API Connector Builder skill

API Connector Builder

Use this when the job is to add a repo-native integration surface, not just a generic HTTP client.

The point is to match the host repository's pattern:

• connector layout
• config schema
• auth model
• error handling
• test style
• registration/discovery wiring

When to Use

• "Build a Jira connector for this project"
• "Add a Slack provider following the existing pattern"
• "Create a new integration for this API"
• "Build a plugin that matches the repo's connector style"

Guardrails

• do not invent a new integration architecture when the repo already has one
• do not start from vendor docs alone; start from existing in-repo connectors first
• do not stop at transport code if the repo expects registry wiring, tests, and docs
• do not cargo-cult old connectors if the repo has a newer current pattern

Workflow

1. Learn the house style

Inspect at least 2 existing connectors/providers and map:

• file layout
• abstraction boundaries
• config model
• retry / pagination conventions
• registry hooks
• test fixtures and naming

2. Narrow the target integration

Define only the surface the repo actually needs:

• auth flow
• key entities
• core read/write operations
• pagination and rate limits
• webhook or polling model

3. Build in repo-native layers

Typical slices:

• config/schema
• client/transport
• mapping layer
• connector/provider entrypoint
• registration
• tests

4. Validate against the source pattern

The new connector should look obvious in the codebase, not imported from a different ecosystem.

Reference Shapes

Provider-style

providers/
  existing_provider/
    __init__.py
    provider.py
    config.py

Connector-style

integrations/
  existing/
    client.py
    models.py
    connector.py

TypeScript plugin-style

src/integrations/
  existing/
    index.ts
    client.ts
    types.ts
    test.ts

Quality Checklist

• matches an existing in-repo integration pattern
• config validation exists
• auth and error handling are explicit
• pagination/retry behavior follows repo norms
• registry/discovery wiring is complete
• tests mirror the host repo's style
• docs/examples are updated if expected by the repo

Related Skills

• backend-patterns
• mcp-server-patterns
• github-ops