Kongctl Query

kongctl-query

Goal

Use read-only kongctl commands to inspect live Konnect state and return the smallest command and result slice that actually proves the answer.

Tool Positioning

• Use this skill when the user explicitly wants kongctl, CLI-shaped proof, or read-only verification after another workflow changed Konnect state.
• If the session already has the shared kong-konnect MCP server and the user needs live inspection more than exact CLI syntax, suggest MCP first and keep kongctl as the fallback proof path.
• Do not use this skill for declarative YAML authoring, kongctl plan/apply/sync, CI/CD scaffolding, or repository refactors.
• Preserve the repository's existing delivery toolchain. This skill only owns read paths and post-change verification commands.

References To Load

Load only the branch-specific reference that matches the active problem:

• references/resource-discovery.md
  • Load when the main question is which kongctl get resource, parent, or child path should be queried.
• references/output-shaping.md
  • Load when the main question is output mode, --jq, summarization shape, or formatting surprises from profile or environment defaults.
• references/auth-and-scope-checks.md
  • Load when auth, profile, region, org scope, or empty results may be the real issue.

Validation Contract

Preflight

• Confirm the CLI is installed and runnable: kongctl version.
• Prefer kongctl login for interactive sessions. Use PAT or SPAT environment variables only when the session is non-interactive.
• Never echo, log, or commit token values.
• If the user's org, region, or profile context matters, prove that context with one org-scoped read such as kongctl get organization -o json before reasoning about a missing resource.

Preview

• Choose the smallest read-only command that proves the answer:
  • kongctl help or kongctl get <resource> --help for command shape
  • kongctl get <resource> -o json for list proof
  • kongctl get <resource> "<name-or-id>" -o json for one-object proof
  • parent-child reads only after the parent boundary is confirmed
• Use explicit -o json unless the user specifically wants YAML.
• State the expected slice before relying on filtered or nested output.

Execute

• Do not mutate. This skill never runs apply, sync, adopt, patch, create, or delete.
• When another workflow changes state, use this skill only to supply the exact read-only verification command that should be rerun afterward.

Prove

• Rerun the exact get command that shows the affected live object now exists or now exposes the intended fields.
• Confirm the exact resource slice touched instead of treating org-level auth success as proof of the resulting object.
• Distinguish "empty result" from auth, profile, or scope failure.

Operating Rules

• Prefer live CLI help over guessing resource names or child-resource forms.
• Use explicit output flags on reads so profile or environment defaults do not silently change the proof.
• Keep summaries tight: return only the fields needed to answer the question or prove the post-change state.
• If the request turns into product diagnosis rather than query-path discovery or proof, hand off after proving the relevant live slice.

Workflow

1. Classify the request as resource discovery, auth/scope diagnosis, output shaping, or post-change verification.
2. Run preflight checks and prove org/profile scope before debugging resource paths when the context could be wrong.
3. Discover the smallest valid help or get path instead of assuming the resource family.
4. Run the narrowest read that proves the answer, defaulting to JSON unless the user explicitly wants YAML.
5. Summarize the proof with the minimum useful fields and include the exact verification command when another workflow owns the mutation.
6. Load the matching reference only when the branch-specific detail is needed.

Validation Checklist

Before answering, verify that you can state:

• which command proved auth or scope in the intended Konnect context
• which exact help or get command is the smallest safe proof
• which output mode and result slice were used
• how an empty result was distinguished from a context or access problem
• whether this request stays in kongctl-query or should hand off

Handoffs

• Hand off to kongctl-declarative when the user wants kongctl plan/apply/sync, declarative YAML authoring, or reconciliation.
• Hand off to deck-gateway, terraform-konnect, or terraform-kong-gateway when the repository already uses those tools for mutation.
• Hand off to the relevant Konnect domain skill when the question shifts from "how do I prove this with a read query?" to product-specific diagnosis or design.

Online Documentation

• kongctl docs: https://developer.konghq.com/kongctl/