App Sdk Concepts

Organization

grafana

app-sdk-concepts

Use when starting any grafana-app-sdk work — scaffolding a Grafana app, initializing a Grafana App Platform app, picking a deployment mode (standalone operator / grafana/apps / frontend-only), wiring app-specific config, or onboarding to the SDK. Covers `grafana-app-sdk` CLI install, `project init` per deployment mode, project layout, the schema-centric workflow (CUE kinds → generated code → reconciler/admission logic), and `SpecificConfig` for env-driven app configuration. Use even if the user just says "make a new app", "Grafana app platform", "kinds and watchers", "operator scaffold", or asks about `apps/` inside the Grafana repo, without naming the SDK explicitly.

Overview

Publisher	grafana
Repository	`skills`
Skill name	`app-sdk-concepts`
Stars	289
Forks	27
Bundled files	6
License	Apache-2.0
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
6 bundled files
Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.
Open source
Published by grafana on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the App Sdk Concepts AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
https://github.com/grafana/skills/tree/main/skills/grafana-app-sdk/app-sdk-concepts
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/grafana/skills.git /tmp/skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/skills/skills/grafana-app-sdk/app-sdk-concepts .claude/skills/app-sdk-concepts

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable App Sdk Concepts in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads App Sdk Concepts on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so App Sdk Concepts is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Grafana App SDK Concepts

The grafana-app-sdk is a CLI + Go library for building schema-centric apps on the Grafana App Platform. Apps define resources via CUE schemas ("kinds"), generate Go + TypeScript code, and implement business logic via admission control and reconcilers.

Prerequisites

bash
go install github.com/grafana/grafana-app-sdk/cmd/grafana-app-sdk@latest
grafana-app-sdk version   # verify

Common Workflows

Scaffold a standalone operator app

bash
# 1. Init the project (use the Go module path)
grafana-app-sdk project init github.com/example/my-app

# 2. Add operator scaffolding — ASK THE USER FIRST.
#    They may prefer to write app.App by hand.
grafana-app-sdk project component add operator

# 3. Verify scaffolded layout
ls pkg/app pkg/watchers cmd/operator
# Expected: app.go, watchers/<kind>.go, main.go

Common failure: forgetting go install updates the binary — verify with grafana-app-sdk version before init.

Scaffold a grafana/apps-style app (inside `grafana/grafana`)

Only available inside the Grafana repo (or fork) — the init command detects apps/ and pkg/registry/apps/ at the repo root.

bash
mkdir -p apps/my-app && cd apps/my-app
grafana-app-sdk project init github.com/grafana/grafana/apps/my-app

# Keep ONLY: kinds/ pkg/ go.mod go.sum — delete everything else.
cp apps/example/Makefile       apps/my-app/Makefile
cp apps/example/kinds/config.cue apps/my-app/kinds/config.cue   # overwrite
go work use ./apps/my-app

Then register the app inside Grafana (pkg/registry/apps/apps.go + register.go). Full walkthrough in references/deployment-modes.md.

End-to-end development loop


1. project init               → module, Makefile, kinds/
2. project kind add MyKind    → CUE kind scaffold
3. Edit kinds/*.cue           → schemas, validation, versions
4. grafana-app-sdk generate   → Go types, clients, TS types, AppManifest, CRDs
5. Implement logic            → fill in reconciler / admission stubs
6. (optional) project component add frontend

Always rerun generate after every CUE change — generated code is the API your reconciler sees.

Deployment modes (one-line table)

Mode	When to pick	Where it runs
Standalone operator	Outside Grafana repo, want your own binary	Kubernetes operator with its own webhook server
grafana/apps	Inside `github.com/grafana/grafana` (or fork)	In-process inside Grafana's API server
Frontend-only	UI-only app, no Go logic needed	No backend — TS types only

Full per-mode init, runtime, and wiring detail in references/deployment-modes.md.

References

references/deployment-modes.md — per-mode init, runtime semantics, grafana/apps registration walkthrough
references/project-structure.md — standalone project layout, what's hand-edited vs generated
references/cli-reference.md — every grafana-app-sdk subcommand with flags
references/specific-config.md — app.Config.SpecificConfig pattern for feature-flag-driven app config
references/local-development.md — Tilt + k3d local dev loop
references/local-config.md — local/config.yaml reference

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the App Sdk Concepts AI skill do?

Why use App Sdk Concepts on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. App Sdk Concepts is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install App Sdk Concepts in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/grafana/skills/tree/main/skills/grafana-app-sdk/app-sdk-concepts. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use App Sdk Concepts?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with App Sdk Concepts?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use App Sdk Concepts with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the App Sdk Concepts AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by grafana under the Apache-2.0 license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Grafana App SDK Concepts

Prerequisites

Common Workflows

Scaffold a standalone operator app

Scaffold a grafana/apps-style app (inside grafana/grafana)

End-to-end development loop

Deployment modes (one-line table)

References

Resources

Bundled files

Frequently asked questions

Related AI Skills

Set up your own AI workspace now

Scaffold a grafana/apps-style app (inside `grafana/grafana`)