nangohq/building-nango-functions-locally

Build Nango Functions Locally

Build deployable Nango actions and syncs in a checked-out Nango project with the local CLI validation and test workflow.

Implementation Scope

• Build or modify a Nango function implementation
• Build an action in Nango with createAction()
• Build a sync in Nango with createSync()
• Use the active workflow skill for compile, dryrun, test, and deploy mechanics

Sync Strategy Gate (required before writing code)

If the task is a sync, read references/syncs.md before writing code and state one of these paths first:

• Checkpoint plan:
  • change source (updated_at, modified_since, changed-records endpoint, cursor, page token, offset/page, since_id, or webhook)
  • checkpoint schema
  • how the checkpoint changes the provider request or resume state
  • whether the request still walks the full dataset or returns changed rows only
  • delete strategy
• Full refresh blocker:
  • exact provider limitation from the docs or sample payloads
  • why checkpoints cannot work here

Invalid sync implementations:

• full refresh because it is simpler
• saveCheckpoint() without getCheckpoint()
• reading or saving a checkpoint without using it in request params or pagination state
• using syncType: 'incremental' or nango.lastSyncDate in a new sync
• using trackDeletesStart() / trackDeletesEnd() with a changed-only checkpoint (modified_after, updated_after, changed-records endpoint). Those requests omit unchanged rows, so trackDeletesEnd() will falsely delete them.
• using trackDeletesStart() / trackDeletesEnd() in an incremental sync that already has explicit deleted-record events

Choose the Path

Action:

• One-time request, user-triggered, built with createAction()
• Read references/actions.md before writing code

Sync:

• Scheduled or webhook-driven cache updates built with createSync()
• Complete the Sync Strategy Gate first
• Read references/syncs.md before writing code

Required Inputs (Ask User if Missing)

Always:

• Integration ID (provider name)
• Script/function name (kebab-case)
• API reference URL or sample response
• Connection ID if the active workflow will validate or dryrun the function

Action-specific:

• Use case summary
• Input parameters
• Output fields
• Metadata JSON if required
• Test input JSON if the active workflow will validate or dryrun the action (use {} for no-input actions)

Sync-specific:

• Model name (singular, PascalCase)
• Frequency (every hour, every 5 minutes, etc.)
• Checkpoint schema (timestamp, cursor, page token, offset/page, since_id, or composite)
• How the checkpoint changes the provider request or resume state
• Delete strategy (deleted-record endpoint/webhook, or why full refresh is required)
• If proposing a full refresh, the exact provider limitation that blocks checkpoints from the docs/sample response
• Metadata JSON if required (team_id, workspace_id)

If any required external values are missing, ask a targeted question after checking the repo and provider docs. For syncs, choose a checkpoint plus deletion strategy whenever the provider supports one. If you cannot find a viable checkpoint strategy, state exactly why before writing a full refresh.

Non-Negotiable Rules

Shared platform constraints

• Nango functions use createAction() / createSync().
• You cannot add arbitrary packages. Use relative imports only when the chosen workflow supports them; built-ins include zod, crypto/node:crypto, and url/node:url.
• Use the Nango HTTP API for connection lookup, credentials, and proxy calls outside function code. Do not invent CLI token or connection commands.
• Add an API doc link comment above each provider call.
• Action outputs cannot exceed 2MB.
• File uploads and downloads cannot be implemented as actions (sandboxed runtime: no fs, no axios, 2 MB output limit). Use a proxy script in {integration}/proxy/ with @nangohq/node instead — see references/actions.md.
• HTTP retries default to 0; set retries deliberately. Treat 3 as the normal maximum; for sync provider calls, values above 3 are effectively forbidden unless docs prove they are safe and necessary. Avoid retries for non-idempotent writes unless the API supports idempotency.

