Agent skill
vurb-ts-development
How to build production MCP servers with Vurb.ts using the MVA (Model-View-Agent) pattern. Use this skill whenever writing, modifying, or reviewing Vurb.ts code — including tools, Presenters, Models, middleware, prompts, routers, tests, or server configuration. Activate even when the user just says "create a tool", "add an endpoint", "write a Presenter", or mentions @vurb/core, defineModel, definePresenter, initVurb, FluentToolBuilder, or any Vurb.ts API. This skill covers the entire framework surface.
Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/vinkius-labs/vurb.ts/tree/main/.claude/skills/vurb-ts-development
Metadata
Additional technical details for this skill
- tags
- mcp, typescript, framework, mva
- author
- vinkius-labs
- version
- 3.0
SKILL.md
Vurb.ts Development Guide
Vurb.ts is a TypeScript framework for MCP servers built on the MVA (Model-View-Agent) pattern. The Model validates data, the Presenter (View) shapes what the AI perceives, and Tools (Agent layer) wire it all together.
For the complete API reference with all type signatures, read llms.txt at the root of the repository. This skill covers the essential patterns and rules.
Reference Examples
Complete, runnable examples are available in references/. Read them for concrete implementation patterns:
| Example | Domain | Patterns Shown |
|---|---|---|
| example-complete-crud.ts | Product Catalog | Full MVA lifecycle: Model → Presenter → Router → Query/Mutation/Action, ErrorBuilder, State Sync |
| example-proxy-api.ts | Blog Platform | .proxy() API pass-through, .fromModel(), field aliases, path params (:id), .handle() vs .proxy() decision tree |
| example-server-setup.ts | Generic App | Full server bootstrap: context, initVurb(), middleware, autoDiscover(), prompts, State Sync policies, startServer() |
| example-testing.ts | Customer Service | @vurb/testing: Egress Firewall assertions, JIT System Rules, RBAC middleware, error handling, Symbol Invisibility |
Project Structure
src/
├── models/ ← M — defineModel() declarations
│ ├── InvoiceModel.ts
│ └── UserModel.ts
├── views/ ← V — Presenters
│ ├── invoice.presenter.ts
│ └── user.presenter.ts
├── agents/ ← A — Tool definitions
│ ├── billing.tool.ts
│ └── users.tool.ts
├── index.ts ← ToolRegistry + registerAll()
└── server.ts ← attachToServer() bootstrap
Layer import rule: agents/ → views/ → models/ → @vurb/core. Never import backwards.
The Golden Rules
- ALWAYS use
defineModel()for domain entity schemas — never rawz.object(). Models go inmodels/. - Presenters receive Models via
.schema(MyModel)— the Presenter is the egress firewall. with*()methods are for tool INPUT parameters only (filters, IDs, pagination) — NOT for domain schemas.- Handlers return raw data — the framework wraps with
success()automatically. No boilerplate. - One Model + one Presenter per entity, reused across every tool and prompt.
- Use semantic verbs:
f.query()= readOnly,f.mutation()= destructive,f.action()= neutral.
defineModel() — The "M" in MVA
Every domain entity starts here. Produces a Model with a compiled Zod .schema.
import { defineModel } from '@vurb/core';
export const InvoiceModel = defineModel('Invoice', m => {
m.casts({
id: m.string(),
amount_cents: m.number('CRITICAL: in CENTS. Divide by 100 for display.'),
status: m.enum('Status', ['paid', 'pending', 'overdue']),
client_name: m.string('Client name'),
});
});
export const UserModel = defineModel('User', m => {
m.casts({
id: m.string(),
name: m.string('Full name'),
email: m.string('Email address'),
role: m.enum('Role', ['admin', 'member', 'guest']),
});
m.hidden(['password_hash', 'stripe_token']); // Never exposed
m.timestamps(); // created_at + updated_at
m.fillable({
create: ['name', 'email', 'role'],
update: ['name', 'email'],
});
});
Type Helpers
| Method | Produces | Use |
|---|---|---|
m.string(label?) |
z.string() |
General text |
m.text(label?) |
z.string() |
Markdown / long content |
m.number(label?) |
z.number() |
Numeric |
m.boolean(label?) |
z.boolean() |
Flags |
m.date(label?) |
z.string() |
YYYY-MM-DD |
m.timestamp(label?) |
z.string() |
ISO datetime |
m.uuid(label?) |
z.string() |
UUID |
m.id(label?) |
z.number() |
Always required |
m.enum(label, values) |
z.enum() |
Valid values |
FieldDef Chaining
m.enum('Status', ['open', 'done']).default('open')
m.string('Display name').alias('displayName') // agent says 'name', API gets 'displayName'
m.number('Score').examples([85, 92, 100])
Model.toApi() — Alias Resolution
Strips undefined values and renames aliased fields. Used automatically by .proxy(), call explicitly in .handle():
const data = TaskModel.toApi(input);
// { title: 'X', body: 'Y' } ← alias applied, undefined stripped
Presenter — The "V" in MVA
The Presenter is the egress firewall between your handler and the wire. Schema MUST come from defineModel().
