Render Skill

Deploy and manage applications on Render using Blueprints (render.yaml), the Dashboard, or the API. This skill mirrors the Codex render-deploy flow: analyze codebase → generate/validate Blueprint → commit & push → one-click Dashboard deeplink → optional API/mcporter verify or re-deploy.

When to Use This Skill

Activate when the user wants to:

• Deploy, host, or publish an application on Render
• Create or edit a render.yaml Blueprint (new or existing repo)
• Add web, static site, private, worker, or cron services; Postgres; or Key Value
• Configure env vars, health checks, scaling, disks, or regions
• Set up preview environments or projects
• Validate a Blueprint or get Dashboard/API links

Deployment Method Selection

1. If RENDER_API_KEY is set → Prefer REST API or MCP (fastest; no user click). Use references/rest-api-deployment.md for request bodies, or mcporter if configured (see references/mcp-integration.md).
2. If no API key → Use Blueprint + deeplink (user commits, pushes, then clicks the deeplink to deploy).

Check for API key:

[ -n "$RENDER_API_KEY" ] && echo "RENDER_API_KEY is set" || echo "RENDER_API_KEY is not set"

Happy Path (New Users)

Before deep analysis, use this short sequence to reduce friction:

1. Ask whether they want to deploy from a Git repo (required for Blueprint and deeplink) or only get guidance. If no Git remote, they must create/push one first.
2. Ask whether the app needs a database, workers, cron, or other services so you can choose the right Blueprint shape.

Then follow Deploy to Render below (Blueprint → push → deeplink → verify).

Prerequisites Check

1. Git remote – Required for Blueprint deploy. Run git remote -v; if none, ask the user to create a repo on GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket, add origin, and push.
2. Render CLI (optional) – For local validation: render blueprints validate render.yaml. Install: brew install render or Render CLI.
3. API key (optional) – For verifying deploys or triggering re-deploys: Dashboard → API Keys. Set RENDER_API_KEY in the environment.

Security Notes

• Never commit secrets to render.yaml — always use sync: false for API keys, passwords, and tokens; the user fills them in the Dashboard.
• Validate before suggesting deployment — run render blueprints validate render.yaml or use the Validate Blueprint API so invalid YAML is never pushed.
• Validate user-provided values — when writing env vars or service names from user input into YAML, sanitize or quote as needed to avoid injection.

References

• references/codebase-analysis.md (detect runtime, build/start commands, env vars)
• references/blueprint-spec.md (root keys, service types, env vars, validation)
• references/rest-api-deployment.md (direct API create service: ownerId, request bodies, type mapping)
• references/mcp-integration.md (Render MCP tools, mcporter usage, supported runtimes/plans/regions)
• references/post-deploy-checks.md (verify deploy status and health via API)
• references/troubleshooting-basics.md (build/startup/runtime failures)
• assets/ (example Blueprints: node-express.yaml, python-web.yaml, static-site.yaml, web-with-postgres.yaml)

Blueprint Basics

• File: render.yaml at the root of the Git repository (required).
• Root-level keys (official spec): services, databases, envVarGroups, projects, ungrouped, previews.generation, previews.expireAfterDays.
• Spec: Blueprint YAML Reference. JSON Schema for IDE validation: https://render.com/schema/render.yaml.json (e.g. YAML extension by Red Hat in VS Code/Cursor).

Validation: render blueprints validate render.yaml (Render CLI v2.7.0+), or the Validate Blueprint API endpoint.

Service Types

type	Purpose
web	Public HTTP app or static site (use runtime: static for static)
pserv	Private service (internal hostname only, no public URL)
worker	Background worker (runs continuously, e.g. job queues)
cron	Scheduled job (cron expression; runs and exits)
keyvalue	Render Key Value instance (Redis/Valkey-compatible; defined in services)

Note: Private services use pserv, not private. Key Value is a service with type: keyvalue; do not use a separate root key for it in new Blueprints (some older blueprints use keyValueStores and fromKeyValueStore—prefer the official format).

