Dataworks Open API

DataWorks (dataworks-public)

Use Alibaba Cloud OpenAPI (RPC) with official SDKs or OpenAPI Explorer to manage all DataWorks resources. MCP Server is available as an alternative integration.

Workflow

1. Confirm region, project/resource identifiers, and desired action.
2. Discover available APIs and required parameters (see API discovery below).
3. Call API via SDK.
4. Verify results with describe/list/get APIs.

Troubleshooting fallback chain (follow this order)

If execution fails at any step, escalate to the next level:

1. Cookbook — check references/cookbook.md first. It contains verified API patterns, pitfalls, error recovery, the full end-to-end lifecycle (Create → Submit → Deploy → Run → Monitor), and reusable code snippets. Most common issues are already documented there.
2. Official help docs — read the API overview and per-API doc pages.
   • If an API call fails or the request/error is not understood, fetch the API directory page to locate the relevant API documentation: https://help.aliyun.com/zh/dataworks/developer-reference/api-dataworks-public-2024-05-18-dir Browse the category list, find the matching API name, and navigate to its detail page (URL pattern: https://help.aliyun.com/zh/dataworks/developer-reference/api-dataworks-public-2024-05-18-{apinameincamelcase}) for parameter details, error codes, and usage examples. For example, if CreateNode fails, find it under "数据开发（新版）" in the directory, then read its detail page: https://help.aliyun.com/zh/dataworks/developer-reference/api-dataworks-public-2024-05-18-createnode
3. OpenAPI metadata — fetch the raw JSON spec for exact parameter names, types, and required fields.
4. SDK API docs — check the typed SDK reference for correct method signatures and request classes.

• Java: https://aliyunsdk-pages.alicdn.com/apidocs/{PRODUCT_CODE}/{API_VERSION}/java-async-tea/8.0.3/index.html
• Node.js / Python: see references/sources.md

5. GitHub source code — read the Java SDK source for model/request class definitions: https://github.com/aliyun/alibabacloud-java-sdk/tree/master/dataworks-public-20240518 (browse src/main/java/com/aliyun/dataworks_public20240518/ for request/response models).
6. MCP Server — use the MCP Server to call APIs directly (see references/mcp_server.md).
7. Browser — use browser-use to visit the DataWorks Homepage (https://dataworks.data.aliyun.com/${ALIBABA_CLOUD_REGION_ID}/#/index) and inspect the UI behavior, network requests, or page content for clues.

Credentials priority (must follow)

1. Environment variables: ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID / ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET / ALIBABA_CLOUD_REGION_ID
2. Credentials URI: ALIBABA_CLOUD_CREDENTIALS_URI (e.g. http://localhost:7002/api/v1/credentials/0). The SDK credentials provider automatically fetches and refreshes AK/SK/STS tokens from this HTTP endpoint.
3. Shared config file: ~/.alibabacloud/credentials

Region policy: ALIBABA_CLOUD_REGION_ID is an optional default. If unset, decide the most reasonable region for the task; if unclear, ask the user.

API discovery

Constants (use these values throughout):

• PRODUCT_CODE: dataworks-public
• API_VERSION: 2024-05-18
• Use OpenAPI metadata endpoints to list APIs and get schemas (see references).

Do NOT rely on a hardcoded API list. Always discover APIs dynamically. Methods are listed in priority order — try them top-down:

Method 1: Fetch from official help docs

Run the discovery script to curl the official documentation page and extract the complete API overview:

python scripts/fetch_api_overview.py

This fetches https://help.aliyun.com/zh/dataworks/developer-reference/api-{PRODUCT_CODE}-{API_VERSION}-overview, extracts the API list from window.__ICE_PAGE_PROPS__.docDetailData.storeData.data.content, and parses the HTML tables into a grouped API overview.

Method 2: Fetch from OpenAPI metadata (full spec with parameters and responses)

Fetch raw API schemas and parameter definitions:

python scripts/list_openapi_meta_apis.py

This calls https://next.api.aliyun.com/meta/v1/products/{PRODUCT_CODE}/versions/{API_VERSION}/api-docs.json and outputs the full API docs JSON and a summary list.

To get the schema of a single API (replace {ApiName} with a name from the list above, e.g. ListProjects):

https://next.api.aliyun.com/meta/v1/products/{PRODUCT_CODE}/versions/{API_VERSION}/apis/{ApiName}/api.json

Method 3: MCP Server tools (curated subset with category and parameter-position metadata)

If the MCP Server is running, use the MCP tools/list capability, or fetch https://dataworks.data.aliyun.com/pop-mcp-tools directly for the tool catalog JSON. Includes some APIs not in Method 2 (e.g. data service, permission approval).

