Can it help solve performance issues like the N+1 problem?

Yes, it specifically includes patterns for GraphQL DataLoaders and cursor-based pagination to optimize data fetching and improve performance.

Can this skill help me choose between REST and GraphQL?

Yes, it provides comparative principles and best practices for both paradigms to help you select the most appropriate architecture for your specific project needs.

How does it handle API versioning strategies?

The skill covers multiple versioning approaches including URL-based, Header-based, and Query Parameter versioning to help you manage breaking changes effectively.

Does it include implementation patterns for specific frameworks?

While focused on platform-agnostic principles, it provides implementation patterns applicable to popular frameworks like FastAPI and standard GraphQL specifications.

API Design Principles

Name: API Design Principles
Author: secondsky

bysecondsky

•

API Development

Architects, reviews, and optimizes REST and GraphQL API specifications using industry-standard patterns and best practices.

This skill empowers Claude to architect production-ready APIs by applying foundational RESTful and GraphQL design principles. It provides comprehensive guidance on resource-oriented modeling, schema-first development, versioning strategies, and advanced implementation patterns like pagination and HATEOAS. Whether you are building a new backend from scratch, refactoring legacy endpoints for better usability, or migrating between paradigms, this skill ensures your interfaces are intuitive, scalable, and developer-friendly while avoiding common pitfalls like N+1 queries and inconsistent error formats.

Key Features

01Schema-first GraphQL design with type definitions and mutation patterns

02Advanced patterns for pagination, filtering, and HATEOAS integration

03Multi-strategy API versioning for URL, Header, and Query Parameters

04Standardized error handling and HTTP status code mapping

0521 GitHub stars

06Resource-oriented RESTful architectural modeling and HTTP method semantics

Use Cases

01Conducting automated reviews of API specifications for industry best practices

02Architecting a new REST or GraphQL API from scratch with a focus on scalability

03Migrating existing REST endpoints to a strongly-typed GraphQL schema

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add secondsky/claude-skills api-design-principles

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill