using-web-backend

Overview

This router directs you to specialized web backend skills. Each specialist provides deep expertise in their domain.

Core principle: Different backend challenges require different specialist knowledge. Routing to the right skill gives better results than generic advice.

When to Use

Use this router when encountering:

• Framework-specific questions: FastAPI, Django, Express implementation details
• API design: REST or GraphQL architecture, versioning, schema design
• Architecture patterns: Microservices, message queues, event-driven systems
• Backend infrastructure: Authentication, database integration, deployment
• Testing & documentation: API testing strategies, documentation approaches

How to Access Reference Sheets

IMPORTANT: All reference sheets are located in the SAME DIRECTORY as this SKILL.md file.

When this skill is loaded from: skills/using-web-backend/SKILL.md

Reference sheets like fastapi-development.md are at: skills/using-web-backend/fastapi-development.md

NOT at: skills/fastapi-development.md ← WRONG PATH

When you see a link like [fastapi-development.md](fastapi-development.md), read the file from the same directory as this SKILL.md.

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Quick Reference - Routing Table

| User Question Contains | Route To | Why | |------------------------|----------|-----| | FastAPI, Pydantic, async Python APIs | fastapi-development.md | FastAPI-specific patterns, dependency injection, async | | Django, ORM, views, middleware | django-development.md | Django conventions, ORM optimization, settings | | Express, Node.js backend, middleware | express-development.md | Express patterns, error handling, async flow | | REST API, endpoints, versioning, pagination | rest-api-design.md | REST principles, resource design, hypermedia | | GraphQL, schema, resolvers, N+1 | graphql-api-design.md | Schema design, query optimization, federation | | Microservices, service mesh, boundaries | microservices-architecture.md | Service design, communication, consistency | | Message queues, RabbitMQ, Kafka, events | message-queues.md | Queue patterns, reliability, event-driven | | JWT, OAuth2, API keys, auth | api-authentication.md | Auth patterns, token management, security | | Rate limiting, throttling, quotas | api-authentication.md | Security hardening section — token-bucket, per-tenant quotas | | Database connections, ORM, migrations | database-integration.md | Connection pooling, query optimization, migrations | | API testing, integration tests, mocking | api-testing.md | Testing strategies, contract testing, mocking | | OpenAPI, Swagger, API docs | api-documentation.md | API docs (also see: muna-technical-writer) |

Cross-References to Other Packs

Before routing, check if these packs are more appropriate:

• Security concerns → ordis-security-architect (threat modeling, OWASP, security patterns)
• API usability/UX → lyra-ux-designer (error messages, API ergonomics)
• Python code patterns → axiom-python-engineering (Python-specific engineering)
• Documentation writing → muna-technical-writer (technical writing, clarity)

How to Route

STOP: Do not attempt to answer web backend questions yourself.

Instead:

1. Identify the specialist domain from the routing table above
2. State which specialist skill you're using: "I'll use the [skill-name] skill for this"
3. Apply the specialist skill to provide deep, expert guidance

Red Flags - Using Generic Knowledge Instead of Specialists

If you catch yourself doing any of these, STOP and route to a specialist:

• ❌ "I'll answer all these diverse backend questions myself"
• ❌ Giving code examples from "general backend knowledge"
• ❌ Providing "competent but broad" answers across multiple domains
• ❌ Not mentioning specialized skills would give better guidance
• ❌ "The specialist skill isn't available right now, so I'll answer myself"

All of these mean: You're being a jack-of-all-trades. Route to the specialist.

Rationalization Table

| Excuse | Reality | |--------|---------| | "I can handle this backend question myself" | Specialists provide deeper expertise than generic knowledge | | "These are all backend topics" | Backend spans 11 distinct specialist domains | | "I'll just give a quick answer" | Quick answers miss edge cases and production patterns | | "The user didn't ask for specialized help" | Better results come from routing to specialists proactively | | "Specialist skill not available, I'll answer instead" | State which skill would help, explain routing, guide user to install if needed |

Example Routing

User: "I need to build a REST API with FastAPI. How should I structure my dependency injection?"

Your response: "I'll use the fastapi-development.md skill to help you structure dependency injection properly. This specialist skill covers FastAPI patterns in depth."

[Then apply fastapi-development skill]

User: "My GraphQL API has N+1 problems and we're splitting our monolith into microservices."

Your response: "You have two distinct specialist areas:

1. GraphQL optimization → I'll use graphql-api-design.md
2. Microservices architecture → I'll use microservices-architecture.md

Let me address the GraphQL N+1 problem first with the graphql-api-design skill..."

[Apply each specialist skill to its domain]

Why This Matters

Without routing: Surface-level answers covering multiple domains broadly With routing: Deep expertise addressing edge cases, production patterns, and domain-specific best practices

Specialist skills = better results.

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Web Backend Specialist Skills Catalog

After routing, load the appropriate specialist skill for detailed guidance:

Framework-Specific Skills

1. fastapi-development.md - FastAPI patterns, dependency injection, async/await, Pydantic validation, background tasks
2. django-development.md - Django conventions, ORM optimization, middleware, settings, management commands
3. express-development.md - Express patterns, middleware chains, error handling, async flow control

API Design Skills

4. rest-api-design.md - REST principles, resource design, versioning, pagination, HATEOAS, HTTP semantics
5. graphql-api-design.md - GraphQL schema design, resolver patterns, N+1 query optimization, federation

Architecture & Infrastructure

6. microservices-architecture.md - Service boundaries, communication patterns, distributed consistency, service mesh
7. message-queues.md - Queue patterns, reliability guarantees, event-driven architecture, RabbitMQ/Kafka

Cross-Cutting Concerns

8. api-authentication.md - JWT, OAuth2, API keys, token management, auth patterns
9. database-integration.md - Connection pooling, query optimization, migrations, ORM patterns
10. api-testing.md - Testing strategies, contract testing, integration tests, mocking
11. api-documentation.md - OpenAPI/Swagger, API documentation patterns, schema generation