the accuracy of AI features like matching or recommendations?" icon="bullseye">
    Code quality and AI accuracy are two different problems, and we treat them that way. The platform covers the engineering side (see the previous question). The accuracy of a domain-specific AI feature, like a matching or recommendation engine, depends on domain data and expert judgment, so that part is a collaboration:

    * **Your curated dataset.** You provide the reference data the feature is measured against. We give you instructions on format and structure at project start, and the data goes in early or mid-project, so the engine is built and tuned against it from the beginning.
    * **Testing during development.** Once the feature reaches a testable state, you get a preview link to evaluate real outputs long before deployment.
    * **Expert validation.** Your subject-matter expert acts as the checkpoint on output quality, and automated evaluation against your dataset can be scoped into the project.

    We build and instrument the engine. You bring the ground truth.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need to sign a separate BAA for backend hosting?" icon="file-signature">
    The backend hosting BAA is self-serve, no negotiation needed: you sign Convex's BAA directly in your dashboard, and we migrate your project over with zero downtime.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need a BAA with Specode?" icon="file-signature">
    In most cases, no. The typical requirement is a BAA at the hosting layer for production deployments. If your setup requires a direct BAA with Specode, contact us to discuss options.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does Specode store or access patient data after I deploy?" icon="lock">
    No. After deployment, Specode does not store or access your patient data.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do you offer penetration testing?" icon="shield">
    Yes. We offer an **optional in-house penetration test for \$3,000**. Teams typically request this when they need a pen test report for procurement, security review, or enterprise onboarding.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is Specode SOC2 certified?" icon="certificate">
    **Specode is not SOC2 certified** at this time.

    However, our backend infrastructure (Convex) maintains **SOC2 Type II attestations**, which means your production data is stored on infrastructure that has passed rigorous third-party security audits.

    For teams that require a SOC2 report for procurement or compliance review, we recommend noting Convex's attestation status alongside the other compliance measures we support (self-serve BAA available for Pro deployments, optional penetration testing, HIPAA-ready architecture).

    Contact us if you have specific compliance requirements to discuss.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I modify the generated code?" icon="code">
    **Absolutely.** The code is yours to modify:

    * Full access to source code
    * Well-documented, clean code structure
    * Built with Next.js framework
    * No proprietary dependencies
    * Continue development with any team
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What tech stack does Specode use?" icon="layer-group">
    Modern, production-ready stack:

    * **React** - Front-end React framework
    * **Shadcn** - Component library
    * **Tailwind CSS** - Styling framework
    * **Convex** - Database and authentication
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does Specode support multilingual interfaces?" icon="layer-group">
    Yes. You can build applications with multilingual user interfaces. You can adapt copy, labels, and flows for different languages so patients and providers can use the product in their preferred language.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I add AI voice agents?" icon="layer-group">
    Yes, in most cases. You can integrate third-party voice/AI agent providers to enable things like voice-driven intake, phone-based follow-up, or automated check-ins. The exact setup depends on the capabilities and compliance posture of the provider you choose - Specode can connect to external services, but those services need to support the workflows you want.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Which browsers work with Specode?" icon="browser">
    Specode's in-app preview runs on web containers, which require a **Chromium-based browser**:

    * **Supported:** Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc, Opera
    * **Not supported:** DuckDuckGo browser, some older browsers
    * **Partial support:** Safari (may have issues with preview)

    If the preview isn't loading or shuts down unexpectedly, try switching to Chrome or Edge.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The preview looks broken or outdated - what should I do?" icon="rotate">
    If your app preview looks wrong after changes or a fix from our team, try clearing your browser cache:

    1. **Hard refresh:** Press `Ctrl+Shift+R` (Windows/Linux) or `Cmd+Shift+R` (Mac)
    2. **Clear cache:** Go to your browser settings and clear cached images and files
    3. **Reload the project:** Close the tab and reopen your project from the dashboard

    Stale cached assets can sometimes show an older version of your app even after issues have been resolved.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Platform

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How quickly can I launch an app?" icon="rocket">
    Specode's guided workflow gets you to a **working prototype with 3-5 screens in about 10 minutes**. From there, timeline to production depends on complexity:

    * **Basic telehealth app:** 1-2 weeks
    * **Custom patient portal:** 2-4 weeks
    * **Full healthcare platform:** 4-8 weeks

    Compare to traditional development: 6-12 months minimum.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why are your estimates lower than traditional development quotes?" icon="calculator">
    Because most of what makes healthcare development slow is already built.

    A generalist agency quoting a clinical application budgets hours for compliance infrastructure, secure auth, audit logging, and the learning curve of healthcare-specific flows. On Specode that foundation comes out of the box, AI handles the scaffolding, and development hours go to what's unique about your product.

    Behind the platform sits more than a decade of healthcare-only delivery, with processes tuned to these builds. The estimate looks light because the foundation work is already done.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I add new features after my first build is done?" icon="plus">
    Yes. After your initial build, just describe what you want to add and the AI handles it - whether it's a new module, additional user roles, or entirely new workflows. There's no limit on what you can add or when. The guided workflow (plan, design, build) gets you to a working app fast, but development doesn't stop there.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I change the design or go back to planning after the app is built?" icon="arrows-rotate">
    Yes - at any point. You're not locked into a linear process. After your first build, you can:

    * Revisit planning to add features or change scope
    * Redesign layouts, colors, or the full look and feel
    * Jump straight to implementation changes

    Just describe what you want in plain language. The AI adapts to your request - you don't need to manually switch between planning, design, or coding modes. You can even ignore the original roadmap entirely and take your app in a new direction.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Will making changes break what already works?" icon="shield-check">
    Normal additions and refinements don't break existing functionality. If you ask for something that requires a structural change - like replacing a dashboard layout or switching authentication methods - the AI will handle the transition, but those kinds of changes naturally touch more of the app. Build incrementally and test as you go for the best results.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can your team help with UI/UX design?" icon="puzzle-piece">
    Yes-available on the Custom plan (from \$5,000/month). We can handle product design, UX flows, and brand implementation on top of Specode's theming system.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can we ship both web and mobile app versions?" icon="puzzle-piece">
    There's no native mobile app output today. The web app is fully responsive and works on phones and tablets. If you later need native apps, you can plan that separately while reusing the same backend/services.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What does your process look like-payments, collaboration, and workflow?" icon="puzzle-piece">
    For the Custom plan (when our team proactively builds with you):

    * Billing: monthly, starting at \$5,000/month.
    * Collaboration: primarily async (email) plus weekly standups.
    * Workflow: scope goals → iterative builds in Specode → reviews & refinements → ready for go-live steps (security/BAAs).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Note>
  **Have more questions?** Contact our team or explore our [Quick Start Tutorial](/overview/getting-started/quick-start-tutorial) to see Specode in action.
</Note>