DatoCMS Content Management API Skill

Expert at writing code that interacts with DatoCMS Content Management API (CMA). Use this workflow as default. Reorder/skip steps for purely diagnostic, advisory, or explanation-only tasks.

Short imperative request in mid-conversation following earlier DatoCMS context = still DatoCMS task. Don't lose context. Signals: @datocms/* packages in package.json, DATOCMS_* env vars, datocms.config.json, cma-types.ts.

CLI only — never MCP. DatoCMS CLI for all project/schema/CMA work. Never invoke any DatoCMS MCP tool even when present in toolset — CLI's OAuth + datocms.config.json keeps repo as source of truth, MCP causes config drift. Load datocms-cli for the equivalent command. Only npx datocms login is user-driven (interactive browser).

Step 1: Detect Context

If project context already established in conversation, skip broad detection. Re-inspect only when question cannot be answered from prior context.

Step 1a — Bootstrap project awareness (CLI + datocms link mandatory)

CMA work on DatoCMS-connected repo requires agent-side visibility into live project (models, fields, ids, record state). datocms installed + datocms login + datocms link = bootstrap. Treat like git init / npm install: missing → fix first.

Bootstrap flow (only datocms login needs interactive terminal):

npm install --save-dev datocms        # if missing
npx datocms login                          # user, one-time, interactive
npx datocms projects:list [hint] --json    # agent discovers siteId
npx datocms link --site-id=<ID> [--organization-id=<ID>]   # agent links

Always confirm target project with user before running datocms link, even when projects:list returns single candidate. Show candidate(s) (name, id, organization) → wait for explicit yes. "Only one result" ≠ consent — user may have access to wrong project; fixing mis-linked project is painful.

Detection hints (don't rely on which datocms — CLI runs via npx):

• datocms in package.json devDependencies → CLI available
• datocms.config.json with siteId on active profile → linked
• npx datocms whoami succeeds → OAuth session active
• none of above → drive bootstrap above

Token-in-.env = exception. Explicit DATOCMS_API_TOKEN only for runtimes that cannot use OAuth: CI, server-side application code, cron, webhooks, shared repo scripts. Agent still needs CLI + link during development for project visibility.

Learning project's shape. Once linked, run npx datocms schema:inspect (optionally with model API key, id, or display name) → see real models, blocks, fields, validators, fieldsets, nested blocks, relationships — TOON output by default, --json for | jq. Use any time agent/user needs to understand project structure before writing code, choosing right field for mutation, or deciding which model to query. Prefer to composing cma:call itemTypes list / fields list by hand. Reference: ../datocms-cli/references/schema-inspect.md.

Red flag: if about to say "paste a CMA token" or "add DATOCMS_CMA_TOKEN=... to .env" for task user is running interactively → stop. Right answer = bootstrap above + actual operation expressed as cma:call / cma:script invocation (shapes in Step 4).

Step 1b — Package and project detection

Once auth approach chosen, examine project → determine runtime + which CMA client package available.

1. Read package.json, check for these packages (priority order):

   • @datocms/cma-client — Universal/isomorphic. Recommended for most cases. Works in any environment with native fetch. Only provide fetchFn if runtime lacks native Fetch API.
   • @datocms/cma-client-node — Node.js-optimized. Adds upload helpers (createFromLocalFile, createFromUrl). Use when need file-system upload convenience methods.
   • @datocms/cma-client-browser — Browser-optimized. Adds createFromFileOrBlob() for File/Blob uploads.

2. If none installed and task requires buildClient() code → recommend appropriate package:

   • General / universal → @datocms/cma-client
   • Node.js project needing upload helpers → @datocms/cma-client-node
   • Browser-only project needing File/Blob uploads → @datocms/cma-client-browser

   (For pure OAuth-path work via cma:call / cma:script — none of these need installation — CLI workspace ships its own client.)

3. Search for existing buildClient() calls → understand how project already configures client (API token source, environment targeting, etc.).

