Imported from volcengine/volcengine-skills (skills/specialized/service-support/volcengine-api/SKILL.md). Install upstream with npx skills add volcengine/volcengine-skills --skill volcengine-api. Copyright stays with the author (MIT).

Volcengine API Query Assistant

Answer user questions about Volcengine APIs by querying the API Explorer for authoritative, up-to-date information.

Applicable Scenarios

Workflow

Step 1: Understand User Intent

Determine what the user is looking for:

Step 2: Query API Information Progressively

Start from the appropriate sub-step based on what is already known. When the user describes a requirement in natural language, Search (2e) is often faster than browsing level by level.

2a. Query service list (when the service is unknown)

GET https://api.volcengine.com/api/common/explorer/services

Each service in the response contains:

• ServiceCode: service identifier (e.g., ecs, vpc)
• ServiceCn: Chinese name (e.g., "cloud server", "virtual private cloud")
• Product: product identifier (e.g., ECS, VPC)
• RegionType: regional or global

Match the most appropriate ServiceCode based on the user's description.

2b. Query version list (when the version is unknown)

GET https://api.volcengine.com/api/common/explorer/versions?ServiceCode={ServiceCode}

Each version contains:

• Version: version string (e.g., 2020-04-01)
• IsDefault: 1 indicates the default version

Prefer the version with IsDefault=1. If none is marked default, use the latest version.

2c. Query API list (when the specific API is unknown)

GET https://api.volcengine.com/api/common/explorer/apis?ServiceCode={ServiceCode}&Version={Version}&APIVersion={Version}

The response groups APIs by category. Each API contains:

• Action: API name (e.g., DescribeInstances)
• NameCn: Chinese name (e.g., "Query instance list")
• ApiGroup: group name (e.g., "Instance", "Image")
• Description: functional description
• UsageScenario: usage scenarios
• Attentions: constraints and caveats

Match user intent using Action, NameCn, and Description.

2d. Query API details (core step)

GET https://api.volcengine.com/api/common/explorer/api-swagger?ServiceCode={ServiceCode}&Version={Version}&APIVersion={Version}&ActionName={ActionName}

Returns the full Swagger/OpenAPI specification for the API. Extract key information as follows.

HTTP Method

The key under paths["/{ActionName}"] (get or post) indicates the HTTP method.

Request Parameters

Parameter location depends on the HTTP method:

GET requests: parameters are in paths["/{ActionName}"].get.parameters. Each parameter includes:

• name: parameter name
• required: whether it is required
• schema.type: data type
• schema.description: parameter description (often contains enum values, conditional rules, and value ranges)
• schema.enum: allowed values (if any)
• schema.default: default value (if any)
• schema.example: example value (if any)

Arrays and nested objects in GET parameters use naming conventions:

• Arrays: ParamName.N (N starts from 1), e.g., InstanceIds.1, InstanceIds.2
• Nested objects: Parent.Child, e.g., TagFilters.N.Key, TagFilters.N.Values.N

POST requests: parameters are in paths["/{ActionName}"].post.requestBody.content["application/json"].schema, using JSON Schema:

• properties: parameter definitions, keyed by name
• required: array of required parameter names

POST parameters often have nested structures that require recursive parsing:

• type: object -> inspect properties for child parameters
• type: array -> inspect items for element structure
• $ref: "#/components/schemas/XxxObject" -> look up the definition in components.schemas and expand recursively

Present nested parameters in a tree structure:

- InstanceId (string, required): instance ID
- DatabasePrivileges (array, optional): database privilege list
  - AccountName (string, required): account name
  - AccountPrivilege (string, required): privilege type — enum: ReadWrite, ReadOnly, ...
  - AccountPrivilegeDetail (string, optional): privilege detail, comma-separated

Parameter Dependencies

Many parameters have conditional dependencies, typically described in the description field. Watch for:

• Conditionally required: e.g., "required when EnableIpv6 is true"
• Mutually exclusive: e.g., "when Ipv6CidrBlock is specified, Ipv6MaskLen is ignored"
• Value constraints: e.g., "when Ipv6Isp is BGP, only 56 is supported"
• Prerequisites: e.g., "TagFilters.N.Values.N requires TagFilters.N.Key to be set first"

Highlight these dependencies in the answer to help users avoid misconfiguration.

Pagination Parameters

Volcengine APIs use two common pagination patterns, identifiable from the Swagger parameters:

• Token-based: uses MaxResults (page size) + NextToken (continuation token). The response includes NextToken; an empty value means the last page.
• Offset-based: uses PageSize + PageNumber (or Offset/Limit). The response includes TotalCount.

Specify which pagination pattern the API uses, along with default values and upper limits.

Response Structure

The response schema is defined at paths["/{ActionName}"].{method}.responses["200"].content["application/json"].schema, and may reference components.schemas via $ref.

Key response information:

• Field names, types, and descriptions
• Enum fields and their possible values (e.g., Status: RUNNING / STOPPED / CREATING)
• Nested object structures (e.g., fields within each item in an Instances array)

The info.x-demo section also provides useful reference — responseDemo[0].Code shows the complete response structure with example values.

