# catalyst-functions

Guides development and deployment for all 7 Zoho Catalyst serverless function types. Helps configure API Gateway routing, resolve CORS bugs, and handle file uploads.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1000 installs · ★ 69
- Author: catalystbyzoho
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/catalystbyzoho/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/catalyst-functions/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/catalyst-functions

## What it does

The skill assists with creating and configuring all seven Zoho Catalyst function types: Basic I/O, Advanced I/O, Event, Cron, Job, Integration, and Browser Logic for Puppeteer. For conceptual questions, the assistant outputs handler code immediately without scanning local directories. Filesystem checks happen only when scaffolding projects via `catalyst init -ni`.

In Advanced I/O handlers, the skill defaults to native Node.js methods like `res.writeHead()` and `res.end()`. Express methods require explicit middleware configuration. Endpoints are public by default. You must set `"authentication": "required"` for private resources, or route traffic through API Gateway. Note that enabling API Gateway automatically turns off Security Rules.

The setup requires `zcatalyst-cli` version 1.27.0 or higher, Node.js 20, and MCP tools with the `CatalystbyZoho_*` prefix. Java functions need JDK 8, 11, or 17, and Python functions require Python 3.9. This skill fails on Docker containers and long-running servers. Use catalyst-appsail for those workloads.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-functions -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/catalyst-functions/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/catalyst-functions/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-functions -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/catalyst-functions/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-functions -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/catalyst-functions/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install catalystbyzoho/agent-skills catalyst-functions
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/catalyst-functions/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-functions -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --path skills/catalyst-functions
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/catalyst-functions/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add catalystbyzoho/agent-skills --skill catalyst-functions -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/catalystbyzoho/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/catalyst-functions/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- scaffold an Advanced I/O function with busboy file uploads
- schedule background executions using Cron and Job functions
- fix duplicate CORS headers and 401 authentication errors
- configure API Gateway routing without conflicting with Security Rules
- deploy an individual function using `catalyst deploy --only functions:<name>`

## Example prompts
- Write an Advanced I/O Catalyst function in Node.js that parses multipart file uploads using busboy
- Why is my Catalyst function returning a 401 and how do I configure Security Rules?
- Scaffold a new cron function using catalyst functions:add in non-interactive mode

## Source text · SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: c4bc55b7b01c5ba5.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE c4bc55b7b01c5ba5
````text
---
name: catalyst-functions
description: "Catalyst serverless functions — all 7 types (Basic I/O, Advanced I/O, Event, Cron, Job, Integration, Browser Logic), handler signatures, catalyst-config.json, Security Rules, API Gateway routing, file uploads, busboy, Express middleware, environment variables, function URL, and function testing. Requires MCP connection — check for CatalystbyZoho_* tools before any operation. Trigger on 'write a function', 'catalyst function', 'API Gateway', 'Security Rules', 'function not found', 'function returns 401', 'busboy', 'middleware', 'function URL', 'environment variable in function', 'duplicate CORS headers', 'CORS error in browser', 'Access-Control-Allow-Origin multiple values', 'function URL 404', 'execute suffix', 'function timeout', 'function hangs', or any function type question. Do NOT use for persistent servers, long-running processes, or Docker deployments — use catalyst-appsail instead."
compatibility: "Requires Catalyst CLI (`npm install -g zcatalyst-cli`) and Node.js v20 (recommended; v14–v18 also supported). Java functions also require JDK 8, 11, or 17. Python functions require Python 3.9."
metadata:
   version: "2.0.2"
---

## How It Works

**Intent check — do this first:**
- If the user is asking a how-to or conceptual question ("how do I write a function", "show me a Basic I/O handler", "how does Security Rules work"), answer directly with the correct code or explanation. Do NOT inspect the working directory, do NOT generate a CLAUDE.md, do NOT switch into codebase-analysis mode. Empty directory = fine for how-to questions.
- Only inspect the filesystem when the user explicitly asks to scaffold, add, or deploy something in their project.

1. **Verify local scaffold (only when scaffolding, not for how-to questions) — both `catalyst init` and `functions:add` support non-interactive mode (CLI v1.27.0+).**
   Check whether `.catalystrc` exists. If missing, use MCP tools to get the org ID and project ID, then run:
   ```bash
   catalyst init --org <orgId> -p <projectId> -ni
   ```
   Never ask the user to run `catalyst init` interactively. NI mode can only link an existing project — if none exists, tell the user to create one in the console first. `catalyst.json` does not exist yet after `init -ni` — that is expected. Add functions next (this creates `catalyst.json`):
   ```bash
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE c4bc55b7b01c5ba5

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the c4bc55b7b01c5ba5 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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