This repository contains best practices for NetBox API integrations. The content is available in multiple formats for different AI coding assistants and human readers.
When working on NetBox integrations, follow these key principles:
- Use v2 tokens on NetBox 4.5+ (
Bearer nbt_<key>.<token>) - Always paginate list requests - NetBox defaults to 50 items
- Use brief mode (
?brief=True) and exclude config_context for performance - Use Diode for high-volume data ingestion (handles dependencies automatically)
- Use pynetbox for Python integrations
| Format | Location | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| Human Documentation | HUMAN.md |
Engineers/developers |
| Claude Code Skills | skills/*/SKILL.md |
Claude Code users |
| Cursor Rules | .cursor/rules/*.mdc |
Cursor IDE users |
| Detailed Rules | skills/*/references/rules/*.md |
All (authoritative source) |
- Use v2 tokens on NetBox 4.5+ (CRITICAL)
- Use provisioning endpoint for automated token creation
- Always paginate list requests (HIGH)
- Use bulk operations via list endpoints (CRITICAL)
- Use PATCH for partial updates, not PUT
- Use brief mode and field selection for performance
- Avoid
?q=search filter at scale
- Use netbox-graphql-query-optimizer (CRITICAL)
- Always paginate, including nested lists (CRITICAL)
- Keep query depth ≤3
- Select only needed fields
- Exclude config_context from device queries
- Use brief mode for large list operations
- Create objects in dependency order (CRITICAL)
- Understand site/location hierarchy
- Use natural keys for queries
- Properly structure custom fields and tags
- Use Diode for high-volume ingestion (HIGH)
- Use pynetbox for Python integrations (HIGH)
- Use branching plugin for change management workflows (HIGH) - requires netbox-branching
- Configure webhooks for change notifications
- Query object changes for audit trails
Important: This repository maintains content in three parallel formats that must stay synchronized:
- Human Documentation -
HUMAN.md(single doc for all skills) - Claude Code Skills -
skills/*/SKILL.md - Cursor Rules -
.cursor/rules/*.mdc
When making changes:
- The authoritative source is
skills/*/references/rules/*.md - Update all three formats to maintain consistency
- See
CLAUDE.mdfor detailed maintenance procedures
- NetBox REST API Documentation
- NetBox GraphQL API Documentation
- pynetbox - Official Python client
- Diode - High-volume data ingestion
- netbox-graphql-query-optimizer
- netbox-branching - Change management plugin