probe-api-endpoints-before-use

name	probe-api-endpoints-before-use
description	Use when making HTTP requests to an API or service. Always verify the endpoint exists by checking documentation or probing the base URL first.
category	automation

Probe API Endpoints Before Calling

1. Before making API calls, check if documentation exists in the project (README.md, API docs)
2. Probe the base URL first with curl <base-url> to see available routes
3. If getting "Not Found", stop and investigate:
   • Check if the server is actually running
   • List available routes/endpoints
   • Verify the correct URL path and HTTP method
4. Common endpoints to probe: /, /docs, /api, /health

Anti-pattern: Making POST requests to /api/temi/move without verifying the endpoint exists results in 404 Not Found errors.