4. Only if deliverable = unattended runtime code (see Step 1a): check for .env or .env.local file → see whether CMA-enabled DATOCMS_API_TOKEN (or similar) already defined. If only variable present = something read-only (DATOCMS_READONLY_API_TOKEN, NEXT_PUBLIC_DATOCMS_API_TOKEN, CDA token) → flag that separate CMA-enabled token needed for that specific runtime — not for agent's own introspection (must go through CLI + link regardless).

5. Check for existing cma-types.ts file → determine if CMA type generation already set up. Do not proactively suggest setting up type generation. For cma:docs lookups, cma:call, cma:script — this skill owns execution shape directly — see cheat sheets in Step 4. For schema-change requests → see decision tree in Step 2.5 — covers when this skill owns work directly and when routes to datocms-cli migrations. Otherwise route to datocms-cli for CLI-workflow topics (schema:generate, environment operations, imports, plugin management, multi-project sync, CI/CD).

Token scope reminder (only when unattended runtime genuinely needs one): token must have can_access_cma: true + role with permissions task requires (publishing, editing schema, etc.). Does not need to be "full-access" — should be scoped to smallest set of models, actions, environments that runtime actually needs.

Step 2: Understand the Task

Classify user's task into one or more categories. Ask follow-up questions only when request is ambiguous or risk of wrong assumption is high.

• Content operations — Create, read, update, delete, publish, or unpublish records
• Upload operations — Upload files, manage assets, update metadata, bulk tag
• Schema operations — Create or modify models, fields, fieldsets, block models
• Filtering & querying — Search records, filter by fields, paginate large collections
• Localization — Work with localized field values and multi-locale content
• Blocks & modular content — Modular content fields, single-block fields, nested block payloads
• Structured text & block tooling — DAST payloads, embedded blocks, block traversal, debugging helpers
• Environment operations — Fork, promote, rename, delete sandbox environments
• Webhook & deploy operations — Configure webhooks, build triggers, deploy management
• Access control — Create roles, manage API tokens, invite users
• Scheduling — Schedule publish/unpublish, manage workflows
• Migration & scripting — Bulk data operations, content seeding, field migrations
• Type generation — Consume generated CMA schema types or wire typed record operations
• Dashboard & schema menu management — Organize navigation sidebar items, group models in menus
• Plugin management — Install, configure, or audit plugins programmatically
• Project settings & usage — Site settings, maintenance mode, subscription limits, usage tracking, white-label
• Saved filters — Create or manage saved record/upload filter views
• Audit & debugging — Query audit logs, inspect async job results, CMA-side search

If user's request clear and falls into obvious category → skip clarifying questions, proceed directly.

Step 2.5: Schema changes — decide approach with user

DatoCMS schema operations fall into four buckets. Choice of approach ≠ automatic — ask user when bucket not obvious from request (reversibility + workflow preference matter more than which tool performs mutation).

Situation	What it covers	Approach
Destructive schema change	DROP a field, DROP a model, bulk_destroy records, lossy field_type changes (e.g. string → json, json → string, anything that discards stored values)	Migration via datocms-cli (migrations:new), against forked sandbox first. Never run these against primary environment without explicit, repeated user confirmation.
Reversible schema change	Add a field, add a model or block, rename a field, toggle required, add or tighten a validation, reorder fieldsets	Ask the user. Both approaches safe; pick by preference + context. Lean to migration (datocms-cli) when repo already uses migrations workflow or user is on secondary branch — reviewable, reproducible. Direct mutation (cma:call for single call, cma:script stdin-mode for multi-step) fine for quick iteration on sandbox. Default to migration only when user has no preference AND repo shows migration conventions (migrations/ directory, prior migration commits).
User-requested one-off	Phrases like "quickly, without a migrations workflow", "just patch this", "one-off", "don't scaffold migrations for this"	Honor the opt-out. Use direct mutation via cma:call (single call with shape from cma:docs) or cma:script stdin-mode (loops, multi-step, dependent calls). Do not re-suggest migrations unless change turns out to be destructive schema change.
Content operation	Publish, unpublish, delete individual records, fix slugs, bulk update a field value, re-tag uploads	No migration needed. Prefer cma:call for single call; cma:script stdin-mode for loops, pagination, or multi-step logic. Code that needs to be committed and replayed across environments = migration (datocms-cli), not this skill.

