Context7

Fetch current library/framework/API documentation from the Context7 API, so answers cite authoritative docs instead of relying on outdated training data. This skill uses the co-located Node CLI in context7-api.cjs; no MCP dependency is required.

Architecture

Piece	Role	Recommended Use
context7 (this file)	Intent detection, library selection, answer integration	Default path
context7-fetcher	Optional low-context wrapper around the same CLI	Use only if your runtime truly supports isolated workers/subtasks

The canonical execution path is to run the co-located CLI directly. Do not require a Task/Bash-specific subtask mechanism, and do not hardcode repo-relative paths like skills/context7/context7-api.cjs — that breaks when the skill is installed globally outside the source repo.

Call Flow

User Query → context7 (detect trigger + extract library)
    ↓ shell / worker → node <context7-skill-dir>/context7-api.cjs search <library> <query>
                         → JSON libraries[] (+ raw results[])
context7 (select best match: name / trustScore / version)
    ↓ shell / worker → node <context7-skill-dir>/context7-api.cjs context <libraryId> <query>
                         → JSON results[] (+ raw codeSnippets[] / infoSnippets[])
context7 (integrate relevant snippets into answer)

Implementation Layout

• context7-api.cjs - Node CLI entrypoint (HTTPS client, .env + env-var API key, MSYS path fix, response normalization)
• context7-fetcher.md - Optional helper wrapper around the same CLI
• .env.example - API key template (copy to .env)
• tests/test_context7_api.cjs - Regression tests for response-shape compatibility and error exits

Execution Method

# Prerequisites: Node.js 18+ (no npm install needed; stdlib only)
# Environment: CONTEXT7_API_KEY (optional; public rate limits apply if unset)

# Run from the context7 skill directory
node ./context7-api.cjs search "<library-name>" "<user-query>"
node ./context7-api.cjs context "<library-id>" "<specific-query>"

Safe default: resolve the actual context7 skill directory first, cd into it, then run node ./context7-api.cjs ....

Stable Output Contract

The Context7 HTTP API payload changed shape, so context7-api.cjs now exposes a compatibility contract:

• search always provides libraries[] and preserves the raw results[]
• context always provides results[] and preserves raw codeSnippets[] / infoSnippets[]

Prefer the normalized aliases (libraries[], results[]) in downstream logic.

Tool Capability Matrix

Command	Required Args	Output
search	<libraryName>, <query>	{libraries:[...], results:[...], searchFilterApplied?:boolean}
context	<libraryId>, <query>	{results:[...], codeSnippets?:[...], infoSnippets?:[...]}

Library IDs are Context7 slugs (for example /reactjs/react.dev, /vercel/next.js, /vercel/next.js/v15.1.8). If the user specifies a version, prefer a version-pinned ID returned by search.

Research Workflow

Step 1: Extract Library Information

From the user query, identify:

• Library name (for example react, next.js, prisma)
• Version if specified (for example React 19, Next.js 15)
• Specific feature/API (for example useEffect cleanup, middleware)

Step 2: Search for the Library

cd <context7-skill-dir>
node ./context7-api.cjs search "<library>" "<full user question>"

Step 3: Select the Best Match

Choose from libraries[] by:

1. Exact name match to the user's query
2. Highest trustScore
3. Version match if specified
4. Official packages over community forks

Step 4: Fetch Documentation

cd <context7-skill-dir>
node ./context7-api.cjs context "<libraryId>" "<feature query>"

Step 5: Integrate into the Answer

1. Answer accurately with fetched current information
2. Include code examples drawn from the docs
3. Cite the version when relevant
4. Quote only the relevant snippet instead of dumping entire documentation

If your runtime can spawn generic workers/subagents, pass the exact shell commands above. Do not assume a special Task API or a subagent_type: Bash feature exists.

Environment Setup

The CLI loads the API key in this order:

1. CONTEXT7_API_KEY environment variable
2. .env file in the skill directory

cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env: CONTEXT7_API_KEY=<your-key>

Get a key at context7.com/dashboard. Without a key, the API falls back to public rate limits.

Error Handling

Error	Recovery
search returns no libraries	Broaden the library name; suggest alternatives
API 429 (rate limit)	Retry once after a short delay; if it still fails, say Context7 is rate-limited
API 5xx / network failure	CLI exits non-zero after writing the error to stderr; retry once, then fall back to training data and say it may be outdated
Library ID path mangled (Windows Git Bash)	context7-api.cjs auto-fixes MSYS path conversion
Search/context payload shape drift	Use normalized libraries[] / results[] aliases from context7-api.cjs
Global skill install + path issues	Resolve the actual skill directory first; never blindly run node skills/context7/...

Best Practices

• Pass the full user question as the query for better ranking
• Prefer version-pinned IDs when the user names a version
• Resolve the skill directory before running the CLI
• Parallelize multiple libraries only if your runtime supports it safely
• Keep a training-data fallback with an explicit staleness disclaimer

Anti-Patterns

Prohibited	Correct
node skills/context7/context7-api.cjs ... from an arbitrary project root	Resolve the skill directory, then run node ./context7-api.cjs ... there
Depending on raw results / codeSnippets only	Read normalized libraries[] / results[] first
Requiring a Task / Bash-only subtask API	Use direct CLI execution or a generic worker that runs the same command
Dumping entire fetched documentation	Extract only the relevant snippet
Silently falling back to training data	Tell the user the fallback may be outdated
Hardcoding library IDs across versions	Re-run search when version uncertainty exists

Example Workflows

Example 1: React Hook

User: How do I use useEffect to fetch data in React 19?

1. Detect React 19 + useEffect + fetch data
2. search "react" "How do I use useEffect to fetch data in React 19?"
3. Choose the best version-aware result from libraries[]
4. context "<selected-library-id>" "useEffect data fetching"
5. Respond with current React guidance

Example 2: Next.js Configuration

User: 配置 Next.js 15 的中间件

1. Detect Next.js 15 + middleware
2. search "next.js" "middleware configuration"
3. Choose the version-pinned result if present
4. context "<selected-library-id>" "middleware"
5. Respond with current Next.js 15 setup

Limitations

• Requires internet connection
• Subject to Context7 API rate limits
• May lack docs for very new or obscure libraries
• Documentation quality depends on the indexed source material