azure-cosmos-db-py
Build Azure Cosmos DB NoSQL services with Python/FastAPI following production-grade patterns. Use when implementing database client setup with dual auth (DefaultAzureCredential + emulator), service...
Best use case
azure-cosmos-db-py is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Build Azure Cosmos DB NoSQL services with Python/FastAPI following production-grade patterns. Use when implementing database client setup with dual auth (DefaultAzureCredential + emulator), service...
Teams using azure-cosmos-db-py should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/azure-cosmos-db-py/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How azure-cosmos-db-py Compares
| Feature / Agent | azure-cosmos-db-py | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Build Azure Cosmos DB NoSQL services with Python/FastAPI following production-grade patterns. Use when implementing database client setup with dual auth (DefaultAzureCredential + emulator), service...
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Cosmos DB Service Implementation
Build production-grade Azure Cosmos DB NoSQL services following clean code, security best practices, and TDD principles.
## Installation
```bash
pip install azure-cosmos azure-identity
```
## Environment Variables
```bash
COSMOS_ENDPOINT=https://<account>.documents.azure.com:443/
COSMOS_DATABASE_NAME=<database-name>
COSMOS_CONTAINER_ID=<container-id>
# For emulator only (not production)
COSMOS_KEY=<emulator-key>
```
## Authentication
**DefaultAzureCredential (preferred)**:
```python
from azure.cosmos import CosmosClient
from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential
client = CosmosClient(
url=os.environ["COSMOS_ENDPOINT"],
credential=DefaultAzureCredential()
)
```
**Emulator (local development)**:
```python
from azure.cosmos import CosmosClient
client = CosmosClient(
url="https://localhost:8081",
credential=os.environ["COSMOS_KEY"],
connection_verify=False
)
```
## Architecture Overview
```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ FastAPI Router │
│ - Auth dependencies (get_current_user, get_current_user_required)
│ - HTTP error responses (HTTPException) │
└──────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┘
│
┌──────────────────────────────▼──────────────────────────────────┐
│ Service Layer │
│ - Business logic and validation │
│ - Document ↔ Model conversion │
│ - Graceful degradation when Cosmos unavailable │
└──────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┘
│
┌──────────────────────────────▼──────────────────────────────────┐
│ Cosmos DB Client Module │
│ - Singleton container initialization │
│ - Dual auth: DefaultAzureCredential (Azure) / Key (emulator) │
│ - Async wrapper via run_in_threadpool │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
## Quick Start
### 1. Client Module Setup
Create a singleton Cosmos client with dual authentication:
```python
# db/cosmos.py
from azure.cosmos import CosmosClient
from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential
from starlette.concurrency import run_in_threadpool
_cosmos_container = None
def _is_emulator_endpoint(endpoint: str) -> bool:
return "localhost" in endpoint or "127.0.0.1" in endpoint
async def get_container():
global _cosmos_container
if _cosmos_container is None:
if _is_emulator_endpoint(settings.cosmos_endpoint):
client = CosmosClient(
url=settings.cosmos_endpoint,
credential=settings.cosmos_key,
connection_verify=False
)
else:
client = CosmosClient(
url=settings.cosmos_endpoint,
credential=DefaultAzureCredential()
)
db = client.get_database_client(settings.cosmos_database_name)
_cosmos_container = db.get_container_client(settings.cosmos_container_id)
return _cosmos_container
```
**Full implementation**: See references/client-setup.md
### 2. Pydantic Model Hierarchy
Use five-tier model pattern for clean separation:
```python
class ProjectBase(BaseModel): # Shared fields
name: str = Field(..., min_length=1, max_length=200)
class ProjectCreate(ProjectBase): # Creation request
workspace_id: str = Field(..., alias="workspaceId")
class ProjectUpdate(BaseModel): # Partial updates (all optional)
name: Optional[str] = Field(None, min_length=1)
class Project(ProjectBase): # API response
id: str
created_at: datetime = Field(..., alias="createdAt")
class ProjectInDB(Project): # Internal with docType
doc_type: str = "project"
```
### 3. Service Layer Pattern
```python
class ProjectService:
def _use_cosmos(self) -> bool:
return get_container() is not None
async def get_by_id(self, project_id: str, workspace_id: str) -> Project | None:
if not self._use_cosmos():
return None
doc = await get_document(project_id, partition_key=workspace_id)
if doc is None:
return None
return self._doc_to_model(doc)
```
**Full patterns**: See references/service-layer.md
## Core Principles
### Security Requirements
1. **RBAC Authentication**: Use `DefaultAzureCredential` in Azure — never store keys in code
2. **Emulator-Only Keys**: Hardcode the well-known emulator key only for local development
3. **Parameterized Queries**: Always use `@parameter` syntax — never string concatenation
4. **Partition Key Validation**: Validate partition key access matches user authorization
### Clean Code Conventions
1. **Single Responsibility**: Client module handles connection; services handle business logic
2. **Graceful Degradation**: Services return `None`/`[]` when Cosmos unavailable
3. **Consistent Naming**: `_doc_to_model()`, `_model_to_doc()`, `_use_cosmos()`
4. **Type Hints**: Full typing on all public methods
5. **CamelCase Aliases**: Use `Field(alias="camelCase")` for JSON serialization
### TDD Requirements
Write tests BEFORE implementation using these patterns:
```python
@pytest.fixture
def mock_cosmos_container(mocker):
container = mocker.MagicMock()
mocker.patch("app.db.cosmos.get_container", return_value=container)
return container
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_get_project_by_id_returns_project(mock_cosmos_container):
# Arrange
mock_cosmos_container.read_item.return_value = {"id": "123", "name": "Test"}
# Act
result = await project_service.get_by_id("123", "workspace-1")
# Assert
assert result.id == "123"
assert result.name == "Test"
```
**Full testing guide**: See references/testing.md
## Reference Files
| File | When to Read |
|------|--------------|
| references/client-setup.md | Setting up Cosmos client with dual auth, SSL config, singleton pattern |
| references/service-layer.md | Implementing full service class with CRUD, conversions, graceful degradation |
| references/testing.md | Writing pytest tests, mocking Cosmos, integration test setup |
| references/partitioning.md | Choosing partition keys, cross-partition queries, move operations |
| references/error-handling.md | Handling CosmosResourceNotFoundError, logging, HTTP error mapping |
## Template Files
| File | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| assets/cosmos_client_template.py | Ready-to-use client module |
| assets/service_template.py | Service class skeleton |
| assets/conftest_template.py | pytest fixtures for Cosmos mocking |
## Quality Attributes (NFRs)
### Reliability
- Graceful degradation when Cosmos unavailable
- Retry logic with exponential backoff for transient failures
- Connection pooling via singleton pattern
### Security
- Zero secrets in code (RBAC via DefaultAzureCredential)
- Parameterized queries prevent injection
- Partition key isolation enforces data boundaries
### Maintainability
- Five-tier model pattern enables schema evolution
- Service layer decouples business logic from storage
- Consistent patterns across all entity services
### Testability
- Dependency injection via `get_container()`
- Easy mocking with module-level globals
- Clear separation enables unit testing without Cosmos
### Performance
- Partition key queries avoid cross-partition scans
- Async wrapping prevents blocking FastAPI event loop
- Minimal document conversion overhead
## When to Use
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