Regardless of which skill loaded — question to ask user is same for reversible schema change: "Do you want this as a reviewable migration, or a direct mutation against a sandbox?" Answer determines which skill owns follow-up — not which skill was loaded first.

Cross-skill routing.

• User-requested one-offs, content operations, and direct-mutation branch of reversible schema change = this skill's core: cma:call, cma:script stdin-mode (file-mode only as debug fallback — see Step 4). Stay here + load references in Step 3.
• Destructive schema changes, migration branch of reversible schema change, and anything that must be committed/versioned/replayed across environments better covered by datocms-cli (migrations:new, migrations:run). Switch when change is destructive, when repo already uses migrations workflow, or when user wants change as reviewable migration. Handoff = loading sibling skill's references — do not bounce the user.
• Unattended runtime code (CI, app server, webhook, long-lived automation) = separate scenario — where checked-in buildClient() script belongs. See Step 4 ("Client Setup").

Step 3: Load References

Two documentation sources available — pick right one for question:

1. npx datocms cma:docs <resource> <action> = live, always-up-to-date source for endpoint shapes, payload attributes, validators, client TypeScript signatures. Always reflects installed client version — never stale. Use as default for every "what does this endpoint accept / return" question. For all flags load datocms-cli skill + read ../datocms-cli/references/direct-cma-calls.md § cma:docs first time this skill needs to consult endpoint documentation. That file = single source of truth for command; do not re-derive flags from this skill.

2. Reference files in this directory carry opinionated mental models, decision trees, cross-cutting workflows, pattern ordering invariants — things cma:docs doesn't know. Use for "how should I approach this" questions.

cma:docs = CLI command — its full surface (flags, naming convention, when to pass --expand-types) lives in sibling skill.

Always load:

• references/client-setup-and-errors.md — Package choice, client setup, token/environment config, error handling

Routing per task category — same two-step routine for every row:

1. Run npx datocms cma:docs → fetch live endpoint shape, payload attributes, TS signatures.
2. Then load reference listed below for workflow, mental model, ordering invariants, gotchas cma:docs doesn't carry.

Each reference opens with reminder of specific cma:docs <resource> to consult — never re-derive endpoint shapes from prose, always pull them live.

Task category	Reference
Content operations	references/records.md
Upload operations	references/uploads.md
Schema operations	references/schema.md
Filtering & querying	references/filtering-and-pagination.md
Localization	references/localization.md
Blocks & modular content	references/editing-records.md
Structured text & block tooling	references/editing-records.md
Environment operations	references/environments.md
Access control	references/access-control.md
Migration & scripting	references/migration-patterns.md
Type generation	references/type-generation.md
Project settings & usage	references/project-settings-and-usage.md
Webhook & deploy operations	references/resource-gotchas.md § Webhooks / Build triggers
Scheduling	references/resource-gotchas.md § Scheduling / Workflows
Dashboard & schema menu management	references/resource-gotchas.md § Dashboard and schema menus
Plugin management	references/resource-gotchas.md § Plugins
Saved filters	references/resource-gotchas.md § Saved filters
Audit & debugging	references/resource-gotchas.md § Async job results / CMA search results / Audit log events

Load cross-cutting references when needed:

If task:

• involves localized fields in any context → also load references/localization.md
• uses raw*() methods, generated CMA types, advanced client behavior, or platform limits → also load references/client-types-and-behaviors.md
• involves modular content, single-block fields, DAST structured text, block traversal, or any per-locale backfill → also load references/editing-records.md
• involves listing many records → also load references/filtering-and-pagination.md
• = migration script → also load references/migration-patterns.md plus whatever domain refs needed
• involves video upload subtitles/tracks or upload tag management → also load references/resource-gotchas.md § Upload tracks and tags
• involves maintenance mode before a migration → also load references/project-settings-and-usage.md
• involves checking subscription limits before bulk operations → also load references/project-settings-and-usage.md

Step 4: Generate the Solution

When response includes code — follow these default rules:

Authentication (respect Step 1a bootstrap)