definePresenter() — Object Config (Recommended)
import { definePresenter, ui } from '@vurb/core';
export const InvoicePresenter = definePresenter({
name: 'Invoice',
schema: InvoiceModel, // ← Model, never z.object()
// autoRules: true (default) — .describe() annotations become system rules
ui: (inv) => [ui.echarts({ series: [{ type: 'gauge', data: [{ value: inv.amount_cents / 100 }] }] })],
agentLimit: { max: 50, onTruncate: (n) => ui.summary({ omitted: n, hint: 'Use filters.' }) },
suggestActions: (inv) => inv.status === 'pending'
? [{ tool: 'billing.pay', reason: 'Process payment', args: { id: inv.id } }]
: [],
embeds: [{ key: 'client', presenter: ClientPresenter }],
});
createPresenter() — Fluent Builder
import { createPresenter, ui } from '@vurb/core';
const UserPresenter = createPresenter('User')
.schema(UserModel)
.systemRules(['Display name in bold'])
.uiBlocks((user) => [ui.summary({ total: 1, showing: 1 })])
.agentLimit(50, { warningMessage: 'Showing {shown} of {total}. Use filters.' })
.suggestActions((user) => [
{ tool: 'users.update', reason: 'Edit this user', args: { id: user.id } },
])
.embed('team', TeamPresenter);
Presenter Layers
| Layer | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Egress Firewall | .parse() strips undeclared fields — PII never reaches the wire |
| JIT System Rules | Rules travel with data, not in the global prompt |
| Server-Rendered UI | ECharts, Mermaid — deterministic, no hallucinated charts |
| Cognitive Guardrails | .agentLimit() truncates + injects guidance |
| Action Affordances | .suggestActions() — HATEOAS for agents |
| Relational Composition | .embed() — child Presenters inherit the full pipeline |
| Prompt Bridge | PromptMessage.fromView() — same source of truth for tools AND prompts |
Fluent API — Tools
Semantic Verbs
import { initVurb } from '@vurb/core';
interface AppContext { db: PrismaClient; user: { id: string; role: string } }
export const f = initVurb<AppContext>();
// f.query() — readOnly: true (GET, no side effects)
// f.mutation() — destructive: true (DELETE, irreversible)
// f.action() — neutral (PUT/POST, no assumptions)
Building a Tool
export default f.query('billing.get_invoice')
.describe('Get an invoice by ID')
.withString('id', 'The invoice ID')
.returns(InvoicePresenter)
.handle(async (input, ctx) => {
// input.id: string ✅ — fully typed, zero manual interfaces
return await ctx.db.invoices.findUnique({ where: { id: input.id } });
// ↑ Return raw data — Presenter handles validation, stripping, rendering
});
with*() Type-Chaining
Each call narrows the TypeScript generic — input is fully typed in .handle():
| Method | Adds |
|---|---|
.withString(name, desc?) |
Record<K, string> |
.withOptionalString(name, desc?) |
Partial<Record<K, string>> |
.withNumber(name, desc?) |
Record<K, number> |
.withOptionalNumber(name, desc?) |
Partial<Record<K, number>> |
.withBoolean(name, desc?) |
Record<K, boolean> |
.withEnum(name, values, desc?) |
Record<K, V> (literal union) |
.withArray(name, itemType, desc?) |
Record<K, T[]> |
Bulk variants reduce verbosity — .withStrings({...}), .withOptionalStrings({...}), etc.:
f.query('tasks.filter')
.withStrings({
company_slug: 'Workspace identifier',
project_slug: 'Project identifier',
})
.withOptionalStrings({
title: 'Filter by title',
workflow: 'Column name',
})
.withOptionalNumbers({ per_page: 'Results per page' })
.proxy() — Zero-Boilerplate API Proxying
Terminal method (alternative to .handle()) — auto-generates a handler that proxies to ctx.client:
// HTTP method inferred from verb: query → GET, mutation → POST, action → PUT
// Path params resolved from input: ':id' consumes input.id
// Auto-unwraps { data: ... } envelopes
f.query('user.get')
.withString('id', 'User UUID')
.proxy('users/:id'); // → GET users/abc-123
When to use: .proxy() for simple pass-through, .handle() when you need business logic.
