---
name: dev.to
description: Dev.to API via curl. Use this skill to publish and manage articles on Dev.to.
vm0_secrets:
  - DEVTO_API_KEY
---

# Dev.to Publisher

Use the Dev.to API via direct `curl` calls to **publish and manage articles**.

> Official docs: `https://developers.forem.com/api/v1`

---

## When to Use

Use this skill when you need to:

- **Publish articles** to Dev.to
- **Update existing articles**
- **Manage drafts**
- **Fetch your published articles**

---

## Prerequisites

1. Go to https://dev.to/settings/extensions
2. Scroll to "DEV Community API Keys"
3. Generate a new API key

```bash
export DEVTO_API_KEY="your-api-key"
```

---


> **Important:** When using `$VAR` in a command that pipes to another command, wrap the command containing `$VAR` in `bash -c '...'`. Due to a Claude Code bug, environment variables are silently cleared when pipes are used directly.
> ```bash
> bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.example.com" -H "Authorization: Bearer $API_KEY"'
> ```

## How to Use

All examples below assume you have `DEVTO_API_KEY` set.

### 1. Publish an Article

Write to `/tmp/devto_request.json`:

```json
{
  "article": {
    "title": "My Awesome Article",
    "body_markdown": "## Introduction\n\nThis is my article content.\n\n## Conclusion\n\nThanks for reading!",
    "published": false,
    "tags": ["javascript", "webdev"]
  }
}
```

Then run:

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s -X POST "https://dev.to/api/articles" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d @/tmp/devto_request.json' | jq '{id, url, published}'
```

**Response:**

```json
{
  "id": 123456,
  "url": "https://dev.to/username/my-awesome-article-abc",
  "published": false
}
```

### 2. Publish Immediately

Set `published: true` to publish right away:

Write to `/tmp/devto_request.json`:

```json
{
  "article": {
    "title": "Published Article",
    "body_markdown": "Content here...",
    "published": true,
    "tags": ["tutorial"]
  }
}
```

Then run:

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s -X POST "https://dev.to/api/articles" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d @/tmp/devto_request.json' | jq '{id, url, published}'
```

### 3. Publish with Cover Image

Write to `/tmp/devto_request.json`:

```json
{
  "article": {
    "title": "Article with Cover",
    "body_markdown": "Content here...",
    "published": true,
    "tags": ["webdev", "tutorial"],
    "main_image": "https://example.com/cover.png"
  }
}
```

Then run:

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s -X POST "https://dev.to/api/articles" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d @/tmp/devto_request.json' | jq '{id, url}'
```

### 4. Publish from Markdown File

To publish from a markdown file, first convert it to JSON:

```bash
cat article.md | jq -Rs '.' > /tmp/content.json
```

Write to `/tmp/devto_request.json`:

```json
{
  "article": {
    "title": "My Article Title",
    "body_markdown": "Your article content here...",
    "published": false,
    "tags": ["programming"]
  }
}
```

Then run:

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s -X POST "https://dev.to/api/articles" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d @/tmp/devto_request.json' | jq '{id, url, published}'
```

---

## Managing Articles

### 5. Get Your Articles

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s "https://dev.to/api/articles/me?per_page=10" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}"' | jq '.[] | {id, title, published, url}'
```

### 6. Get Published Articles Only

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s "https://dev.to/api/articles/me/published?per_page=10" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}"' | jq '.[] | {id, title, url}'
```

### 7. Get Unpublished (Drafts)

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s "https://dev.to/api/articles/me/unpublished" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}"' | jq '.[] | {id, title}'
```

### 8. Get Single Article

Replace `<your-article-id>` with an actual article ID from the "List My Articles" response (example 5) or from the `id` field in the create article response (example 1).

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s "https://dev.to/api/articles/<your-article-id>" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}"' | jq '{id, title, url, published}'
```

### 9. Update an Article

Replace `<your-article-id>` with an actual article ID from the "List My Articles" response (example 5) or from the `id` field in the create article response (example 1).

Write to `/tmp/devto_request.json`:

```json
{
  "article": {
    "title": "Updated Title",
    "body_markdown": "Updated content..."
  }
}
```

Then run:

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s -X PUT "https://dev.to/api/articles/<your-article-id>" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d @/tmp/devto_request.json' | jq '{id, url}'
```

### 10. Publish a Draft

Replace `<your-article-id>` with an actual article ID from the "List My Articles" response (example 5) or from the `id` field in the create article response (example 1).

Write to `/tmp/devto_request.json`:

```json
{
  "article": {
    "published": true
  }
}
```

Then run:

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s -X PUT "https://dev.to/api/articles/<your-article-id>" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d @/tmp/devto_request.json' | jq '{id, url, published}'
```

---

## Article Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Description |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| `title` | string | Article title (required) |
| `body_markdown` | string | Content in Markdown |
| `published` | boolean | `true` to publish, `false` for draft |
| `tags` | array | Up to 4 tags (lowercase, no spaces) |
| `main_image` | string | Cover image URL |
| `canonical_url` | string | Original article URL (for cross-posts) |
| `series` | string | Series name to group articles |

---

## Examples

### Tech Tutorial

Write to `/tmp/devto_request.json`:

```json
{
  "article": {
    "title": "Getting Started with Docker",
    "body_markdown": "## What is Docker?\n\nDocker is a platform for developing...\n\n## Installation\n\n```bash\nbrew install docker\n```\n\n## Your First Container\n\n```bash\ndocker run hello-world\n```",
    "published": true,
    "tags": ["docker", "devops", "tutorial", "beginners"]
  }
}
```

Then run:

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s -X POST "https://dev.to/api/articles" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d @/tmp/devto_request.json' | jq '{url}'
```

### Cross-post from Blog

Write to `/tmp/devto_request.json`:

```json
{
  "article": {
    "title": "My Blog Post",
    "body_markdown": "Content from my blog...",
    "published": true,
    "canonical_url": "https://myblog.com/original-post",
    "tags": ["webdev"]
  }
}
```

Then run:

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s -X POST "https://dev.to/api/articles" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d @/tmp/devto_request.json' | jq '{url}'
```

### Article in a Series

Write to `/tmp/devto_request.json`:

```json
{
  "article": {
    "title": "React Hooks - Part 1: useState",
    "body_markdown": "First part of the series...",
    "published": true,
    "series": "React Hooks Deep Dive",
    "tags": ["react", "javascript", "hooks"]
  }
}
```

Then run:

```bash
bash -c 'curl -s -X POST "https://dev.to/api/articles" -H "api-key: ${DEVTO_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d @/tmp/devto_request.json' | jq '{url}'
```

---

## Guidelines

1. **Max 4 tags**: Dev.to limits articles to 4 tags
2. **Lowercase tags**: Tags should be lowercase without spaces
3. **Escape markdown**: Use `jq -Rs` to properly escape markdown content
4. **Cover images**: Must be URLs, not local files
5. **Draft first**: Set `published: false` to review before publishing
6. **Check response**: Always verify the returned URL