• CLI + link = prerequisite of Step 4, not choice. If project not yet linked → fix first (propose install + login + link) before writing any solution code.
• For interactive / one-off work (majority of CMA tasks) — do not write buildClient({ apiToken: ... }) code at all — output cma:call invocation (single call with shape from cma:docs) or cma:script stdin-mode (loops/multi-step) using shapes below. CLI handles auth silently via linked project; no cross-skill hop needed.
• Only when deliverable = unattended runtime code (CI, server-side app, long-lived automation, repo-committed shared scripts) should response include buildClient() + env-var token code.

cma:call shape — do not invent REST-style flags

cma:call is positional (<resourceCamelCase> <methodCamelCase> + any URL placeholders as extra positional args), with JSON5 request bodies + query params passed via --data / --params. Not REST wrapper — no --endpoint, --method, --query-params, or --body flag. Use camelCase for resource/method names (matches JS client: client.itemTypes.create).

npx datocms cma:call items list --params='{filter: {type: "article"}}'
npx datocms cma:call items find <ITEM_ID>
npx datocms cma:call items update <ITEM_ID> --data='{title: "Updated"}'
npx datocms cma:call items publish <ITEM_ID>

# Schema (prefer a migration unless the user opted out)
npx datocms cma:call fields create <ITEM_TYPE_ID> --data='{label: "Title", api_key: "title", field_type: "string"}'

--data / --params accept JSON5 (unquoted keys, single-quoted wrapping) — keeps shell escaping sane. If unsure about exact resource/method/body shape → run npx datocms cma:docs <resource> <action> — that = authoritative source.

cma:script shape — stdin-mode is the main road; file-mode is debug-only

Three main roads, picked by deliverable shape: stable/replayable → migration (datocms-cli); one-off interactive (loops, branching, dependent calls, typed Schema.*) → cma:script stdin-mode; code that runs inside the app/server/cron/webhook → checked-in buildClient() script (Step 4). file-mode cma:script is none of these — last-resort debug fallback only, when stdin-mode misbehaves and you need editor LSP, breakpoints, intermediate-state dumps, or a non-prebundled module to bisect. Long heredoc / "rerun by name" are not reasons — those belong in a migration or buildClient() script.

stdin-mode — top-level await, piped or heredoc. Zero setup. client (pre-authenticated), Schema.* (project record types), and every named export of @datocms/cma-client-node, datocms-structured-text-utils, datocms-structured-text-dastdown are ambient globals inside CLI-bundled workspace — no import needed (e.g. buildBlockRecord, mapNodes, parse, serialize, SchemaRepository, ApiTypes). tsc --noEmit type-checks before execution; any + unknown rejected. export default not supported here — drop to file-mode only when debugging requires a function shape. Anything outside those 3 modules (e.g. datocms-html-to-structured-text, datocms-structured-text-to-{plain-text,html-string,markdown}, parse5) is unavailable in stdin-mode — debug fallback to file-mode and install it.

npx datocms cma:script <<'EOF'
const items = await client.items.list<Schema.Article>({ filter: { type: 'article' } });
console.log(items.length);
EOF

file-mode (debug fallback only) — export default async function(client: Client) in .ts file on disk. Runs in user's own TypeScript context (editor LSP against tsconfig.json, or explicit tsc --noEmit; no CLI-side typecheck). See cap above for when to reach for it; not "code to commit".

// tmp/scripts/publish-drafts.ts
import type { Client } from 'datocms/lib/cma-client-node';
// Optional typed project schema — run once next to the script:
//   npx datocms schema:generate ./datocms-schema.ts
// import * as Schema from './datocms-schema';

export default async function (client: Client): Promise<void> {
  for await (const draft of client.items.listPagedIterator<Schema.AnyModel>({
    filter: { fields: { _status: { eq: 'draft' } } },
  })) {
    await client.items.publish(draft.id);
  }
}

npx datocms cma:script tmp/scripts/publish-drafts.ts [--environment <env>]

Rules of thumb:

• cma:call first for single call with shape from cma:docs. cma:script only when task needs loops, pagination, branching, dependent calls, or typed Schema.*.
• file-mode placement: gitignored scratch dir (tmp/scripts/, scratch/, ~/scratch/dato/). Never under migrations/ — owned by migrations:run. Requires datocms reachable in node_modules from file's directory.
• Typed Schema.* in file-mode opt-in: npx datocms schema:generate ./datocms-schema.ts + import * as Schema from './datocms-schema'. Ambient in stdin-mode.
• Promotion to migration: file-mode imports Client from datocms/lib/cma-client-node — same import migrations use, so a debugged file-mode script can be mv'd into migrations/.
• Redirect 2>/dev/null when piping stdin-mode stdout into jq.
• Pre-installed packages = stdin-only; file-mode installs into own package.json.