Calling APIs via SDK

Recommend using the latest SDK version. The DataWorks SDK is updated frequently with new APIs, bug fixes, and model changes. Check the latest version from the package registry before installing:

• Node.js: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@alicloud/dataworks-public20240518
• Python: https://pypi.org/project/alibabacloud-dataworks-public20240518/
• Java: https://central.sonatype.com/artifact/com.aliyun/alibabacloud-dataworks_public20240518

Prefer the official Alibaba Cloud SDK. Two styles are supported:

Style 1: Generalized call (recommended, covers all APIs)

Use @alicloud/openapi-client to call any DataWorks API without importing product-specific SDK classes. This is the approach used by the MCP Server source code (src/tools/callTool.ts).

npm install @alicloud/openapi-client @alicloud/openapi-util @alicloud/tea-util @alicloud/credentials

import OpenApi from "@alicloud/openapi-client";
import Util from "@alicloud/tea-util";

// 1. Create client
const config = new OpenApi.Config({
  accessKeyId: process.env.ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID,
  accessKeySecret: process.env.ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET,
  endpoint: `dataworks.${
    process.env.ALIBABA_CLOUD_REGION_ID || "cn-shanghai"
  }.aliyuncs.com`,
});
const client = new OpenApi.default(config);

// 2. Build request params (RPC style)
const params = new OpenApi.Params({
  style: "RPC",
  action: "ListProjects", // API name
  version: "{API_VERSION}", // see Constants above
  protocol: "HTTPS",
  method: "POST", // GET or POST per API spec
  authType: "AK",
  pathname: "/",
  bodyType: "json",
});

// 3. Build query/body from input
const query = { PageNumber: 1, PageSize: 10 };
const request = new OpenApi.OpenApiRequest({ query });
const runtime = new Util.RuntimeOptions({});

// 4. Call
const res = await client.callApi(params, request, runtime);
console.log(res.body);

Key rules from src/tools/callTool.ts:

• style: 'RPC' when API has no path; 'ROA' when it has a path.
• method: per API spec (GET / POST / PUT / DELETE).
• Parameters with in: 'query' go to query; in: 'body' / in: 'formData' go to body.
• For GET / DELETE requests, body must be null (otherwise signature fails).
• Use bodyType: 'string' to avoid precision loss on large numbers.

Style 2: Product-specific SDK (typed, per-API methods)

npm install @alicloud/dataworks-public20240518

import DataWorks from "@alicloud/dataworks-public20240518";
import * as DataWorksClasses from "@alicloud/dataworks-public20240518";
import OpenApi from "@alicloud/openapi-client";

const config = new OpenApi.Config({
  accessKeyId: process.env.ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID,
  accessKeySecret: process.env.ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET,
  endpoint: `dataworks.cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com`,
});
const client = new DataWorks.default(config);

// Each API has a typed Request class and a method
const request = new DataWorksClasses.ListProjectsRequest({
  pageNumber: 1,
  pageSize: 10,
});
const runtime = new Util.RuntimeOptions({});
const resp = await client.listProjectsWithOptions(request, runtime);

API name → SDK method: ListProjects → client.listProjectsWithOptions(request, runtime).

Python SDK

pip install alibabacloud_dataworks_public20240518

import os
from alibabacloud_dataworks_public20240518.client import Client
from alibabacloud_dataworks_public20240518 import models
from alibabacloud_tea_openapi.models import Config

config = Config(
    access_key_id=os.environ['ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID'],
    access_key_secret=os.environ['ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET'],
    endpoint=f"dataworks.{os.environ.get('ALIBABA_CLOUD_REGION_ID', 'cn-shanghai')}.aliyuncs.com",
)
client = Client(config)
request = models.ListProjectsRequest(page_number=1, page_size=10)
resp = client.list_projects(request)
print(resp.body)

Java SDK

<dependency>
    <groupId>com.aliyun</groupId>
    <artifactId>alibabacloud-dataworks_public20240518</artifactId>
    <version>8.0.3</version>
</dependency>

import com.aliyun.dataworks_public20240518.Client;
import com.aliyun.dataworks_public20240518.models.*;
import com.aliyun.teaopenapi.models.Config;

Config config = new Config()
    .setAccessKeyId(System.getenv("ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID"))
    .setAccessKeySecret(System.getenv("ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET"))
    .setEndpoint("dataworks." + System.getenv("ALIBABA_CLOUD_REGION_ID") + ".aliyuncs.com");
Client client = new Client(config);

ListProjectsRequest request = new ListProjectsRequest()
    .setPageNumber(1L)
    .setPageSize(10L);
ListProjectsResponse resp = client.listProjects(request);
System.out.println(resp.getBody());

Java SDK API docs: https://aliyunsdk-pages.alicdn.com/apidocs/{PRODUCT_CODE}/{API_VERSION}/java-async-tea/8.0.3/index.html

MCP Server integration (last resort)

Only use MCP when SDK calls keep failing after consulting docs, metadata, and GitHub source:

npm install -g alibabacloud-dataworks-mcp-server

See references/mcp_server.md for full configuration.

API categories

Use dynamic discovery (above) to get the full list and parameter schemas. Common naming patterns:

1. Inventory/list: prefer List* / Get* / Describe* APIs.
2. Create/configure: prefer Create* / Update* / Import* APIs.
3. Remove: prefer Delete* / Remove* APIs.
4. Lifecycle: prefer Start* / Stop* / Suspend* / Resume* / Rerun* APIs.

Destructive operation policy

Before executing delete, stop, or suspend operations, always summarize the affected resources and confirm with the user.

Timestamp handling

DataWorks APIs use millisecond timestamps. Convert between human-readable dates and timestamps as needed.

Selection questions (ask when unclear)

1. Which DataWorks project (project ID or name)?
2. Which region? (common: cn-shanghai, cn-beijing, cn-hangzhou, cn-shenzhen)
3. What type of operation? (data development / operations / data quality / metadata / workspace)
4. For task operations: target node ID, workflow, or instance ID?

References

• Cookbook (verified patterns & pitfalls): references/cookbook.md — FlowSpec structure for CreateNode, submit-and-deploy flow, data quality rules, bizdate format, response parsing, and FAQ from real-world usage.
• MCP Server integration: references/mcp_server.md
• Sources: references/sources.md