Sync rules

• Sync records need a stable string id.
• New syncs should define a checkpoint schema, call nango.getCheckpoint() first, and nango.saveCheckpoint() after each page or batch.
• A checkpoint is valid only if it changes the request or resume state (since, updated_after, cursor, page_token, offset, page, since_id, etc.). Saving one without using it is not incremental sync.
• New syncs must not use syncType: 'incremental' or nango.lastSyncDate.
• Default to nango.paginate(...) + nango.batchSave(...). Avoid manual while (true) loops when cursor, link, or offset pagination fits.
• Prefer batchDelete() when the provider returns deletions, tombstones, or delete webhooks.
• Use full refresh only if the provider cannot return changes, deletions, or resume state, or if the dataset is tiny.
• For full refresh, cite the exact provider limitation from docs or payloads. "It is easier" is not enough.
• deleteRecordsFromPreviousExecutions() is deprecated. For full refresh, call trackDeletesStart() before fetch/save and trackDeletesEnd() only after a successful full fetch/save.
• Never combine trackDeletesStart() / trackDeletesEnd() with changed-only checkpoints (modified_after, updated_after, changed-records endpoints, etc.). They omit unchanged rows, so trackDeletesEnd() would delete them.
• Checkpointed full refreshes are still full refreshes. Call trackDeletesEnd() only in the run that finishes the full window.
• If a sync requires metadata (e.g. team_id, workspace_id, guild_id), set autoStart: false. The sync cannot run until the caller has set the metadata, so starting it automatically would fail.

Conventions

• Match field casing to the external API. Passthrough fields keep provider casing; non-passthrough fields should use the majority casing of that API.
• Prefer explicit field names.
• Add .describe() examples for IDs, timestamps, enums, and URLs.
• Avoid any; use inline mapping types.
• Prefer static Nango endpoint paths (avoid :id / {id} in the exposed endpoint); pass IDs in input or params.
• List actions should expose cursor plus a next-cursor field in the majority casing of that API (next_cursor, nextCursor, etc.).
• Use nango.zodValidateInput() only when you need custom validation or logging; otherwise rely on schemas plus the chosen validation workflow.

Schema Semantics

• Default non-required inputs to .optional().
• Use .nullable() only when null has meaning, usually clear-on-update; add .optional() when callers may omit the field too.
• Raw provider schemas should match the provider: .optional() for omitted fields, .nullable() for explicit null, .nullish() only when the provider truly does both.
• Final action outputs and normalized sync models should prefer .optional() and normalize upstream null to omission unless null matters.
• Default generated schemas to .optional() for non-required inputs and normalized outputs; widen only when the upstream contract justifies it.
• Prefer .nullable() over z.union([z.null(), T]) or z.union([T, z.null()]).
• Return null only when the output schema allows it.
• z.object() strips unknown keys by default. For provider pass-through use z.object({}).passthrough(), z.record(z.unknown()), or z.unknown() with minimal refinements.

Field Naming and Casing Rules

• Use explicit suffixes in the API's majority casing: IDs (user_id, userId), names (channel_name, channelName), emails (user_email, userEmail), URLs (callback_url, callbackUrl), and timestamps (created_at, createdAt).

Mapping example (API expects a different parameter name):

const InputSchema = z.object({
    userId: z.string()
});

const config: ProxyConfiguration = {
    endpoint: 'users.info',
    params: {
        user: input.userId
    },
    retries: 3
};

If the API is snake_case, use user_id instead. The goal is API consistency.

References

• Action patterns, CRUD examples, metadata usage, and ActionError examples: references/actions.md
• Sync patterns, concrete checkpoint examples, delete strategies, and full refresh fallback: references/syncs.md

Useful Nango docs (quick links)

• Functions runtime SDK reference: https://nango.dev/docs/reference/functions
• Implement an action: https://nango.dev/docs/implementation-guides/use-cases/actions/implement-an-action
• Implement a sync: https://nango.dev/docs/implementation-guides/use-cases/syncs/implement-a-sync
• Checkpoints: https://nango.dev/docs/implementation-guides/use-cases/syncs/checkpoints
• Deletion detection (full vs incremental): https://nango.dev/docs/implementation-guides/use-cases/syncs/deletion-detection
• Testing integrations (dryrun, --save, Vitest): https://nango.dev/docs/implementation-guides/platform/functions/testing
• Nango HTTP API reference: https://nango.dev/docs/reference/api

