# license-keys

Sets up Dodo Payments software license management in desktop apps and CLIs. Enforces per-seat or per-device activation limits.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 676 installs · ★ 13
- Author: dodopayments
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/dodopayments/skills/tree/HEAD/dodo-payments/license-keys/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-20
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/license-keys

## What it does

The skill teaches your coding agent how to handle Dodo Payments software licensing through its TypeScript SDK. It clearly splits public client-side calls from protected merchant endpoints. The `client.licenses.*` methods handle tasks like `activate` and `validate`. They run with a placeholder bearer token such as `'public'`, so you never embed your secret API key inside distributed builds.

For backend dashboards, the skill guides the agent away from deprecated `client.licenseKeys` methods toward `client.entitlements.grants.*`. Key validity integrates with subscription status automatically. Paused or refunded accounts disable licenses without manual intervention. When a user exceeds allowed seats, the API responds with HTTP 422, making limit checks straightforward to catch.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dodopayments/skills --skill license-keys -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dodopayments/skills --skill license-keys -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dodopayments/skills --skill license-keys -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install dodopayments/skills license-keys
```

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

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dodopayments/skills --skill license-keys -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/dodopayments/skills --path dodo-payments/license-keys
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dodopayments/skills --skill license-keys -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/dodopayments/skills/tree/HEAD/dodo-payments/license-keys/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- implement client-side key activation and instance verification without leaking secret keys
- catch HTTP 422 errors when concurrent activation caps are reached
- manage merchant-side license retrieval using `client.entitlements.grants`
- link software access directly to Dodo Payments subscription status changes

## Example prompts
- Implement device activation for Dodo Payments using `client.licenses.activate` in TypeScript
- Show how to validate an existing license key using `instanceId` without exposing secret tokens
- Fetch all active license keys for a customer using `listEntitlementGrants`

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

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: bf46531ea0d8d0da.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE bf46531ea0d8d0da
````text
---
name: license-keys
description: Dodo Payments license keys for software products, covering activation, validation, and deactivation via client.licenses, activation limits, expiry, entitlement grants, revocation, and license webhooks. Use when gating a desktop app, CLI, plugin, or SaaS feature behind a license key, enforcing per-seat or per-device limits, or building a license dashboard.
---

# Dodo Payments License Keys

License keys authorize access to your digital products. Use them for software licensing, per-seat controls, and gating premium features.

## When to use this skill

- Implementing end-user license activation and validation flows
- Building merchant dashboards to manage customer license keys
- Handling license expiry, activation limits, and subscription-linked revocation
- Integrating license checks into desktop apps, CLIs, or web services
- Reacting to license lifecycle webhooks

## Core concepts

**License Key Entitlements** deliver keys when a product is purchased. The entitlement config supplies activation limits, optional duration, and fulfillment mode (auto or manual).

**Three distinct resources:**

1. **`client.licenses.*`** — end-user activation flow (public, no API key required)
   - `activate()` — activate a key on a device
   - `validate()` — check if a key is valid
   - `deactivate()` — free an activation slot

2. **Entitlement grants** — merchant-side reads and revocation (requires API key)
   - `client.customers.listEntitlementGrants()`, `client.entitlements.grants.list()` — list issued keys (each license-key grant carries a `license_key` object)
   - `client.entitlements.grants.revoke()` — revoke a key
   - `client.licenseKeys.create()` — still supported, for **importing** existing keys
   - `client.licenseKeys.list()` / `retrieve()` / `update()` are **deprecated** (`GET /license_keys`, `GET`/`PATCH /license_keys/{id}`); use the grant endpoints above instead

3. **`client.licenseKeyInstances.*`** — per-device activation instances (requires API key)
   - `list()`, `retrieve()`, `update()` — track active devices per key

**Activation limits:** blank/null means unlimited; otherwise it's the maximum concurrent activations. Attempting to activate beyond the limit returns `422`.

**Expiry semantics:**
- One-time-payment keys honor the entitlement duration.
- Subscription-issued keys have no independent expiry; Dodo drives their validity from subscription state **automatically**: `past_due` leaves them active, `on_hold` and `paused` disable them until the subscription recovers or resumes, `cancelled`/`expired` disable them permanently, and `plan_changed` replaces them. A one-time `refund.succeeded` also disables them. You do not need to disable keys yourself.
- Imported keys use nullable `expires_at`; null means perpetual.

---

## End-User Activation Flow

### Activate a license key

```typescript
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE bf46531ea0d8d0da

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First 2898 of 16695 bytes. © dodopayments · MIT · https://github.com/dodopayments/skills/tree/HEAD/dodo-payments/license-keys/SKILL.md

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---
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