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API design principles and decision-making. REST vs GraphQL vs tRPC selection, response formats, versioning, pagination.
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Based on SOC occupation classification
Analyzes user's requests, determines tech stack, plans structure, and coordinates agents.
Apply consistent changes across many files at once. One pattern, many targets.
**MANDATORY:** Use for complex/vague requests, new features, updates.
Reduce AI token usage by **6.8x average** (up to **49x** on monorepos) by giving the AI a structural map of your codebase instead of letting it read everything.
Keep sessions productive by compressing completed work while preserving key decisions.
Advanced multi-agent coordination with parallel dispatch and synthesis. Use for complex tasks requiring multiple specialist perspectives.
| name | api-patterns |
| description | API design principles and decision-making. REST vs GraphQL vs tRPC selection, response formats, versioning, pagination. |
| when_to_use | When designing REST/GraphQL/tRPC APIs, defining response formats, versioning, pagination, or API authentication. NOT for UI/frontend work. |
API design principles and decision-making for 2025. Learn to THINK, not copy fixed patterns.
Read ONLY files relevant to the request! Check the content map, find what you need.
| File | Description | When to Read |
|---|---|---|
api-style.md | REST vs GraphQL vs tRPC decision tree | Choosing API type |
rest.md | Resource naming, HTTP methods, status codes | Designing REST API |
response.md | Envelope pattern, error format, pagination | Response structure |
graphql.md | Schema design, when to use, security | Considering GraphQL |
trpc.md | TypeScript monorepo, type safety | TS fullstack projects |
versioning.md | URI/Header/Query versioning | API evolution planning |
auth.md | JWT, OAuth, Passkey, API Keys | Auth pattern selection |
rate-limiting.md | Token bucket, sliding window | API protection |
documentation.md | OpenAPI/Swagger best practices | Documentation |
security-testing.md | OWASP API Top 10, auth/authz testing | Security audits |
| Need | Skill |
|---|---|
| API implementation | @[skills/backend-development] |
| Data structure | @[skills/database-design] |
| Security details | @[skills/security-hardening] |
Before designing an API:
DON'T:
DO:
| Script | Purpose | Command |
|---|---|---|
scripts/api_validator.py | API endpoint validation | python scripts/api_validator.py <project_path> |