When API Docs Do Not Render

If web fetching returns incomplete docs (JS-rendered):

• Ask the user for a sample response
• Use existing Nango actions or syncs in the workspace as a pattern when they exist
• Use the skill-specific validation or dryrun workflow until it passes

Workflow (required)

1. Decide whether this is an action or a sync.
2. Read the matching reference file: references/actions.md or references/syncs.md.
3. For syncs, inspect provider docs or payloads for checkpoints and deletes, decide whether the endpoint returns full data or changed rows, and complete the Sync Strategy Gate.
4. Gather required inputs and external values. For connection lookup, credentials, or discovery, use the Nango HTTP API.
5. Confirm this is a Zero YAML TypeScript project (no nango.yaml) and that you are in the Nango root (.nango/ exists).
6. Create or update the function under {integrationId}/actions/ or {integrationId}/syncs/, apply the shared schema and casing rules, then register it in index.ts.
7. Validate with nango dryrun ... --validate -e dev --no-interactive --auto-confirm.
8. If validation cannot pass, stop and report the missing external state or inputs.
9. After validation passes, run nango dryrun ... --save, then nango generate:tests, then npm test.
10. Deploy with nango deploy dev only when requested.

Preconditions (Do Before Writing Code)

Confirm TypeScript Project (No nango.yaml)

This skill only supports TypeScript projects using createAction() / createSync().

ls nango.yaml 2>/dev/null && echo "YAML PROJECT DETECTED" || echo "OK - No nango.yaml"

If you see YAML PROJECT DETECTED:

• Stop immediately.
• Tell the user to upgrade to the TypeScript format first.
• Do not attempt to mix YAML and TypeScript.

Reference: https://nango.dev/docs/implementation-guides/platform/migrations/migrate-to-zero-yaml

Verify Nango Project Root

Do not create files until you confirm the Nango root:

ls -la .nango/ 2>/dev/null && pwd && echo "IN NANGO PROJECT ROOT" || echo "NOT in Nango root"

If you see NOT in Nango root:

• cd into the directory that contains .nango/
• Re-run the check
• Do not use absolute paths as a workaround

All file paths must be relative to the Nango root. Creating files with extra prefixes while already in the Nango root will create nested directories that break the build.

Project Structure and Naming

./
|-- .nango/
|-- index.ts
|-- hubspot/
|   |-- actions/
|   |   `-- create-contact.ts
|   `-- syncs/
|       `-- fetch-contacts.ts
`-- slack/
    `-- actions/
        `-- post-message.ts

• Provider directories: lowercase (hubspot, slack)
• Action files: kebab-case (create-contact.ts)
• Sync files: kebab-case (many teams use a fetch- prefix, but it is optional)
• One function per file
• All actions and syncs must be imported in index.ts

Register scripts in index.ts (required)

Use side-effect imports only. Include the .js extension.

// index.ts
import './github/actions/get-top-contributor.js';
import './github/syncs/fetch-issues.js';

Symptom of incorrect registration: the file compiles but you see No entry points found in index.ts... or the function never appears.

Dryrun, Mocks, and Tests (required)

Required loop:

1. Run nango dryrun ... --validate -e dev --no-interactive --auto-confirm until it passes.
2. Actions: always pass --input '{...}' (use --input '{}' for no-input actions).
3. Syncs: use --checkpoint '{...}' when you need to simulate a resumed run.
4. If validation cannot pass, stop and state the missing external state or inputs required.
5. After validation passes, run nango dryrun ... --save -e dev --no-interactive --auto-confirm to generate <script-name>.test.json.
6. Run nango generate:tests, then npm test.

