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Guides creation of native Rust plugins for Apollo Router, covering service hooks (router, supergraph, execution, subgraph) and the request lifecycle.
How this skill is triggered — by the user, by Claude, or both
Slash command
/apollo-skills:apollo-router-plugin-creatorThis skill is limited to the following tools:
The summary Claude sees in its skill listing — used to decide when to auto-load this skill
Create native Rust plugins for Apollo Router.
Create native Rust plugins for Apollo Router.
┌────────┐ ┌────────────────┐ ┌────────────────────┐ ┌───────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────┐
│ Client │ │ Router Service │ │ Supergraph Service │ │ Execution Service │ │ Subgraph Service(s) │
└────┬───┘ └────────┬───────┘ └──────────┬─────────┘ └─────────┬─────────┘ └──────────┬──────────┘
│ │ │ │ │
│ Sends request │ │ │ │
│──────────────────────────▶ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ Converts raw HTTP request to GraphQL/JSON request │ │ │
│ │──────────────────────────────────────────────────────▶ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ Initiates query plan execution │ │
│ │ │───────────────────────────────────▶ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ ┌par [Initiates sub-operation]───────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ Initiates sub-operation │ │
│ │ │ │ │────────────────────────────▶ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ ├[Initiates sub-operation]╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ Initiates sub-operation │ │
│ │ │ │ │────────────────────────────▶ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ ├[Initiates sub-operation]╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ Initiates sub-operation │ │
│ │ │ │ │────────────────────────────▶ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ └────────────────────────────────────┘
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ Assembles and returns response │ │
│ │ ◀╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌│ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ Returns GraphQL/JSON response │ │ │
│ ◀╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌│ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ Returns HTTP response │ │ │ │
◀╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
┌────┴───┐ ┌────────┴───────┐ ┌──────────┴─────────┐ ┌─────────┴─────────┐ ┌──────────┴──────────┐
│ Client │ │ Router Service │ │ Supergraph Service │ │ Execution Service │ │ Subgraph Service(s) │
└────────┘ └────────────────┘ └────────────────────┘ └───────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
router_service | Runs at the very beginning and very end of the HTTP request lifecycle.For example, JWT authentication is performed within the RouterService.Define router_service if your customization needs to interact with HTTP context and headers. It doesn't support access to the body property |
supergraph_service | Runs at the very beginning and very end of the GraphQL request lifecycle.Define supergraph_service if your customization needs to interact with the GraphQL request or the GraphQL response. For example, you can add a check for anonymous queries. |
execution_service | Handles initiating the execution of a query plan after it's been generated.Define execution_service if your customization includes logic to govern execution (for example, if you want to block a particular query based on a policy decision). |
subgraph_service | Handles communication between the router and your subgraphs.Define subgraph_service to configure this communication (for example, to dynamically add HTTP headers to pass to a subgraph).Whereas other services are called once per client request, this service is called once per subgraph request that's required to resolve the client's request. Each call is passed a subgraph parameter that indicates the name of the corresponding subgraph. |
Signatures:
fn router_service(&self, service: router::BoxService) -> router::BoxService
fn supergraph_service(&self, service: supergraph::BoxService) -> supergraph::BoxService
fn execution_service(&self, service: execution::BoxService) -> execution::BoxService
fn subgraph_service(&self, name: &str, service: subgraph::BoxService) -> subgraph::BoxService
Use ServiceBuilder to compose these hooks within any service:
| Hook | Purpose | Sync/Async |
|---|---|---|
map_request(fn) | Transform request before proceeding | Sync |
map_response(fn) | Transform response before returning | Sync |
checkpoint(fn) | Validate/filter, can short-circuit | Sync |
checkpoint_async(fn) | Async validation, can short-circuit | Async |
buffered() | Enable service cloning (needed for async) | - |
instrument(span) | Add tracing span around service | - |
rate_limit(num, period) | Control request throughput | - |
timeout(duration) | Set operation time limit | - |
By data needed:
router_servicesupergraph_serviceexecution_servicesubgraph_serviceBy timing:
router_service requestsupergraph_service requestexecution_service requestsubgraph_servicerouter_service responseSee references/service-hooks.md for implementation patterns.
Create a new file src/plugins/my_plugin.rs with required imports:
use std::ops::ControlFlow;
use apollo_router::plugin::{Plugin, PluginInit};
use apollo_router::register_plugin;
use apollo_router::services::{router, subgraph, supergraph};
use schemars::JsonSchema;
use serde::Deserialize;
use tower::{BoxError, ServiceBuilder, ServiceExt};
const PLUGIN_NAME: &str = "my_plugin";
Every plugin needs a configuration struct with Deserialize and JsonSchema derives. The JsonSchema enables configuration validation in editors:
#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, Deserialize, JsonSchema)]
struct MyPluginConfig {
/// Enable the plugin
enabled: bool,
// Add other configuration fields as needed
}
#[derive(Debug)]
struct MyPlugin {
configuration: MyPluginConfig,
}
Implement the Plugin trait with the required Config type and new constructor:
#[async_trait::async_trait]
impl Plugin for MyPlugin {
type Config = MyPluginConfig;
async fn new(init: PluginInit<Self::Config>) -> Result<Self, BoxError> {
Ok(MyPlugin { configuration: init.config })
}
// Add service hooks based on your needs (see "Choosing a Service Hook" section)
}
Choose which service(s) to hook based on your requirements, see Service Overview for details.
Example service hook:
fn supergraph_service(&self, service: supergraph::BoxService) -> supergraph::BoxService {
if !self.configuration.enabled {
return service;
}
ServiceBuilder::new()
.map_request(|req| { /* transform request */ req })
.map_response(|res| { /* transform response */ res })
.service(service)
.boxed()
}
At the bottom of your plugin file, register it with the router:
register_plugin!("acme", "my_plugin", MyPlugin);
In src/plugins/mod.rs, add your module:
pub mod my_plugin;
Enable your plugin in the router configuration:
plugins:
acme.my_plugin:
enabled: true
For implementation patterns and code examples, see references/service-hooks.md:
map_request, map_response)checkpoint_async, buffered)Located in the Apollo Router plugins directory:
| Plugin | Service Hook | Pattern | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
forbid_mutations.rs | execution_service | checkpoint | Simple gate on query plan |
expose_query_plan.rs | execution + supergraph | Context passing | Multi-service coordination |
cors.rs | router_service | HTTP layer | CORS handling at HTTP level |
headers/ | subgraph_service | Layer composition | Complex header manipulation |
For full code examples and testing patterns, see references/examples.md.
It is advised to have the rust-best-practices skill installed for writing idiomatic Rust code when developing router plugins. If installed, follow those best practices when generating or modifying plugin code.
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