Before a large Scout run

Use this checklist before a large export, a citywide research pass, or a sync to Atlas.

1. Check The Command

scout --help
scout db path

2. Prepare Scout

scout setup
scout config model
scout search connect
scout login --atlas-url https://atlas.rebuildingus.org

For scripts, pass credentials through the shell:

export SEARCH_API_KEY=...
export ATLAS_API_KEY=...

3. Check Readiness

scout doctor \
  --atlas-url https://atlas.rebuildingus.org \
  --require direct-url-runs \
  --require search-discovery \
  --require atlas-sync \
  --json

Do not start a large run until Scout is ready for the work you plan to do.

4. Run A Small Pass First

Start with one known public page:

scout run \
  --prompt "Find source-backed civic actors and keep the source context." \
  https://example.org/public-page

Then test the place and issue set:

scout run \
  --location "Las Vegas, NV" \
  --issues housing_affordability,public_transit \
  --target-count 25

5. Check Browser Rendering When Needed

If the sources depend on JavaScript, test a bounded crawl:

scout articles crawl \
  --seed https://example.org/news \
  --target-count 5 \
  --max-pages 20 \
  --max-depth 1 \
  --browser-renders 3 \
  --json

Scout should use normal HTML first and keep browser renders within the budget.

6. Review The Results

scout runs list
scout entries stats
scout entries list --type person --random --unique-names --limit 25 --format json

Check source title, URL, date, type, and context before export or sync. Do not treat a name as current just because Scout found it.

7. Export Or Sync

Export reviewed people:

scout export entries \
  --run-id RUN_ID \
  --type person \
  --unique-names \
  --format jsonl \
  --output people.jsonl

Sync a reviewed run:

scout sync RUN_ID \
  --atlas-url https://atlas.rebuildingus.org \
  --target public

Keep uncertain work private to a workspace:

scout sync RUN_ID \
  --atlas-url https://atlas.rebuildingus.org \
  --target workspace \
  --workspace WORKSPACE_ID

Ready To Scale

A large run is ready when:

Scout is ready for direct runs, search discovery, and sync.
A small direct URL run and a small place-and-issue run both produce useful results.
Browser rendering stays bounded when it is used.
Sampled entries include source context that supports the claim.
Exported files preserve source fields.
Sync returns a receipt and does not directly publish public records.

Start

Run discovery

Review and share

Operations

Reference

Before a large Scout run

1. Check The Command

2. Prepare Scout

3. Check Readiness

4. Run A Small Pass First

5. Check Browser Rendering When Needed

6. Review The Results

7. Export Or Sync

Ready To Scale

​1. Check The Command

​2. Prepare Scout

​3. Check Readiness

​4. Run A Small Pass First

​5. Check Browser Rendering When Needed

​6. Review The Results

​7. Export Or Sync

​Ready To Scale

1. Check The Command

2. Prepare Scout

3. Check Readiness

4. Run A Small Pass First

5. Check Browser Rendering When Needed

6. Review The Results

7. Export Or Sync

Ready To Scale