For advanced patterns (workspace flags, stdout shaping, long-running scripts) → consult datocms-cli skill.

Client Setup (unattended-runtime code only)

• Default to buildClient() from detected package (Step 1b)
• Read API token from environment variable; never hardcode, never ask user to paste into chat
• Set environment option when working with sandbox environments

API Surface

• Default to simplified API (e.g., client.items.create()) because it handles serialization/deserialization automatically
• Switch to raw*() methods only when task explicitly needs raw JSON:API payloads, relationship metadata, or generated CMA schema types are intentionally part of solution

Pagination

• Prefer *.listPagedIterator() (for example client.items.listPagedIterator()) when iterating over collections
• Avoid manual offset/limit pagination loops unless resource genuinely lacks iterator
• Use for await...of to consume async iterators

Blocks

• Prefer buildBlockRecord() when creating block records for simplified API
• Import from same package as buildClient

Error Handling

• Catch ApiError for API failures — provides .errors getter + .findError() method
• Catch TimeoutError for request timeouts in long-running or request-heavy flows
• Import both from same package as buildClient

TypeScript

• Never any / unknown — ambient-globals runtimes (cma:script stdin-mode, MCP upsert_and_execute_{safe,unsafe}_script) reject pre-execution. Use typed primitives: Schema.X generics on every client.items.* call, FieldValueInRequest<typeof rec, "field"> for collections built locally, type-guard imports (isSpan, isHeading, isBlockWithItemOfType, …) inside callbacks. Escape hatch: derive precise type via ApiTypes.*, never annotate any.
• Follow TypeScript strictness rules: no as unknown as, no unnecessary as casts
• Let TypeScript infer types wherever possible
• Use import type { ... } for type-only imports

Step 5: Verify

Before presenting final code:

1. Project-awareness bootstrap — Confirm repo has datocms npm package installed + project linked (datocms.config.json with siteId, npx datocms whoami succeeds). If not — final proposal must include install + login + link sequence before any CMA operation. For interactive / one-off tasks — deliverable should be cma:call / cma:script invocation (shapes in Step 4), not buildClient() script that requires token in .env. Only when code will run unattended (CI, server-side app, long-lived automation) should token-in-env solution be presented — + in that case token must have CMA access enabled + role permissions task needs. Schema changes require role with can_edit_schema: true.
2. Environment targeting — If working with sandbox → ensure environment config option set
3. Error handling — Ensure ApiError caught at appropriate boundaries
4. Pagination — If solution iterates collection that could exceed single page → prefer listPagedIterator()
5. Type safety — Ensure no type assertions (as) used to silence errors
6. Imports — Ensure all imports come from correct package (one detected in Step 1)
7. Generated types — If solution intentionally uses generated CMA types (cma-types.ts) → ensure chosen path typed end to end: simplified API generics by default, or raw*() / RawApiTypes.Item<> only when raw payload access intentional

If generated code = script (migration, seeding, etc.) → wrap in async function with proper error handling + progress reporting.

Cross-Skill Routing

This skill covers content management via REST CMA (mutations, schema, uploads, webhooks, scripts). If task involves any of following → activate companion skill:

Condition	Route to
CLI-workflow topics: migrations (creating, running, autogenerate), schema:generate, environment operations (fork/promote/destroy/rename), imports (WordPress, Contentful), CLI plugin management, blueprint/multi-project sync, CI/CD deployment workflows	datocms-cli
Querying content with GraphQL for frontend display	datocms-cda
Setting up draft mode, Web Previews, Content Link, real-time subscriptions, or framework integration	datocms-frontend-integrations
Building a DatoCMS plugin	datocms-plugin-builder