# Rover

> Manage GraphQL schemas and federation with Apollo Rover CLI, covering publishing, fetching, composing, validating, and local supergraph development.

- Skill: `majiayu000/rover` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add majiayu000/rover`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/majiayu000/rover/raw
- Safety review: WARNING (external: skill-scanner WARNING, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Integrations & APIs, DevOps & Infra, CI/CD, REST & GraphQL APIs
- Tags: Apollo, Federation, Graphos, Graphql, Rover, Subgraph, Supergraph
- License: MIT
- Author: majiayu000 (https://skillmd.com/u/majiayu000)
- Updated: 2026-08-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/majiayu000/rover

---


# Apollo Rover CLI Guide

Rover is the official CLI for Apollo GraphOS. It helps you manage schemas, run composition locally, publish to GraphOS, and develop supergraphs on your local machine.

## Quick Start

### Step 1: Install

```bash
# macOS/Linux
curl -sSL https://rover.apollo.dev/nix/latest | sh

# npm (cross-platform)
npm install -g @apollo/rover

# Windows PowerShell
iwr 'https://rover.apollo.dev/win/latest' | iex
```

### Step 2: Authenticate

```bash
# Interactive authentication (opens browser)
rover config auth

# Or set environment variable
export APOLLO_KEY=your-api-key
```

### Step 3: Verify Installation

```bash
rover --version
rover config whoami
```

## Core Commands Overview

| Command | Description | Use Case |
|---------|-------------|----------|
| `rover subgraph publish` | Publish subgraph schema to GraphOS | CI/CD, schema updates |
| `rover subgraph check` | Validate schema changes | PR checks, pre-deploy |
| `rover subgraph fetch` | Download subgraph schema | Local development |
| `rover supergraph compose` | Compose supergraph locally | Local testing |
| `rover dev` | Local supergraph development | Development workflow |
| `rover graph publish` | Publish monograph schema | Non-federated graphs |

## Graph Reference Format

Most commands require a graph reference in the format:

```
<GRAPH_ID>@<VARIANT>
```

Examples:
- `my-graph@production`
- `my-graph@staging`
- `my-graph@current` (default variant)

Set as environment variable:
```bash
export APOLLO_GRAPH_REF=my-graph@production
```

## Subgraph Workflow

### Publishing a Subgraph

```bash
# From schema file
rover subgraph publish my-graph@production \
  --name products \
  --schema ./schema.graphql \
  --routing-url https://products.example.com/graphql

# From running server (introspection)
rover subgraph publish my-graph@production \
  --name products \
  --schema <(rover subgraph introspect http://localhost:4001/graphql) \
  --routing-url https://products.example.com/graphql
```

### Checking Schema Changes

```bash
# Check against production traffic
rover subgraph check my-graph@production \
  --name products \
  --schema ./schema.graphql
```

### Fetching Schema

```bash
# Fetch from GraphOS
rover subgraph fetch my-graph@production --name products

# Introspect running server
rover subgraph introspect http://localhost:4001/graphql
```

## Supergraph Composition

### Local Composition

Create `supergraph.yaml`:

```yaml
federation_version: =2.9.0
subgraphs:
  products:
    routing_url: http://localhost:4001/graphql
    schema:
      file: ./products/schema.graphql
  reviews:
    routing_url: http://localhost:4002/graphql
    schema:
      subgraph_url: http://localhost:4002/graphql
```

Compose:
```bash
rover supergraph compose --config supergraph.yaml > supergraph.graphql
```

### Fetch Composed Supergraph

```bash
rover supergraph fetch my-graph@production
```

## Local Development with `rover dev`

Start a local Router with automatic schema composition:

```bash
# Start with supergraph config
rover dev --supergraph-config supergraph.yaml

# Start with GraphOS variant as base
rover dev --graph-ref my-graph@staging --supergraph-config local.yaml
```

### With MCP Integration

```bash
# Start with MCP server enabled
rover dev --supergraph-config supergraph.yaml --mcp
```

## Reference Files

Detailed documentation for specific topics:

- [Subgraphs](references/subgraphs.md) - fetch, publish, check, lint, introspect, delete
- [Graphs](references/graphs.md) - monograph commands (non-federated)
- [Supergraphs](references/supergraphs.md) - compose, fetch, config format
- [Dev](references/dev.md) - rover dev for local development
- [Configuration](references/configuration.md) - install, auth, env vars, profiles

## Common Patterns

### CI/CD Pipeline

```bash
# 1. Check schema changes
rover subgraph check $APOLLO_GRAPH_REF \
  --name $SUBGRAPH_NAME \
  --schema ./schema.graphql

# 2. If check passes, publish
rover subgraph publish $APOLLO_GRAPH_REF \
  --name $SUBGRAPH_NAME \
  --schema ./schema.graphql \
  --routing-url $ROUTING_URL
```

### Schema Linting

```bash
# Lint against GraphOS rules
rover subgraph lint --name products ./schema.graphql

# Lint monograph
rover graph lint my-graph@production ./schema.graphql
```

### Output Formats

```bash
# JSON output for scripting
rover subgraph fetch my-graph@production --name products --format json

# Plain output (default)
rover subgraph fetch my-graph@production --name products --format plain
```

## Ground Rules

- ALWAYS authenticate before using GraphOS commands (`rover config auth` or `APOLLO_KEY`)
- ALWAYS use the correct graph reference format: `graph-id@variant`
- PREFER `rover subgraph check` before `rover subgraph publish` in CI/CD
- USE `rover dev` for local supergraph development instead of running Router manually
- NEVER commit `APOLLO_KEY` to version control; use environment variables
- USE `--format json` when parsing output programmatically
- SPECIFY `federation_version` explicitly in supergraph.yaml for reproducibility
- USE `rover subgraph introspect` to extract schemas from running services