API Caller Skill

Generic skill to call any REST API dynamically. Can work with OpenAPI specs or direct endpoint calls.

Capabilities

• Call any REST API endpoint (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
• Parse OpenAPI/Swagger specs to discover endpoints
• Handle common authentication (API keys, Bearer tokens)
• JSON request/response handling

Instructions

1. Read this SKILL.md to choose the direct-call or OpenAPI workflow.
2. Use scripts/parse_openapi.py first when the user gives an OpenAPI or Swagger spec.
3. Use scripts/call_api.py for the actual HTTP request.
4. Return the request result and any recoverable error details to the user.

Scripts

scripts/parse_openapi.py

Use this first when given an API spec URL. Parses an OpenAPI/Swagger spec and returns available operations with parameters. Run commands from the skill base directory; script paths are relative to this SKILL.md file.

Usage:

python scripts/parse_openapi.py <spec_url> [filter_path]

Arguments:

• <spec_url> - URL to the OpenAPI spec (required)
• [filter_path] - Optional: filter operations by path substring

Example:

python scripts/parse_openapi.py "https://api.example.com/openapi.json"

Returns: API name, base URL, and list of operations with their parameters, request body schema, etc.

scripts/call_api.py

Call a REST API endpoint directly or using an OpenAPI spec. Run commands from the skill base directory; script paths are relative to this SKILL.md file.

Usage:

python scripts/call_api.py --url <endpoint_url> [options]

Arguments:

• --url <endpoint_url> - Direct API endpoint URL (required if no --spec)
• --method <GET|POST|PUT|DELETE> - HTTP method (default: GET)
• --data <json_string> - Request body as JSON string
• --headers <json_string> - Custom headers as JSON string
• --spec <openapi_url> - OpenAPI spec URL (optional, for discovery)
• --operation <operation_id> - Operation ID from OpenAPI spec
• --params <json_string> - Path/query parameters as JSON

Examples

Direct API Call (Simple)

python scripts/call_api.py --url "https://api.example.com/data" --method GET

With Query Parameters

# Call API with query parameters appended to URL
python scripts/call_api.py --url "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php" --params '{"action": "query", "titles": "NVIDIA", "format": "json"}'

With Headers (API Key)

# Call API with authentication
python scripts/call_api.py --url "https://api.example.com/data" --headers '{"Authorization": "Bearer TOKEN"}'

POST with JSON Body

# Create a resource
python scripts/call_api.py --url "https://api.example.com/items" --method POST --data '{"name": "test", "value": 123}'

Using OpenAPI Spec (Advanced)

# Discover and call an endpoint from OpenAPI spec
python scripts/call_api.py --spec "https://api.example.com/openapi.json" --operation "getItems" --params '{"param": "value"}'

Notes

• For APIs requiring authentication, pass API keys via --headers
• The skill automatically parses JSON responses
• Timeout is 30 seconds by default
• For complex API workflows, consider using code-generator skill instead
• Limiting results: Try common params like ?_limit=N, ?limit=N, ?per_page=N. If unsupported, fetch all and filter with code-generator

Workflow: Using an API Spec

When given an OpenAPI spec URL, follow this workflow:

1. Parse the spec first with python scripts/parse_openapi.py:

   python scripts/parse_openapi.py "<spec_url>"
   

2. Review operations - Look at the returned operations, their paths, methods, and parameters
3. Call the API with python scripts/call_api.py using the discovered endpoint and parameters

When to Use

• Quick API calls without writing code
• Exploring new APIs
• Simple GET requests for data retrieval
• When you know the exact endpoint URL
• When given an API spec to explore

When NOT to Use

• Complex multi-step API workflows (use code-generator)
• APIs requiring OAuth flows
• When you need to process response data extensively