Generate OpenAPI 3.x specifications from code, requirements, or existing APIs. Use when the user asks to create an API spec, Swagger doc, or OpenAPI definition.
Scanned 5/27/2026
Install via CLI
openskills install girijashankarj/cursor-handbook---
name: openapi-generator
description: Generate OpenAPI 3.x specifications from code, requirements, or existing APIs. Use when the user asks to create an API spec, Swagger doc, or OpenAPI definition.
---
# Skill: OpenAPI Generator
Generate complete OpenAPI 3.0/3.1 specifications from code, requirements, or existing endpoints.
## Trigger
When the user asks to generate an OpenAPI spec, create Swagger documentation, document API endpoints, or produce an API contract.
## Prerequisites
- [ ] API endpoints identified (routes, methods, paths)
- [ ] Request/response schemas known or inferable from code
- [ ] Authentication method known
## Steps
### Step 1: Gather API Information
- [ ] Scan route files to identify all endpoints
- [ ] Identify HTTP methods for each endpoint (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE)
- [ ] Identify path parameters, query parameters, request bodies
- [ ] Identify response shapes and status codes
- [ ] Identify authentication/authorization requirements
- [ ] Check for existing schema definitions (Zod, JSON Schema, TypeScript interfaces)
### Step 2: Define API Metadata
```yaml
openapi: "3.0.3"
info:
title: "{{CONFIG.project.name}} API"
description: "API documentation for {{CONFIG.project.name}}"
version: "1.0.0"
contact:
name: "API Support"
email: "[API_SUPPORT_EMAIL]"
servers:
- url: "[API_BASE_URL]/api/v1"
description: "Production"
- url: "[API_BASE_URL_STAGING]/api/v1"
description: "Staging"
```
### Step 3: Define Security Schemes
```yaml
components:
securitySchemes:
BearerAuth:
type: http
scheme: bearer
bearerFormat: JWT
ApiKeyAuth:
type: apiKey
in: header
name: X-API-Key
```
### Step 4: Define Reusable Schemas
#### Response Envelope
```yaml
components:
schemas:
SuccessResponse:
type: object
properties:
data:
type: object
meta:
$ref: "#/components/schemas/Meta"
ErrorResponse:
type: object
properties:
error:
$ref: "#/components/schemas/Error"
meta:
$ref: "#/components/schemas/Meta"
Meta:
type: object
properties:
correlationId:
type: string
format: uuid
timestamp:
type: string
format: date-time
Error:
type: object
properties:
code:
type: string
message:
type: string
details:
type: array
items:
type: object
PaginationMeta:
type: object
properties:
cursor:
type: string
nullable: true
pageSize:
type: integer
hasMore:
type: boolean
```
#### Entity Schemas
- [ ] Convert TypeScript interfaces / Zod schemas to OpenAPI schema objects
- [ ] Define `required` fields
- [ ] Add `format` hints (uuid, email, date-time, uri)
- [ ] Add `example` values for each field
- [ ] Add `description` for non-obvious fields
- [ ] Define enums for constrained values
### Step 5: Define Endpoints
For each endpoint:
```yaml
paths:
/resource:
get:
summary: "List resources"
description: "Returns a paginated list of resources"
operationId: "listResources"
tags:
- "Resources"
security:
- BearerAuth: []
parameters:
- name: cursor
in: query
schema:
type: string
description: "Pagination cursor"
- name: pageSize
in: query
schema:
type: integer
default: 20
minimum: 1
maximum: 100
responses:
"200":
description: "Successful response"
content:
application/json:
schema:
allOf:
- $ref: "#/components/schemas/SuccessResponse"
- type: object
properties:
data:
type: array
items:
$ref: "#/components/schemas/Resource"
meta:
allOf:
- $ref: "#/components/schemas/Meta"
- $ref: "#/components/schemas/PaginationMeta"
"401":
description: "Unauthorized"
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: "#/components/schemas/ErrorResponse"
post:
summary: "Create resource"
operationId: "createResource"
tags:
- "Resources"
security:
- BearerAuth: []
requestBody:
required: true
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: "#/components/schemas/CreateResourceRequest"
responses:
"201":
description: "Created"
content:
application/json:
schema:
allOf:
- $ref: "#/components/schemas/SuccessResponse"
- type: object
properties:
data:
$ref: "#/components/schemas/Resource"
"400":
description: "Validation error"
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: "#/components/schemas/ErrorResponse"
```
### Step 6: Add Common Response Codes
- [ ] `200` — Success (GET, PUT, PATCH)
- [ ] `201` — Created (POST)
- [ ] `204` — No content (DELETE)
- [ ] `400` — Validation error
- [ ] `401` — Unauthorized
- [ ] `403` — Forbidden
- [ ] `404` — Not found
- [ ] `409` — Conflict
- [ ] `429` — Rate limited
- [ ] `500` — Internal server error
### Step 7: Add Examples
- [ ] Add `example` or `examples` to request bodies
- [ ] Add `example` or `examples` to responses
- [ ] Use realistic but non-PII data in examples
```yaml
examples:
CreateOrderExample:
summary: "Create a standard order"
value:
customerId: "cust_abc123"
items:
- productId: "prod_xyz789"
quantity: 2
shippingAddress:
street: "123 Main St"
city: "Anytown"
state: "CA"
zip: "90210"
```
### Step 8: Validate the Spec
- [ ] Verify all `$ref` references resolve
- [ ] Verify all required fields are listed
- [ ] Verify examples match schemas
- [ ] Check for consistent naming (camelCase for fields, kebab-case for paths)
- [ ] Verify no real URLs, secrets, or PII in the spec
### Step 9: Output
- [ ] Generate as YAML (preferred) or JSON
- [ ] Save to `docs/api/openapi.yaml` or project-standard location
- [ ] Provide instructions for viewing: Swagger UI, Redoc, or Stoplight
## Rules
- **ALWAYS** use OpenAPI 3.0.3 or 3.1.0
- **ALWAYS** include `operationId` for every endpoint
- **ALWAYS** document all response codes (success and error)
- **ALWAYS** use `$ref` for reusable schemas — no duplication
- **NEVER** include real URLs, secrets, or PII in the spec
- **NEVER** use `any` or untyped fields — be explicit
- Follow the project's response envelope pattern: `{ data, meta, errors }`
- Use `tags` to group related endpoints
- Alphabetize paths and sort methods (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE)
## Completion
Complete OpenAPI spec file ready to serve via Swagger UI, Redoc, or import into Postman/Insomnia.
## If a Step Fails
- **Can't infer schemas from code:** Ask the user for TypeScript interfaces or example payloads
- **Too many endpoints:** Generate a skeleton first, fill in details incrementally
- **Schema conflicts:** Validate with `npx @redocly/cli lint openapi.yaml`
- **Missing auth info:** Default to BearerAuth, ask user to confirm
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!