skill CX Codex

catalyst-appsail — Claude Code skill: deploy to Catalyst AppSail

Q: How do I install catalyst-appsail in Claude?

Run `npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-appsail -a claude-code`. The skill lands in `~/.claude/skills/catalyst-appsail/SKILL.md`.

Q: What do I need before using it?

The Catalyst CLI, installed with `npm install -g zcatalyst-cli`. Custom Docker deployments additionally need Docker Desktop.

Guides the agent through deploying a persistent server on Catalyst AppSail, whether a managed Node.js, Java or Python runtime or your own Docker container.

Install into Claude Code · Skills CLI (Vercel) All methods and platforms ↓

npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-appsail -a claude-code

Open on GitHub

What catalyst-appsail does

The skill kicks in on mentions of AppSail, persistent server, Docker on Catalyst or X_ZOHO_CATALYST_LISTEN_PORT. The agent then picks the runtime — managed (Node.js, Java, Python) or a custom Docker container — and loads the matching reference: references/appsail-basics.md for project structure and app-config.json, references/appsail-deploy.md for deploy commands and environment variables.

One rule it enforces: read the port from process.env.X_ZOHO_CATALYST_LISTEN_PORT instead of hardcoding PORT or 3000. When you are unsure which product fits, the skill compares AppSail and Catalyst Functions across code structure, use cases, billing and dependency management. A third reference, references/appsail-crossorigin.md, covers CORS errors between Slate and AppSail.

You need the Catalyst CLI first: npm install -g zcatalyst-cli. Custom Docker deployments also require Docker Desktop. Worth checking before you start, since nothing deploys without the CLI.

What it helps with

deploy a persistent server on Catalyst AppSail
decide between AppSail and Catalyst Functions
build a Docker container and ship it to Catalyst
wire the port through X_ZOHO_CATALYST_LISTEN_PORT
debug CORS between Slate and AppSail

Example prompts for the agent

Deploy my Express app to Catalyst AppSail
AppSail or Functions for a long-running process?
Help me set up CORS between Slate and AppSail

How to install catalyst-appsail

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-appsail -a claude-code

2Manually: put the files in place

~/.claude/skills/catalyst-appsail/SKILL.md

Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/catalyst-appsail/

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-appsail -a codex

2Manually: put the files in place

.agents/skills/catalyst-appsail/SKILL.md

For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-appsail -a cursor

2Manually: put the files in place

.cursor/skills/catalyst-appsail/SKILL.md

Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

1GitHub CLI

gh skill install catalystbyzoho/agent-skills catalyst-appsail

2Manually: put the files in place

.github/skills/catalyst-appsail/SKILL.md

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-appsail -a gemini-cli

2Platform CLI

gemini skills install https://github.com/catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --path skills/catalyst-appsail

Manually: put the files in place

.devin/skills/catalyst-appsail/SKILL.md

The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-appsail -a opencode

Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways

Questions about catalyst-appsail

How do I install catalyst-appsail in Claude?

Run npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-appsail -a claude-code. The skill lands in ~/.claude/skills/catalyst-appsail/SKILL.md.

What does catalyst-appsail do?

It helps the agent deploy a persistent backend on Catalyst AppSail: identifying the runtime, outlining project structure and deploy commands, and keeping the port configuration correct.

What do I need before using it?

The Catalyst CLI, installed with npm install -g zcatalyst-cli. Custom Docker deployments additionally need Docker Desktop.

Source text

SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

---
name: catalyst-appsail
description: "Catalyst AppSail — persistent backend PaaS with managed runtimes (Node.js, Java, Python) and custom Docker containers. Trigger on 'AppSail', 'persistent server', 'Docker on Catalyst', 'X_ZOHO_CATALYST_LISTEN_PORT', or 'long-running process on Catalyst'. Do NOT use for stateless request/response handlers, event-driven functions, or scheduled jobs — use catalyst-functions instead."
compatibility: "Requires Catalyst CLI (`npm install -g zcatalyst-cli`). Custom Docker deployments additionally require Docker Desktop."
metadata:
  version: "2.1.1"
---

## How It Works

1. **Identify the runtime** — Managed runtime (Node.js, Java, Python) or custom Docker container.
2. **Load `references/appsail-basics.md`** — for PORT config, project structure, and Dockerfile requirements. For deploy commands and environment variables, load `references/appsail-deploy.md`.
3. **PORT rule** — Always use `process.env.X_ZOHO_CATALYST_LISTEN_PORT`, never hardcode `PORT` or `3000`.
4. **AppSail vs Functions decision** — If the user is unsure which to use, apply this matrix:

   | | Catalyst Functions | AppSail |
   |---|---|---|
   | Code structure | Catalyst-specific templates required | Any framework, any format, fully independent |
   | Use case | HTTP handlers, events, cron, Zoho integrations | Persistent servers, long-running processes, Docker |
   | Billing | Per API call | Per instance uptime |
   | Dependency management | Handled by Catalyst | You manage all libraries and frameworks |

## Triggers

Use this skill for: "AppSail", "persistent server", "Docker on Catalyst", "backend hosting", `X_ZOHO_CATALYST_LISTEN_PORT`, `appsail:add`, "catalyst managed runtime", "deploy Express app", "AppSail vs Functions", "long-running process on Catalyst", or "containerized app on Catalyst".

## References

| Reference | Load when the query is about… |
|-----------|-------------------------------|
| `references/appsail-basics.md` | Runtimes, project structure, app-config.json fields, Node.js/Docker templates, SDK version |
| `references/appsail-deploy.md` | Deployment commands (Path A/B/C), env variables, health checks, AppSail URL pattern, configurations |
| `references/appsail-crossorigin.md` | Slate + AppSail cross-origin errors, CORS setup via MCP, `catalyst_auth`, custom domain SSL |

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