# express-rest-api

A skill for shaping Express.js REST APIs with routes, middleware, validation, and error handling. Useful when building a Node.js backend.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 901 installs · ★ 2
- Author: pluginagentmarketplace
- License: LicenseRef-Proprietary · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs/tree/HEAD/skills/express-rest-api/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-01-07
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/express-rest-api

## What it does

This skill guides an agent through an Express application structure and REST endpoints for GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE operations. It covers JSON parsing, CORS, security headers, authentication middleware, and request checks, with examples built around modular routes.

It also covers centralized API errors, response shapes, pagination, filtering, and folders such as `controllers`, `routes`, `middlewares`, `models`, and `services`. The material includes JWT, Swagger, rate limiting, logging, and Jest or Supertest testing. The basic setup starts with the `express` package, installed through `npm install express`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs --skill express-rest-api -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs --skill express-rest-api -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs --skill express-rest-api -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs express-rest-api
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/express-rest-api/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs --skill express-rest-api -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs --path skills/express-rest-api
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs --skill express-rest-api -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/pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs/tree/HEAD/skills/express-rest-api/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- design REST routes for users and products
- add middleware for JSON, CORS, and authentication
- validate request bodies with a schema
- standardize API error responses
- organize an Express project into clear folders

## Example prompts
- Design a user REST API with GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE routes.
- Add middleware that checks a token, validates request data, and sends errors through one handler.
- Split this Express app into `controllers`, `routes`, `middlewares`, `models`, and `services`.

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From the same set: [pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs.md) — 3 cards

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