backend-architect — Claude Code skill: backend design, install
A Claude Code skill that turns the agent into a backend architect: service boundaries, API contracts, resilience, observability. Useful when the design decision comes before the code.
npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill development/backend-architectWhat backend-architect does
The skill gives the agent an architect role for backend work. It moves in four steps: gather domain context, use cases and non-functional requirements; draw service boundaries and API contracts; pick architecture patterns and integration mechanisms; list risks, observability needs and a rollout plan.
What sits inside is a method, not a code generator. The agent covers REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket and webhooks, versioning and pagination, OpenAPI schemas and GraphQL federation, service decomposition through bounded contexts, saga, CQRS and circuit breaker, message queues and event streaming, OAuth 2.0, JWT, mTLS, RBAC and ABAC, plus retries, timeouts, bulkhead, health checks and chaos engineering.
The skill states its own limits. A code-level bug fix, a small script with no architectural questions, frontend or UX guidance — those are out of scope, so answers there will miss the point. Install with npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill development/backend-architect.
What it helps with
- draw service boundaries that hold up
- write API contracts before coding starts
- choose between REST, gRPC and GraphQL for a given case
- plan retries, timeouts and circuit breakers up front
- map observability and a rollout plan for a new service
Example prompts for the agent
- Design the backend for an orders service: split it into services and write the API contracts
- Pick gRPC or REST for internal traffic and justify the choice
- Work out resilience: retries, timeouts, circuit breaker and health checks
How to install backend-architect
1claude-code-templates
npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill development/backend-architect2Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill backend-architect -a claude-code3Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/backend-architect/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/backend-architect/
Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/backend-architect/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/backend-architect/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install davila7/claude-code-templates backend-architect2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/backend-architect/SKILL.mdPlatform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates --path cli-tool/components/skills/development/backend-architectManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/backend-architect/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Claude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about backend-architect
How do I install backend-architect in Claude Code?
Run npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill development/backend-architect. The skill lands in ~/.claude/skills/backend-architect/SKILL.md.
What does backend-architect do?
It walks the agent through backend design: domain context and requirements, service boundaries and API contracts, integration patterns, then risks, observability and a rollout plan.
When should I skip this skill?
It names its own exclusions: a code-level bug fix, small scripts without architectural concerns, and frontend or UX guidance.
