managing-google-maps-platform

name	managing-google-maps-platform
description	Use when working with Google Maps Platform — google Maps Platform management including API key configuration, usage metrics, billing, quota monitoring, and service health across Maps, Routes, Places, and Geocoding APIs. Covers cost analysis, quota utilization, key restriction auditing, and error rate monitoring.
connection_type	google-maps-platform
preload	false

Google Maps Platform Management Skill

Monitor and manage Google Maps Platform services and costs.

MANDATORY: Discovery-First Pattern

Always discover enabled APIs and key restrictions before querying usage metrics.

Phase 1: Discovery

#!/bin/bash
PROJECT="${GCP_PROJECT_ID}"

echo "=== Enabled Maps APIs ==="
gcloud services list --enabled --project="$PROJECT" \
  --filter="config.name:maps OR config.name:places OR config.name:geocoding OR config.name:directions OR config.name:routes OR config.name:elevation" \
  --format="table(config.name, config.title)"

echo ""
echo "=== API Keys ==="
gcloud services api-keys list --project="$PROJECT" \
  --format="table(name.basename(), displayName, restrictions.apiTargets[0].service)"

echo ""
echo "=== Key Restrictions Audit ==="
for key in $(gcloud services api-keys list --project="$PROJECT" --format="value(name.basename())"); do
  gcloud services api-keys describe "$key" --project="$PROJECT" \
    --format="json" | jq -r '"Key: \(.displayName // .uid)\n  API Restrictions: \(.restrictions.apiTargets // ["UNRESTRICTED"] | length)\n  App Restrictions: \(.restrictions.browserKeyRestrictions // .restrictions.androidKeyRestrictions // .restrictions.iosKeyRestrictions // "NONE")"'
done

echo ""
echo "=== Quota Overview ==="
gcloud services quotas list --service=maps-backend.googleapis.com --project="$PROJECT" \
  --format="table(metric, limit, usage)" 2>/dev/null || echo "Check quotas in Cloud Console"

Phase 1 outputs: Enabled APIs, key config, restrictions, quotas

Phase 2: Analysis

#!/bin/bash
echo "=== API Usage (last 7 days) ==="
for api in maps-backend.googleapis.com geocoding-backend.googleapis.com directions-backend.googleapis.com places-backend.googleapis.com; do
  usage=$(gcloud monitoring time-series list \
    --project="$PROJECT" \
    --filter="metric.type=\"serviceruntime.googleapis.com/api/request_count\" AND resource.labels.service=\"$api\"" \
    --interval-start-time="$(date -v-7d +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ 2>/dev/null || date -d '7 days ago' +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)" \
    --format="value(points[0].value.int64Value)" 2>/dev/null)
  echo "$api: ${usage:-0} requests"
done

echo ""
echo "=== Error Rates ==="
gcloud monitoring time-series list \
  --project="$PROJECT" \
  --filter='metric.type="serviceruntime.googleapis.com/api/request_count" AND metric.labels.response_code!="200"' \
  --interval-start-time="$(date -v-1d +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ 2>/dev/null || date -d '1 day ago' +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)" \
  --format="table(metric.labels.service, metric.labels.response_code, points[0].value.int64Value)" 2>/dev/null || echo "Check error rates in Cloud Console"

echo ""
echo "=== Billing Estimate ==="
gcloud billing accounts list --format="table(name, displayName, open)" 2>/dev/null
echo "Note: Check billing dashboard for Maps Platform SKU costs"

Output Format

GOOGLE MAPS PLATFORM STATUS
============================
Project: {project_id}
Enabled APIs: {count}
API Keys: {count} ({restricted}/{total} restricted)
7-Day Requests: Maps={count} Geocoding={count} Directions={count}
Error Rate: {percent}%
Unrestricted Keys: {count} (security risk)
Issues: {list_of_warnings}

Anti-Hallucination Rules

1. NEVER assume resource names — always discover via CLI/API in Phase 1 before referencing in Phase 2.
2. NEVER fabricate metric names or dimensions — verify against the service documentation or --help output.
3. NEVER mix CLI commands between service versions — confirm which version/API you are targeting.
4. ALWAYS use the discovery → verify → analyze chain — every resource referenced must have been discovered first.
5. ALWAYS handle empty results gracefully — an empty response is valid data, not an error to retry.

Counter-Rationalizations

Shortcut	Counter	Why
"I'll skip discovery and check known resources"	Always run Phase 1 discovery first	Resource names change, new resources appear — assumed names cause errors
"The user only asked for a quick check"	Follow the full discovery → analysis flow	Quick checks miss critical issues; structured analysis catches silent failures
"Default configuration is probably fine"	Audit configuration explicitly	Defaults often leave logging, security, and optimization features disabled
"Metrics aren't needed for this"	Always check relevant metrics when available	API/CLI responses show current state; metrics reveal trends and intermittent issues
"I don't have access to that"	Try the command and report the actual error	Assumed permission failures prevent useful investigation; actual errors are informative

Common Pitfalls

• Unrestricted keys: Always restrict API keys by API and application — unrestricted keys are a billing risk
• $200 monthly credit: Google provides $200/month free — monitor usage to stay within
• SKU pricing: Different request types have different costs — dynamic maps cost more than static
• Client-side vs Server-side: Client-side requests use different quotas and pricing