.fromModel() — Model-Driven Input
Imports fillable fields from a Model's profile — zero manual .with*() calls:
const createTask = f.mutation('tasks.create')
.fromModel(TaskModel, 'create') // imports title, description, status
.proxy('tasks');
const updateTask = f.action('tasks.update')
.fromModel(TaskModel, 'update')
.handle(async (input, ctx) => {
const data = TaskModel.toApi(input); // alias applied, undefined stripped
await ctx.client.put(`tasks/${input.id}`, data);
});
Decision tree:
- Simple CRUD, no logic →
.fromModel()+.proxy() - Custom logic →
.fromModel()+.handle()+Model.toApi()
.instructions() — AI-First Guidance
f.query('docs.search')
.describe('Search internal documentation')
.instructions('Use ONLY when the user asks about internal policies. Do NOT use for general questions.')
Injected as [INSTRUCTIONS] in the tool description — reduces hallucination.
FluentRouter — Prefix Grouping
Shares prefix, middleware, and tags across child tools:
const users = f.router('users')
.describe('User management')
.use(requireAuth)
.tags('core');
const listUsers = users.query('list')
.withOptionalNumber('limit', 'Max results')
.handle(async (input, ctx) => ctx.db.users.findMany({ take: input.limit }));
const deleteUser = users.mutation('delete')
.withString('id', 'User ID')
.handle(async (input, ctx) => ctx.db.users.delete({ where: { id: input.id } }));
Middleware
tRPC-style context derivation — enriches ctx type for .handle():
const requireAuth = f.middleware(async (ctx) => {
const user = await db.getUser(ctx.token);
if (!user) throw new Error('Unauthorized');
return { user, permissions: user.permissions };
});
// ctx.user and ctx.permissions — fully typed downstream
f.mutation('admin.action')
.use(requireAuth)
.handle(async (input, ctx) => {
ctx.user; // ← typed!
ctx.permissions; // ← typed!
});
ErrorBuilder — Self-Healing Errors
const project = await ctx.db.projects.findUnique({ where: { id: input.id } });
if (!project) {
return f.error('NOT_FOUND', `Project "${input.id}" not found`)
.suggest('Check the ID. Use projects.list to see valid IDs.')
.actions('projects.list', 'projects.search')
.details({ searched_id: input.id })
.retryAfter(0);
}
State Sync
Prevents temporal blindness — the agent knows when cached data is stale:
f.query('geo.countries').cached(); // immutable — cache forever
f.query('billing.balance').stale(); // volatile — never cache
f.mutation('sprints.update').invalidates('sprints.*', 'tasks.*'); // causal invalidation
Prompts — The Presenter Bridge
import { definePrompt, PromptMessage } from '@vurb/core';
const AuditPrompt = definePrompt<AppContext>('audit', {
args: { invoiceId: 'string' } as const,
handler: async (ctx, { invoiceId }) => {
const invoice = await ctx.db.getInvoice(invoiceId);
return {
messages: [
PromptMessage.system('You are a Senior Financial Auditor.'),
...PromptMessage.fromView(InvoicePresenter.make(invoice, ctx)),
PromptMessage.user('Begin the audit.'),
],
};
},
});
PromptMessage.fromView() decomposes a Presenter into XML-tagged messages — same schema, rules, and affordances in both tools and prompts.
Testing with @vurb/testing
Runs the REAL execution pipeline in RAM — zero tokens consumed, deterministic:
import { createVurbTester } from '@vurb/testing';
const tester = createVurbTester(registry, {
contextFactory: () => ({ prisma: mockPrisma, tenantId: 't_42', role: 'ADMIN' }),
});
// Egress Firewall — PII physically absent
const result = await tester.callAction('db_user', 'find_many', { take: 5 });
expect(result.data[0]).not.toHaveProperty('passwordHash');
// JIT System Rules — travel with data
expect(result.systemRules).toContain('Email addresses are PII.');
// Middleware — GUEST blocked
const denied = await tester.callAction('db_user', 'find_many', { take: 5 }, { role: 'GUEST' });
expect(denied.isError).toBe(true);
Assert every MVA layer: result.data, result.systemRules, result.uiBlocks, result.isError.
