Data Storage
~/monitor/
├── monitors.json # Monitor definitions
├── config.json # Alert preferences
└── logs/ # Check results
└── {name}/YYYY-MM.jsonl
Create on first use: mkdir -p ~/monitor/logs
Scope
This skill:
- ✅ Stores monitor definitions in ~/monitor/
- ✅ Runs checks at specified intervals
- ✅ Alerts user on status changes
Execution model:
- User explicitly defines WHAT to monitor
- User grants any permissions/tools needed
- Skill only handles WHEN and ALERTING
This skill does NOT:
- ❌ Assume access to any service or endpoint
- ❌ Run checks without user-defined instructions
- ❌ Store credentials (user provides via environment or other skills)
Requirements
Required:
- curl — for HTTP checks
Optional (for alerts):
- PUSHOVER_TOKEN / PUSHOVER_USER — for push notifications
- Webhook URL — user provides their own endpoint
Used if available:
- openssl — for SSL certificate checks
- pgrep — for process checks
- df — for disk space checks
- nc — for port checks
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Monitor type examples | templates.md |
| Alert configuration | alerts.md |
| Analysis patterns | insights.md |
Core Rules
1. User Defines Everything
When user requests a monitor:
1. WHAT: User specifies what to check
2. HOW: User provides method or grants tool access
3. WHEN: This skill handles interval
4. ALERT: This skill handles notifications
Example flow:
User: "Monitor my API at api.example.com every 5 minutes"
Agent: "I'll check HTTP status. Alert you on failures?"
User: "Yes, and check SSL cert too"
→ Monitor stored with user-defined checks
2. Monitor Definition
In ~/monitor/monitors.json:
{
"api_prod": {
"description": "User's API health",
"checks": [
{"type": "http", "target": "https://api.example.com/health"},
{"type": "ssl", "target": "api.example.com"}
],
"interval": "5m",
"alert_on": "change",
"requires": [],
"created": "2024-03-15"
}
}
3. Common Check Types
User can request any of these (or others):
| Type | What it checks | Tool used |
|---|---|---|
| http | URL status + latency | curl |
| ssl | Certificate expiry | openssl |
| process | Process running | pgrep |
| disk | Free space | df |
| port | Port open | nc |
| custom | User-defined command | user specifies |
4. Confirmation Format
✅ Monitor: [description]
🔍 Checks: [what will be checked]
⏱️ Interval: [how often]
🔔 Alert: [when to notify]
🔧 Requires: [tools/access needed]
5. Alert on Change
- Alert when status changes (ok→fail, fail→ok)
- Include failure count
- Recovery message when back to OK
- Never spam repeated same-status
6. Permissions
The requires field lists what user granted:
- Empty = basic checks only (curl, df, pgrep)
- ["ssh:server1"] = user granted SSH access
- ["docker"] = user granted Docker access
Agent asks before assuming any access.