Runtimes

Use runtime (preferred; env is deprecated): node, python, elixir, go, ruby, rust, docker, image, static. For static sites: type: web, runtime: static, and staticPublishPath (e.g. ./build or ./dist) required.

Minimal Web Service

services:
  - type: web
    name: my-app
    runtime: node
    buildCommand: npm install
    startCommand: npm start
    envVars:
      - key: NODE_ENV
        value: production

Python example: runtime: python, buildCommand: pip install -r requirements.txt, startCommand: uvicorn app.main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port $PORT (or gunicorn). Set PYTHON_VERSION / NODE_VERSION in envVars when needed.

Static Site

- type: web
  name: my-blog
  runtime: static
  buildCommand: yarn build
  staticPublishPath: ./build

Optional: headers, routes (redirects/rewrites). See Static Sites.

Environment Variables

• Literal: key + value (never hardcode secrets).
• From Postgres: fromDatabase.name + fromDatabase.property (e.g. connectionString).
• From Key Value or other service: fromService.type + fromService.name + fromService.property (e.g. connectionString, host, port, hostport) or fromService.envVarKey for another service’s env var.
• Secret / user-set: sync: false (user is prompted in Dashboard on first create; add new secrets manually later). Cannot be used inside env var groups.
• Generated: generateValue: true (base64 256-bit value).
• Shared: fromGroup: <envVarGroups[].name> to attach an env var group.

Env groups cannot reference other services (no fromDatabase/fromService in groups) and cannot use sync: false. Put secrets and DB/KV references in service-level envVars, or reference a group and add service-specific vars alongside.

Databases (Render Postgres)

databases:
  - name: my-db
    plan: basic-256mb
    databaseName: my_app
    user: my_user
    region: oregon
    postgresMajorVersion: "18"

Plans (current): free, basic-256mb, basic-1gb, basic-4gb, pro-*, accelerated-*. Legacy: starter, standard, pro, pro plus (no new DBs on legacy). Optional: diskSizeGB, ipAllowList, readReplicas, highAvailability.enabled. Reference in services: fromDatabase.name, property: connectionString.

Key Value (Redis/Valkey)

Key Value instances are services with type: keyvalue (or deprecated redis). ipAllowList is required: use [] for internal-only, or - source: 0.0.0.0/0 to allow external.

services:
  - type: keyvalue
    name: my-cache
    ipAllowList:
      - source: 0.0.0.0/0
        description: everywhere
    plan: free
    maxmemoryPolicy: allkeys-lru

Reference in another service: fromService.type: keyvalue, fromService.name: my-cache, property: connectionString. Policies: allkeys-lru (caching), noeviction (job queues), etc. See Key Value.

Note: Some repos use root-level keyValueStores and fromKeyValueStore; the official spec uses services + fromService. Prefer the official form for new Blueprints.

Cron Jobs

- type: cron
  name: my-cron
  runtime: python
  schedule: "0 * * * *"
  buildCommand: "true"
  startCommand: python scripts/daily.py
  envVars: []

schedule is a cron expression (minute hour day month weekday). buildCommand is required (use "true" if no build). Free plan not available for cron/worker/pserv.

Env Var Groups

Share vars across services. No fromDatabase/fromService/sync: false inside groups—only literal values or generateValue: true.

envVarGroups:
  - name: app-env
    envVars:
      - key: CONCURRENCY
        value: "2"
      - key: APP_SECRET
        generateValue: true

services:
  - type: web
    name: api
    envVars:
      - fromGroup: app-env
      - key: DATABASE_URL
        fromDatabase:
          name: my-db
          property: connectionString

Health Check, Region, Pre-deploy

• Web only: healthCheckPath: /health for zero-downtime deploys.
• Region: region: oregon (default), ohio, virginia, frankfurt, singapore (set at create; cannot change later).
• Pre-deploy: preDeployCommand runs after build, before start (e.g. migrations).

Scaling

• Manual: numInstances: 2.
• Autoscaling (Professional workspace): scaling.minInstances, scaling.maxInstances, scaling.targetCPUPercent or scaling.targetMemoryPercent. Not available with persistent disks.

