api-design-principles
Master REST and GraphQL API design principles to build intuitive, scalable, and maintainable APIs that delight developers. Use when designing new APIs, reviewing API specifications, or establishing API design standards.
Profile →npx skills add wshobson/agents --skill api-design-principles --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# API Design Principles Master REST and GraphQL API design principles to build intuitive, scalable, and maintainable APIs that delight developers and stand the test of time. ## When to Use This Skill - Designing new REST or GraphQL APIs - Refactoring existing APIs for better usability - Establishing API design standards for your team - Reviewing API specifications before implementation - Migrating between API paradigms (REST to GraphQL, etc.) - Creating developer-friendly API documentation - Optimizing APIs for specific use cases (mobile, third-party integrations) ## Core Concepts ### 1. RESTful Design Principles **Resource-Oriented Architecture** - Resources are nouns (users, orders, products), not verbs - Use HTTP methods for actions (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE) - URLs represent resource hierarchies - Consistent naming conventions **HTTP Methods Semantics:** - `GET`: Retrieve resources (idempotent, safe) - `POST`: Create new resources - `PUT`: Replace entire resource (idempotent) - `PATCH`: Partial resource updates - `DELETE`: Remove resources (idempotent) ### 2. GraphQL Design Principles **Schema-First Development** - Types define your domain model - Queries for reading data
- When to Use This Skill
- Core Concepts
- 1. RESTful Design Principles
- 2. GraphQL Design Principles
- 3. API Versioning Strategies
- Detailed patterns and worked examples
- Best Practices
- REST APIs
- GraphQL APIs
- Common Pitfalls
What does the api-design-principles skill do?
Master REST and GraphQL API design principles to build intuitive, scalable, and maintainable APIs that delight developers. Use when designing new APIs, reviewing API specifications, or establishing API design standards.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add wshobson/agents --skill api-design-principles --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From wshobson/agents, a repository with 38,479 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.