langgraph-cli Skill for Claude: Scaffold, Run and Deploy LangGraph Apps

Makes Claude use the langgraph CLI to scaffold, run, build and deploy LangGraph apps, and edit langgraph.json.

Installs: 9.3K; on skills.sh
Stars: 1.3K; on GitHub
Updated: Oct 2026; last repo commit

This skill is published by LangChain in its langchain-skills repo. It teaches Claude the langgraph command line tool: create a project from a template, run a dev server with hot reload, build a Docker image, start a production-like stack, and deploy to LangGraph Platform (LangSmith Deployments). It also explains every key in the langgraph.json config file.

It needs the CLI installed (SKILL.md gives the pip, uv and npm commands). langgraph deploy also needs Docker and a LangSmith API key, and it reads your .env file to create deployment secrets. The skill folder is one file with no scripts. The repo README says the project is in early development.

Good for

Developers building agents with LangGraph
Teams deploying LangGraph apps to LangSmith Deployments
Claude Code users who want the right langgraph command without opening the docs

Install langgraph-cli

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the langgraph-cli skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

pip install 'langgraph-cli[inmem]'

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Python.

Pick one route, not both. The plugin installs every skill under config/skills (22 folders in the repo; the README heading says 21) and has no hooks or MCP servers. The skill drives the langgraph CLI, which it installs with: pip install 'langgraph-cli[inmem]' (includes the dev server), or uv add "langgraph-cli[inmem]", or npx @langchain/langgraph-cli. Docker is needed for build, up and deploy.

From the project README. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

INVOKE THIS SKILL when using the langgraph CLI to scaffold, develop, build, or deploy LangGraph applications. Covers langgraph new, dev, build, up, deploy, and langgraph.json configuration.

Sections in SKILL.md

When to use
Installation
Commands
langgraph new [PATH]
langgraph dev
langgraph build
langgraph up
langgraph deploy
langgraph dockerfile <SAVE_PATH>
langgraph.json reference
Minimal config (Python)
Minimal config (JavaScript)
Full config with all keys
Key reference
Typical workflow
langgraph dev vs langgraph up

Key facts

Author: LangChain (vendor's own repo; named as plugin author)
Repo: langchain-ai/langchain-skills
Installs on skills.sh: 9,327 (Nov 2, 2026)
GitHub stars: 1,320 (Nov 2, 2026)
License: MIT (repo plugin manifest)
Last repo commit: Oct 29, 2026
What installs: 1 file: SKILL.md, no scripts
Needs: The langgraph CLI; Docker for build, up and deploy; LANGSMITH_API_KEY for deploy
Status: The repo README says it is in early development
Works in: Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Codex and other Agent Skills clients
skills.sh audits: Gen Agent Trust Hub pass, Socket pass, Snyk pass (Nov 2, 2026)

What it includes

Scaffolds a project from one of 5 templates, such as agent-python or deep-agent-js
Interactive by default. --template skips the prompt. Templates: deep-agent-python, deep-agent-js, agent-python, new-langgraph-project-python, new-langgraph-project-js.
Runs code · langgraph new
Runs a local server with hot reload on port 2024, no Docker
Options include --port, --no-reload, --no-browser, --host 0.0.0.0 (trusted networks only) and --tunnel, which exposes it through a Cloudflare tunnel.
Runs code · langgraph dev
Builds a Docker image for the LangGraph API server
-t sets the image tag. Options include --no-pull, -c for the config path and --base-image.
Runs code · langgraph build
Starts the server with Docker Compose and Postgres on port 8123
Options include --watch, --recreate, --postgres-uri, --image and --wait. SKILL.md compares it with dev in a table.
Runs code · langgraph up
Builds and ships to LangSmith Deployments; also deploy list, delete and logs
Needs Docker and LANGSMITH_API_KEY. It adds variables from your env file as deployment secrets. deploy delete asks to confirm unless --force is set.
Delete · langgraph deploy
Writes a Dockerfile, and optionally Docker Compose files, without building
--add-docker-compose also writes a compose file, .env and .dockerignore.
Write · langgraph dockerfile
Explains the 7 config keys, with minimal Python and JavaScript examples
Keys: dependencies, graphs, env, python_version, node_version, pip_config_file and dockerfile_lines.
langgraph.json reference

From the official docs

Permissions

Medium risk

It runs CLI commands that can deploy and delete deployments in your LangSmith account and send your .env values as secrets. Keep a key scoped to what you need and check the deploy target first.

What it can do

Read your data
Create and change things
Delete things
Read-only mode

Watch out for

Deploy ships your project to LangSmith
langgraph deploy builds a Docker image of the project and deploys it to LangSmith Deployments (dev by default, prod with --deployment-type prod) using LANGSMITH_API_KEY. Check the target deployment and type before you approve it. github.com
Deploy sends your env file values as secrets
SKILL.md says langgraph deploy reads the env file named in langgraph.json and adds those variables as deployment secrets. Check what is in that file first. github.com
It can delete deployments
langgraph deploy delete asks for confirmation unless --force is given. Do not let Claude add --force without checking the deployment ID. github.com
Some dev options widen access
--host 0.0.0.0 binds all interfaces (SKILL.md says trusted networks only) and --tunnel exposes the server through a Cloudflare tunnel. github.com
langgraph.json can add Dockerfile lines
The config key dockerfile_lines appends lines to the Dockerfile; SKILL.md's example runs apt-get install. Review any lines Claude adds. github.com

Technical details

Sign-in and keys	LANGSMITH_API_KEY (or LANGGRAPH_HOST_API_KEY or LANGCHAIN_API_KEY) from your environment or .env file.
Scopes	Runs the langgraph CLI in your project: scaffolds files, builds Docker images and starts local servers langgraph deploy builds your project and ships it to LangSmith Deployments with your LangSmith API key langgraph deploy delete removes a deployment Installs the CLI with pip, uv or npm

Questions

What does the langgraph-cli skill do?

It teaches Claude the langgraph CLI: create a project, run a dev server, build a Docker image, run a production-like stack, deploy to LangSmith Deployments, and edit langgraph.json.

How do I install it in Claude Code?

Use the install box at the top. The plugin route installs all LangChain skills; the skills CLI route installs this one. You also need the langgraph CLI itself, which the box notes cover.

Does it need an API key?

Only for deploying. langgraph deploy needs LANGSMITH_API_KEY. For langgraph dev it is optional: the server runs without it, but you get no traces in LangSmith.

langgraph dev or langgraph up?

dev runs without Docker on port 2024 with hot reload, keeping state in memory or in a local folder. up runs Docker Compose with Postgres on port 8123 and is meant for production-like checks.

Can it deploy for me?

It can run langgraph deploy if you ask. That needs Docker and your LangSmith key, and it can only update deployments it created itself, not ones made in the LangSmith UI or GitHub integration.

Is it made by LangChain?

Yes. It sits in the langchain-ai/langchain-skills repo, and the plugin manifest names LangChain as author.

Does it work in the Claude app?

The README lists Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf and Codex. The skill drives a local CLI and Docker, so use a client that can run commands.

Is it safe?

The folder is one text file. The risk is in what it has Claude run: deploys and deletes against your LangSmith account, and an env file sent as deployment secrets. Read each command before you approve it.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: langchain-ai/langchain-skills
Folder: config/skills/langgraph-cli

langchain-ai/langchain-skills skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 3

SKILL.md · github.com
langchain-skills README · github.com
plugin.json · github.com