helmet-config-generator_skill

Overview

This skill generates a ready-to-use Helmet.js security middleware configuration for Express applications in TypeScript. It produces a single file (helmet.ts) compatible with Helmet 7.x and tailored for production-ready security headers. The output is a complete, importable middleware that integrates into existing Express apps.

How this skill works

On trigger it emits a TypeScript file implementing Helmet configuration with recommended header policies (CSP, HSTS, X-Frame-Options, Referrer-Policy, etc.). The config balances strict security defaults with practical allowances for common API and web app needs, and includes comments and type-safe exports for easy integration. It assumes Express and Helmet 7.x installed and can be copied directly into codebases.

When to use it

• Bootstrapping security headers for a new Express API or web app
• Hardening an existing Express application for production
• Creating a standard middleware file to share across projects
• Quickly generating a Helmet config that targets Helmet 7.x and TypeScript
• Ensuring consistent security header usage across environments

Best practices

• Use stricter policies (CSP, HSTS) in production while allowing relaxed settings in development
• Review Content-Security-Policy directives to allow only trusted sources and inline exceptions via nonces or hashes
• Test headers with tools like securityheaders.com and report-uri/Observatory for CSP violations
• Log or monitor CSP violations in staging before enforcing in production
• Keep dependencies up to date and re-run generation when Helmet major versions change

Example use cases

• Generate helmet.ts for a production REST API that serves JSON only, disabling unnecessary frame and content policies
• Create a middleware file for a server-rendered web app that requires a strict CSP with script nonces
• Produce an Express security middleware to standardize headers across microservices
• Quickly add recommended security headers to a TypeScript Express starter template
• Generate a baseline config to iterate from when hardening an app after a security review