Agent skill

curl-api

Make HTTP API requests with curl. Use when calling REST APIs, making HTTP requests, testing endpoints, or working with web services via curl.

View SKILL.md on GitHub Repository
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Install this agent skill to your Project

npx add-skill https://github.com/jclfocused/claude-agents/tree/main/skills/curl-api

SKILL.md

curl API Requests

Overview

Guidelines for making curl requests that work reliably in Claude Code's shell environment.

Critical Rules

NEVER use backslash line continuations (\) - They don't work reliably in this environment.

ALWAYS write single-line commands or use shell variables for complex requests.

Patterns

Simple GET

bash
curl -s https://api.example.com/endpoint | jq

GET with Auth Header

bash
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" https://api.example.com/endpoint | jq

POST with Form Data

Use multiple -d flags on a single line:

bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.example.com/endpoint -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" -d "name=value" -d "other=data" | jq

POST with JSON Body

bash
curl -s -X POST https://api.example.com/endpoint -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"key":"value"}' | jq

Using Variables for Readability

When commands get long, use variables:

bash
TOKEN="your_api_key_here"
BASE="https://api.example.com"

# Then use them
curl -s -X POST "$BASE/products" -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" -d "name=Test" | jq

Chaining Requests

Store IDs from responses:

bash
TOKEN="your_key"

# Create and capture ID
PRODUCT_ID=$(curl -s -X POST https://api.stripe.com/v1/products -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" -d "name=My Product" | jq -r '.id')
echo "Created: $PRODUCT_ID"

# Use ID in next request
curl -s -X POST https://api.stripe.com/v1/prices -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" -d "product=$PRODUCT_ID" -d "unit_amount=999" -d "currency=usd" | jq

Common Headers

Purpose Flag
Bearer Auth -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"
Basic Auth -u "user:pass" or -u "$KEY:" (colon for password-less)
JSON Content -H "Content-Type: application/json"
Accept JSON -H "Accept: application/json"

Useful Flags

Flag Purpose
-s Silent mode (no progress)
-X POST HTTP method
-d "k=v" Form data (multiple allowed)
-H "..." Header (multiple allowed)
-o file Output to file
-w '%{http_code}' Print status code

Anti-Patterns (Don't Do This)

bash
# BAD - Line continuations break
curl -s \
  -X POST \
  -H "Auth: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  https://api.example.com

# GOOD - Single line
curl -s -X POST -H "Auth: Bearer $TOKEN" https://api.example.com

Stripe API Example

bash
SK="sk_test_your_key"

# Create product
PROD=$(curl -s -X POST https://api.stripe.com/v1/products -H "Authorization: Bearer $SK" -d "name=My Product" -d "description=A great product" | jq -r '.id')

# Create price for product
PRICE=$(curl -s -X POST https://api.stripe.com/v1/prices -H "Authorization: Bearer $SK" -d "product=$PROD" -d "unit_amount=999" -d "currency=eur" -d "recurring[interval]=month" | jq -r '.id')

echo "Product: $PROD, Price: $PRICE"

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