Common Anti-Patterns — What NOT to Do
❌ Using raw z.object() for domain schemas
// WRONG:
const presenter = definePresenter({
name: 'User',
schema: z.object({ id: z.string(), name: z.string() }), // ← NO!
});
// CORRECT:
const UserModel = defineModel('User', m => {
m.casts({ id: m.string(), name: m.string() });
});
const presenter = definePresenter({ name: 'User', schema: UserModel });
❌ Manual success() wrapping
// WRONG:
.handle(async (input, ctx) => {
return success(await ctx.db.users.findMany()); // ← unnecessary
});
// CORRECT:
.handle(async (input, ctx) => {
return await ctx.db.users.findMany(); // ← framework wraps automatically
});
❌ Manual if-checks for optional fields
// WRONG:
.handle(async (input, ctx) => {
const data: Record<string, unknown> = {};
if (input.title) data.title = input.title;
if (input.color) data.color = input.color;
await ctx.client.updateItem(input.id, data);
});
// CORRECT:
.handle(async (input, ctx) => {
const data = ItemModel.toApi(input); // strips undefined, applies aliases
await ctx.client.updateItem(input.id, data);
});
❌ Importing backwards between layers
// WRONG: model importing from tool
// models/UserModel.ts
import { listUsers } from '../agents/users.tool'; // ← NO!
// CORRECT: agents → views → models → @vurb/core (one direction only)
❌ Duplicating Presenter logic across tools
// WRONG: formatting response manually in each handler
// CORRECT: define Presenter ONCE in views/, use .returns(Presenter) in every tool
❌ Using .withString() for domain entity fields
// WRONG: defining domain fields as tool input params
f.mutation('users.create')
.withString('name', 'User name')
.withString('email', 'Email') // ← These are domain fields!
.withString('role', 'User role')
// CORRECT: use .fromModel() for domain fields
f.mutation('users.create')
.fromModel(UserModel, 'create') // ← imports from Model's fillable profile
Quick Reference
| I want to... | Use |
|---|---|
| Define a domain entity | defineModel('Name', m => { ... }) |
| Shape what the AI sees | definePresenter({ schema: MyModel, ... }) |
| Create a read tool | f.query('entity.list') |
| Create a write tool | f.mutation('entity.delete') |
| Create an update tool | f.action('entity.update') |
| Group related tools | f.router('prefix') |
| Add auth middleware | .use(requireAuth) |
| Return self-healing errors | f.error('CODE', 'message').suggest(...) |
| Proxy to an API | .proxy('endpoint/:id') |
| Import fields from Model | .fromModel(MyModel, 'profile') |
| Test MVA pipeline | createVurbTester(registry, { contextFactory }) |
| Control caching | .cached(), .stale(), .invalidates() |
| Build a prompt | definePrompt('name', { handler }) |
| Bridge Presenter to prompt | PromptMessage.fromView(presenter.make(data, ctx)) |
Recommended Agent Skills
Expand your agent's capabilities with these related and highly-rated skills.
vinkius-deploy
How to deploy MCP servers to Vinkius Edge using `vurb deploy`. Use this skill whenever deploying, configuring remote settings, preparing an entrypoint for edge deployment, or troubleshooting deploy-related errors. Activate when the user says "deploy", "publish to edge", "vurb deploy", "push to Vinkius", mentions .vurbrc, VURB_DEPLOY_TOKEN, or any edge deployment topic.
verl-rl-training
Provides guidance for training LLMs with reinforcement learning using verl (Volcano Engine RL). Use when implementing RLHF, GRPO, PPO, or other RL algorithms for LLM post-training at scale with flexible infrastructure backends.
openrlhf-training
High-performance RLHF framework with Ray+vLLM acceleration. Use for PPO, GRPO, RLOO, DPO training of large models (7B-70B+). Built on Ray, vLLM, ZeRO-3. 2× faster than DeepSpeedChat with distributed architecture and GPU resource sharing.
gguf-quantization
GGUF format and llama.cpp quantization for efficient CPU/GPU inference. Use when deploying models on consumer hardware, Apple Silicon, or when needing flexible quantization from 2-8 bit without GPU requirements.
Claude Code Guide
Master guide for using Claude Code effectively. Includes configuration templates, prompting strategies "Thinking" keywords, debugging techniques, and best practices for interacting with the agent.
qdrant-vector-search
High-performance vector similarity search engine for RAG and semantic search. Use when building production RAG systems requiring fast nearest neighbor search, hybrid search with filtering, or scalable vector storage with Rust-powered performance.
Didn't find tool you were looking for?