Installation

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.github/skills/integrate-context-matic/

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Skill Files (1)

SKILL.md 5.8 KB
---
name: integrate-context-matic
description: 'Discovers and integrates third-party APIs using the context-matic MCP server. Uses `fetch_api` to find available API SDKs, `ask` for integration guidance, `model_search` and `endpoint_search` for SDK details. Use when the user asks to integrate a third-party API, add an API client, implement features with an external API, or work with any third-party API or SDK.'
---

# API Integration

When the user asks to integrate a third-party API or implement anything involving an external API or SDK, follow this workflow. Do not rely on your own knowledge for available APIs or their capabilities โ€” always use the context-matic MCP server.

## When to Apply

Apply this skill when the user:
- Asks to integrate a third-party API
- Wants to add a client or SDK for an external service
- Requests implementation that depends on an external API
- Mentions a specific API (e.g. PayPal, Twilio) and implementation or integration

## Workflow

### 1. Ensure Guidelines and Skills Exist

#### 1a. Detect the Project's Primary Language

Before checking for guidelines or skills, identify the project's primary programming language by inspecting the workspace:

| File / Pattern | Language |
|---|---|
| `*.csproj`, `*.sln` | `csharp` |
| `package.json` with `"typescript"` dep or `.ts` files | `typescript` |
| `requirements.txt`, `pyproject.toml`, `*.py` | `python` |
| `go.mod`, `*.go` | `go` |
| `pom.xml`, `build.gradle`, `*.java` | `java` |
| `Gemfile`, `*.rb` | `ruby` |
| `composer.json`, `*.php` | `php` |

Use the detected language in all subsequent steps wherever `language` is required.

#### 1b. Check for Existing Guidelines and Skills

Check whether guidelines and skills have already been added for this project by looking for their presence in the workspace.

- `{language}-conventions` is the skill produced by **add_skills**.
- `{language}-security-guidelines.md` and `{language}-test-guidelines.md` are language-specific guideline files produced by **add_guidelines**.
- `update-activity-workflow.md` is a workflow guideline file produced by **add_guidelines** (it is not language-specific).
- Check these independently. Do not treat the presence of one set as proof that the other set already exists.
- **If any required guideline files for this project are missing:** Call **add_guidelines**.
- **If `{language}-conventions` is missing for the project's language:** Call **add_skills**.
- **If all required guideline files and `{language}-conventions` already exist:** Skip this step and proceed to step 2.

### 2. Discover Available APIs

Call **fetch_api** to find available APIs โ€” always start here.

- Provide the `language` parameter using the language detected in step 1a.
- The response returns available APIs with their names, descriptions, and `key` values.
- Identify the API that matches the user's request based on the name and description.
- Extract the correct `key` for the user's requested API before proceeding. This key will be used for all subsequent tool calls related to that API.

**If the requested API is not in the list:**
- Inform the user that the API is not currently available in this plugin (context-matic) and stop.
- Request guidance from user on how to proceed with the API's integration.

### 3. Get Integration Guidance

- Provide `ask` with: `language`, `key` (from step 2), and your `query`.
- Break complex questions into smaller focused queries for best results:
  - _"How do I authenticate?"_
  - _"How do I create a payment?"_
  - _"What are the rate limits?"_

### 4. Look Up SDK Models and Endpoints (as needed)

These tools return definitions only โ€” they do not call APIs or generate code.

- **model_search** โ€” look up a model/object definition.
  - Provide: `language`, `key`, and an exact or partial case-sensitive model name as `query` (e.g. `availableBalance`, `TransactionId`).
- **endpoint_search** โ€” look up an endpoint method's details.
  - Provide: `language`, `key`, and an exact or partial case-sensitive method name as `query` (e.g. `createUser`, `get_account_balance`).

### 5. Record Milestones

Call **update_activity** (with the appropriate `milestone`) whenever one of these is **concretely reached in code or infrastructure** โ€” not merely mentioned or planned:

| Milestone | When to pass it |
|---|---|
| `sdk_setup` | SDK package is installed in the project (e.g. `npm install`, `pip install`, `go get` has run and succeeded). |
| `auth_configured` | API credentials are explicitly written into the project's runtime environment (e.g. present in a `.env` file, secrets manager, or config file) **and** referenced in actual code. |
| `first_call_made` | First API call code written and executed |
| `error_encountered` | Developer reports a bug, error response, or failing call |
| `error_resolved` | Fix applied and API call confirmed working |

## Checklist

- [ ] Project's primary language detected (step 1a)
- [ ] `add_guidelines` called if guideline files were missing, otherwise skipped
- [ ] `add_skills` called if `{language}-conventions` was missing, otherwise skipped
- [ ] `fetch_api` called with correct `language` for the project
- [ ] Correct `key` identified for the requested API (or user informed if not found)
- [ ] `update_activity` called only when a milestone is concretely reached in code/infrastructure โ€” never for questions, searches, or tool lookups
- [ ] `update_activity` called with the appropriate `milestone` at each integration milestone
- [ ] `ask` used for integration guidance and code samples
- [ ] `model_search` / `endpoint_search` used as needed for SDK details
- [ ] Project compiles after each code modification

## Notes

- **API not found**: If an API is missing from `fetch_api`, do not guess at SDK usage โ€” inform the user that the API is not currently available in this plugin and stop.
- **update_activity and fetch_api**: `fetch_api` is API discovery, not integration โ€” do not call `update_activity` before it.

License (MIT)

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MIT License

Copyright GitHub, Inc.

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.