Disks, Monorepos, Docker

• Persistent disk: disk.name, disk.mountPath, disk.sizeGB (web, pserv, worker).
• Monorepo: rootDir, buildFilter.paths / buildFilter.ignoredPaths, dockerfilePath / dockerContext.
• Docker: runtime: docker (build from Dockerfile) or runtime: image (pull from registry). Use dockerCommand instead of startCommand when needed.

Preview Environments & Projects

• Preview environments: Root-level previews.generation: off | manual | automatic, optional previews.expireAfterDays. Per-service previews.generation, previews.numInstances, previews.plan.
• Projects/environments: Root-level projects with environments (each lists services, databases, envVarGroups). Use for staging/production. Optional ungrouped for resources not in any environment.

Common Deployment Patterns

Full stack (web + Postgres + Key Value)

Web service with fromDatabase for Postgres and fromService for Key Value. Add one databases entry and one type: keyvalue service; reference both from the web service envVars. See assets/web-with-postgres.yaml for Postgres; add a keyvalue service and fromService for Redis URL.

Microservices (API + worker + cron)

Multiple services in one Blueprint: type: web for the API, type: worker for a background processor, type: cron for scheduled jobs. Share envVarGroups or repeat env vars; use fromDatabase/fromService for shared DB/Redis. All use the same branch and buildCommand/startCommand as appropriate per runtime.

Preview environments for PRs

Set root-level previews.generation: automatic (or manual). Optionally previews.expireAfterDays: 7. Each PR gets a preview URL; per-service overrides with previews.generation, previews.numInstances, or previews.plan when needed.

Plans (Services)

plan: free | starter | standard | pro | pro plus (and for web/pserv/worker: pro max, pro ultra). Omit to keep existing or default to starter for new. Free not available for pserv, worker, cron.

Dashboard & API

• Dashboard: https://dashboard.render.com — New → Blueprint, connect repo, select render.yaml.
• Key Value: https://dashboard.render.com/new/redis

API Access

To use the Render API from the agent (verify deploys, trigger deploys, list services/logs):

1. Get an API key: Dashboard → Account Settings → API Keys.
2. Store as env var: Set RENDER_API_KEY in the environment (e.g. skills.entries.render.env or process env).
3. Authentication: Use Bearer token: Authorization: Bearer $RENDER_API_KEY on all requests.
4. API docs: https://api-docs.render.com — services, deploys, logs, validate Blueprint, etc.

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Deploy to Render (same flow as Codex render-deploy skill)

Goal: get the app deployed by generating a Blueprint, then one-click via Dashboard deeplink; optionally trigger or verify via API when the user has RENDER_API_KEY.

Step 1: Analyze codebase and create render.yaml

• Use references/codebase-analysis.md to determine runtime, build/start commands, env vars, and datastores.
• Add or update render.yaml at repo root (see Blueprint sections above and references/blueprint-spec.md). Use sync: false for secrets. See assets/ for examples.
• Validate before asking the user to push:
  • CLI: render blueprints validate render.yaml (install: brew install render or Render CLI install).
  • Or API: POST to Validate Blueprint with the YAML body.
• Fix any validation errors before proceeding.

Step 2: Commit and push (required)

Render reads the Blueprint from the Git remote. The file must be committed and pushed.

git add render.yaml
git commit -m "Add Render deployment configuration"
git push origin main

If there is no Git remote, stop and ask the user to create a repo on GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket, add it as origin, and push. Without a pushed repo, the Dashboard deeplink will not work.

Step 3: Dashboard deeplink (one-click deploy)

Get the repo URL and build the Blueprint deeplink:

git remote get-url origin

If the URL is SSH, convert to HTTPS (Render needs HTTPS for the deeplink):

SSH	HTTPS
git@github.com:user/repo.git	https://github.com/user/repo
git@gitlab.com:user/repo.git	https://gitlab.com/user/repo
git@bitbucket.org:user/repo.git	https://bitbucket.org/user/repo

Pattern: replace git@<host>: with https://<host>/, remove .git suffix.