Request/Response Examples

In the info.x-demo array:

• requestDemo[0].Code: request example (shows how parameters are filled)
• responseDemo[0].Code: response example (shows the full return structure with sample values)

These are official examples and highly valuable. Proactively include them in the answer.

Associated Error Codes

In paths["/{ActionName}"].{method}.responses["x-error-code"].content["application/json"].schema.oneOf, each error code contains:

• code: error code identifier (e.g., InvalidInstanceId.NotFound)
• http_code: HTTP status code (e.g., 400, 404, 409, 429, 500)
• message: English description
• description: Chinese description

2e. Search APIs (quick lookup)

When the user describes a requirement in natural language, searching is often the fastest approach. This can be used alongside steps 2a–2c.

GET https://api.volcengine.com/api/common/search/all?Query={keyword}&Channel=api

Search terms can be in Chinese or English. If one keyword yields poor results, try synonyms, different granularity, or English Action-name style (e.g., "DescribeXxx").

Each result contains:

• BizInfo.Action: API name
• BizInfo.ServiceCode: service identifier
• BizInfo.ServiceCn: service Chinese name
• BizInfo.Version: version
• Highlight: matched highlight text

After finding the target API, use step 2d to get full details.

Step 3: Handle Error Code Queries

Error code queries need special handling because the same error code (e.g., InvalidParameter) may appear across dozens of APIs with different meanings.

Common Error Code Categories

When the user provides a specific API name

Query the API Swagger via step 2d and locate the error code in x-error-code. This is the most accurate approach because the same error code can have different meanings across APIs.

Combine the description (Chinese) and message (English) fields to provide:

1. Error meaning
2. Specific trigger conditions in the context of this API
3. Troubleshooting steps and resolution suggestions

When the user provides only the error code

1. Ask for context first: ask which API triggered the error — this enables precise diagnosis. The same InvalidParameter means entirely different things in RunInstances vs. CreateVpc.
2. If the user provides a service name but no API name: infer the most likely API from the error pattern and context, then query its Swagger to confirm.
3. Fallback search: if the user cannot provide more context, use the error code search endpoint:

GET https://api.volcengine.com/api/common/search/all?Query={error_code}&Channel=error_code

Each result contains:

• Type: error_code
• BizInfo.ServiceCode: service identifier
• BizInfo.ServiceCn: service Chinese name
• BizInfo.Version: version
• URL: error code documentation link
• Highlight: matched highlight text

Since the same error code appears across multiple services, results may be numerous. Filter by any context the user has provided (service name, operation type, scenario).

Step 4: Compose the Answer

Organize a clear, professional answer based on the question type. Core principle: center on the user's question — extract the information the user needs rather than dumping the entire Swagger.

Finding an API

1. Recommend the API and explain why
2. Briefly describe its functionality and use case
3. List core required parameters
4. If multiple candidates exist, compare their use cases and let the user choose

Querying Parameters

1. State the HTTP method (GET/POST)
2. Required parameters first: list with type, description, and enum values
3. Use tree structure for nested parameters, marking required/optional at each level
4. Parameter dependencies: highlight conditional requirements, mutual exclusions, and value constraints
5. Describe the pagination pattern and default values separately
6. Show the request example (from x-demo)
7. Group optional parameters by function (filters, sorting, advanced config) and list briefly

Querying Response Structure

1. List key return fields with type and description
2. Show all possible values for enum fields
3. Use tree structure for nested objects
4. Show the response example (from x-demo responseDemo)

Querying Error Codes

1. Error meaning (Chinese and English descriptions)
2. Error category (parameter error / resource not found / permission denied, etc.)
3. Common causes
4. Specific troubleshooting steps and resolution suggestions
5. For throttling errors, recommend a retry strategy

Browsing Service Capabilities

1. Organize the API list by ApiGroup
2. Show Action name + Chinese name + one-line description for each API
3. If there are many APIs, prioritize core/commonly-used ones

Comparing APIs

1. Describe the functional purpose of each API
2. Compare applicable scenarios
3. Compare parameter differences (which is simpler, which is more flexible)
4. Provide a usage recommendation

Query Efficiency Tips

• API name known: go directly to 2d — one step
• Service name known: 2b -> 2c -> 2d, or search in parallel via 2e
• Only a natural-language description: prefer 2e search — faster than browsing level by level
• Completely uncertain: combine 2a (service list) + 2e (keyword search)
• Error code lookup: if an API name is available, go to 2d; otherwise, ask the user for context first

Important Notes

• Always fetch the latest data from the API Explorer endpoints — Volcengine APIs are updated frequently, so do not rely on memory
• Match the answer language to the user's language (Chinese question -> Chinese answer, English -> English)
• If the user's description is ambiguous, list possible options and ask for confirmation rather than guessing
• If the user needs runnable SDK code, direct them to the volcengine-sdk-generator skill
• If the user needs CLI-based operations, direct them to the volcengine-cli skill
• When presenting parameter information, enum values, conditional rules, and value ranges in the description field are the most valuable content — do not omit them
• If a network error occurs during queries, inform the user and suggest retrying later