Examples:

# Validate an action
nango dryrun <action-name> <connection-id> --validate -e dev --no-interactive --auto-confirm --input '{"key":"value"}'

# Validate a no-input action
nango dryrun <action-name> <connection-id> --validate -e dev --no-interactive --auto-confirm --input '{}'

# Validate a sync
nango dryrun <sync-name> <connection-id> --validate -e dev --no-interactive --auto-confirm

# Validate a resumed sync with a checkpoint
nango dryrun <sync-name> <connection-id> --validate -e dev --no-interactive --auto-confirm --checkpoint '{"updated_after":"2024-01-15T00:00:00Z"}'

# Record action mocks after validation passes
nango dryrun <action-name> <connection-id> --save -e dev --no-interactive --auto-confirm --input '{"key":"value"}'

# Record sync mocks after validation passes
nango dryrun <sync-name> <connection-id> --save -e dev --no-interactive --auto-confirm

# Stub metadata when needed
nango dryrun <script-name> <connection-id> --validate -e dev --no-interactive --auto-confirm --metadata '{"team_id":"123"}'

Hard rules:

• Treat <script-name>.test.json as generated output. Never create, edit, rename, or move it.
• If mocks are wrong or stale, fix the code and re-record with --save.
• Do not hard-code error payloads in *.test.json; use a Vitest test with vi.spyOn(...) for 404, 401, 429, or timeout cases.
• Connection ID is the second positional argument; do not use --connection-id.
• Use --integration-id <integration-id> when script names overlap across integrations.
• Prefer --checkpoint for new incremental syncs; --lastSyncDate is a legacy pattern.
• If nango is not on PATH, use npx nango ....
• CLI upgrade prompts can block automation; set NANGO_CLI_UPGRADE_MODE=ignore if needed.

Reference: https://nango.dev/docs/implementation-guides/platform/functions/testing

Deploy (Optional)

Deploy functions to an environment in your Nango account:

nango deploy dev

# Deploy only one function
nango deploy --action <action-name> dev
nango deploy --sync <sync-name> dev

Reference: https://nango.dev/docs/implementation-guides/use-cases/actions/implement-an-action

Final Checklists

Action:

• [ ] Nango root verified
• [ ] references/actions.md was used for the action pattern
• [ ] Schemas and types are clear, and missing-value rules match the provider versus normalized contract
• [ ] createAction() includes endpoint, input, output, and scopes when required
• [ ] Fields use passthrough casing or the API's majority casing
• [ ] Provider call includes an API doc link comment and intentional retries
• [ ] nango.ActionError is used for expected failures
• [ ] Registered in index.ts
• [ ] Dryrun succeeds with --validate -e dev --no-interactive --auto-confirm --input '{...}'
• [ ] <action-name>.test.json was generated by nango dryrun ... --save after --validate
• [ ] nango generate:tests ran and npm test passes

Sync:

• [ ] Nango root verified
• [ ] references/syncs.md was used for the sync pattern
• [ ] Models map is defined, ids are stable strings, and normalized models prefer .optional() unless null matters
• [ ] Incremental was chosen first, with a checkpoint schema unless full refresh is explicitly justified from docs or payloads
• [ ] nango.getCheckpoint() is read at the start and nango.saveCheckpoint() runs after each page or batch
• [ ] Checkpoint data changes the provider request or resume state (since, updated_after, cursor, page_token, offset, page, since_id, etc.)
• [ ] Changed-only checkpoint syncs (modified_after, updated_after, changed-records endpoint) do not use trackDeletesStart() / trackDeletesEnd()
• [ ] If checkpoints were not used, the response explains exactly why no viable checkpoint strategy exists
• [ ] Raw provider schemas model omitted versus null correctly, and fields use passthrough casing or the API's majority casing
• [ ] nango.paginate() is used unless the API truly cannot fit Nango's paginator
• [ ] Provider API calls use retries: 3; no sync retry value exceeds 3 without a documented exception
• [ ] Deletion strategy matches the sync type: batchDelete() for incremental only when the provider returns explicit deletions; otherwise full-refresh fallback uses trackDeletesStart() before fetch/save and trackDeletesEnd() only after a successful full fetch plus save
• [ ] Metadata handled if required
• [ ] Registered in index.ts
• [ ] Dryrun succeeds with --validate -e dev --no-interactive --auto-confirm
• [ ] <sync-name>.test.json was generated by nango dryrun ... --save after --validate
• [ ] nango generate:tests ran and npm test passes