Deeplink format:

https://dashboard.render.com/blueprint/new?repo=<REPO_HTTPS_URL>

Example: https://dashboard.render.com/blueprint/new?repo=https://github.com/username/my-app

Give the user this checklist:

1. Confirm render.yaml is in the repo at the root (they just pushed it).
2. Click the deeplink to open Render Dashboard.
3. Complete Git provider OAuth if prompted.
4. Name the Blueprint (or accept default).
5. Fill in secret env vars (those with sync: false).
6. Review services/databases, then click Apply to deploy.

Deployment starts automatically. User can monitor in the Dashboard.

Step 4: Verify deployment (optional, needs API key)

If the user has set RENDER_API_KEY (e.g. in skills.entries.render.env or process env), the agent can verify after the user has applied the Blueprint:

• List services: GET https://api.render.com/v1/services — Header: Authorization: Bearer $RENDER_API_KEY. Find the service by name.
• List deploys: GET https://api.render.com/v1/services/{serviceId}/deploys?limit=1 — Check for status: "live" to confirm success.
• Logs (if needed): Render API or Dashboard → service → Logs.

Example (exec tool or curl):

curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $RENDER_API_KEY" "https://api.render.com/v1/services" | head -100
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $RENDER_API_KEY" "https://api.render.com/v1/services/{serviceId}/deploys?limit=1"

For a short checklist and common fixes, use references/post-deploy-checks.md and references/troubleshooting-basics.md.

Triggering deploys (re-deploy without push)

• After repo is connected: Pushes to the linked branch trigger automatic deploys when auto-deploy is on.
• Trigger via API: With RENDER_API_KEY, trigger a new deploy:
  • POST https://api.render.com/v1/services/{serviceId}/deploys
  • Header: Authorization: Bearer $RENDER_API_KEY
  • Optional body: { "clearCache": "do_not_clear" } or "clear"
• Deploy hook (no API key): Dashboard → service → Settings → Deploy Hook. User can set that URL as an env var (e.g. RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL); then the agent can run curl -X POST "$RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL" to trigger a deploy.

So: OpenClaw can deploy by (1) creating render.yaml, (2) having the user push and click the Blueprint deeplink (one-click), and optionally (3) triggering or verifying deploys via API or deploy hook when credentials are available.

Render from OpenClaw (no native MCP)

OpenClaw does not load MCP servers from config. Use one of:

Option A: REST API (recommended when API key is set)

Use RENDER_API_KEY and the Render REST API (curl/exec): create services, list services, trigger deploys, list deploys, list logs. Request bodies and endpoints: references/rest-api-deployment.md.

Option B: MCP via mcporter (if installed)

If the user has mcporter and Render configured (URL https://mcp.render.com/mcp, Bearer $RENDER_API_KEY), the agent can call Render MCP tools directly. Tool list and example commands: references/mcp-integration.md.

Example:

mcporter call render.list_services
mcporter call render.create_web_service name=my-api runtime=node buildCommand="npm ci" startCommand="npm start" repo=https://github.com/user/repo branch=main plan=free

Workspace must be set first (e.g. user: “Set my Render workspace to MyTeam”). Use mcporter list render --schema to see current tools and parameters.

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Checklist for New Deploys

1. Add or update render.yaml with services (and optionally databases, envVarGroups, projects). Use runtime and official Key Value form (type: keyvalue in services, fromService for references).
2. Use sync: false for secrets in service envVars only; tell user to set them in Dashboard. Never put secrets in env groups.
3. For Key Value, set ipAllowList (required).
4. Validate: render blueprints validate render.yaml or API.
5. User must commit and push, then use the Blueprint deeplink (https://dashboard.render.com/blueprint/new?repo=<HTTPS_REPO_URL>) to deploy. Optionally verify or re-deploy via API if RENDER_API_KEY is set.

Rules

• Prefer Blueprint for full app definition; suggest Dashboard/API only when Blueprint cannot express something.
• Never commit real API keys or secrets; use sync: false and document which env vars the user must set.
• Use runtime (not deprecated env). For Python/Node set PYTHON_VERSION/NODE_VERSION in envVars when required.
• When referencing Key Value or other services, use fromService with correct type (e.g. keyvalue, pserv).