# HAL (HTTP API Layer)

> Use this tool when you need to integrate Large Language Models with existing APIs, manage secure API credentials, or generate dynamic tools from API specifications. It provides a secure HTTP API layer with comprehensive secrets management, URL restrictions, and automatic documentation tools. Ideal for use cases requiring programmatic access to REST APIs, such as building AI tools or integrating AI assistants with multiple services.

Canonical page: https://skillsregistry.net/skills/deanward-hal-http-api-layer  
JSON: https://api.skillsregistry.net/v1/skills/deanward-hal-http-api-layer

## Description

This MCP server provides HTTP API capabilities to Large Language Models through OpenAPI/Swagger integration, enabling dynamic tool generation from API specifications with comprehensive secrets management and URL restrictions. Built by Dean Ward using TypeScript with Zod validation, it offers standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS) with secret substitution using {secrets.key} syntax, namespaced secrets with URL pattern restrictions for enhanced security, and automatic documentation search tools for API exploration. The implementation features intelligent secret loading from HAL_SECRET_ environment variables, URL validation against allowed patterns, OpenAPI spec parsing for automatic tool registration, and specialized presentation component support, making it valuable for integrating AI assistants with existing APIs, managing secure API credentials across multiple services, and building AI tools that need programmatic access to REST APIs without manual HTTP client configuration.

## Trust

- **Trust score (0–1):** 0.93
- **Verification tier:** verified
- **Last scanned:** 2026-09-28

## Facts

- **Version:** 1.0.0
- **Skill type:** atomic
- **Execution layer:** mcp-remote
- **Runtime environment:** api
- **Category:** security
- **Updated:** 2026-09-28

## Source

- **Source listing:** [PulseMCP](https://www.pulsemcp.com/servers/deanward-hal-http-api-layer)
- **Repository:** <https://github.com/deanward/hal>

## Use it

Resolve this record through the SkillsRegistry MCP server (no auth, read-only):

```
claude mcp add --transport http --scope user skillsregistry https://api.skillsregistry.net/mcp
```

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "get_skill",
    "arguments": {
      "slug": "deanward-hal-http-api-layer"
    }
  }
}
```

REST: `GET https://api.skillsregistry.net/v1/skills/deanward-hal-http-api-layer` · pull for local use: `GET https://api.skillsregistry.net/v1/skills/deanward-hal-http-api-layer/pull`

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SkillsRegistry indexes agent skills from public registries and GitHub. Skills we have analysed are scanned with Circle-IR and scored on six dimensions; each listing states its scan coverage. More: https://skillsregistry.net/llms.txt