fastapi_skill

Overview

This skill teaches how to build modern, high-performance APIs using FastAPI. It focuses on async endpoints, automatic OpenAPI documentation, and type-safe request/response handling. You will learn practical patterns for validation, security, and production readiness.

How this skill works

The skill walks through application structure, route definitions, and Pydantic model usage to validate and serialize data. It introduces async endpoint handlers, background tasks, and integration points for databases and authentication. Hands-on examples cover middleware, WebSockets, file uploads, and testing strategies to produce robust API services.

When to use it

• Building new REST or WebSocket APIs that need high throughput and low latency
• Creating services that require automatic API docs and schema validation
• Implementing async I/O with databases or external services
• Adding type-safe request/response models and strict validation
• Securing endpoints with OAuth2, JWT, or API keys

Best practices

• Structure projects with clear routers, dependencies, and settings modules
• Use Pydantic models for request validation and response serialization to avoid runtime errors
• Prefer async database drivers and non-blocking libraries for scalability
• Centralize authentication and authorization via dependencies to keep handlers small
• Write tests for routes, dependencies, and middleware to prevent regressions
• Configure CORS, rate limiting, and sensible exception handlers for production safety

Example use cases

• Public REST API for a SaaS product with automatic docs and versioned routes
• Internal microservice handling async tasks and database operations
• Real-time features using WebSockets for chat or live updates
• File upload and streaming endpoints for media services
• Secured API with OAuth2 and JWT for third-party integrations