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name: redis description: Redis CLI client for cache and data store operations running inside a Docker container runtime: docker

Redis Skill

Access Redis databases using the redis-cli client running inside a Docker container. Set/get keys, manage data structures, monitor performance, and perform cache operations without installing Redis locally.

Overview

This skill provides the redis-cli command-line client through a containerized runtime. Connect to any Redis instance (local or remote), execute commands, manipulate data structures, and manage your cache - all while keeping your host system clean.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

• Connect to Redis instances without local installation
• Set and get cached values
• Manage Redis data structures (strings, lists, sets, hashes, sorted sets)
• Monitor Redis performance and commands
• Test cache connections
• Debug caching issues
• Flush databases and manage keys
• Pub/Sub messaging operations
• Execute administrative commands

Prerequisites

Docker

The Redis client runs inside a Docker container:

Copy# macOS (using Homebrew)
brew install --cask docker

# Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install docker.io
sudo systemctl start docker

Redis Server

You need access to a Redis server:

• Local Redis instance
• Remote Redis server
• Cloud-hosted Redis (AWS ElastiCache, Redis Cloud, Azure Cache, etc.)
• Docker Redis container

Configuration

Add to your .skill-engine.toml:

Copy[skills.redis]
source = "docker:redis:7-alpine"
runtime = "docker"
description = "Redis CLI client"

[skills.redis.docker]
image = "redis:7-alpine"
entrypoint = "redis-cli"
network = "bridge"
memory = "128m"
rm = true

Configuration Explained

• image: redis:7-alpine - Redis 7.x Alpine image (~30MB)
• entrypoint: redis-cli - Redis command-line interface
• network: bridge - Allows connections to Redis servers (local and remote)
• memory: 128m - Limits container to 128MB RAM
• rm: true - Automatically removes container after execution

Usage

Redis skill uses pass-through syntax - all arguments after -- are passed directly to redis-cli:

Copyskill run redis -- [redis-cli arguments] [COMMAND] [args...]

Connection Methods

Using Command-Line Arguments

Copy# Connect to local Redis
skill run redis -- -h localhost

# Connect with specific port
skill run redis -- -h localhost -p 6379

# Connect to remote Redis
skill run redis -- -h redis.example.com -p 6379

# Connect with authentication
skill run redis -- -h localhost -a password

# Connect to specific database number
skill run redis -- -h localhost -n 1

Using Environment Variables

Copy# Set Redis password
export REDISCLI_AUTH=your_password

# Connect with authentication
skill run redis -- -h localhost

Common Operations

String Operations

Copy# Set a key
skill run redis -- -h localhost SET mykey "myvalue"

# Get a key
skill run redis -- -h localhost GET mykey

# Set with expiry (EX = seconds)
skill run redis -- -h localhost SET session:123 "data" EX 3600

# Set multiple keys
skill run redis -- -h localhost MSET key1 "value1" key2 "value2"

# Get multiple keys
skill run redis -- -h localhost MGET key1 key2

# Increment counter
skill run redis -- -h localhost INCR counter

# Decrement counter
skill run redis -- -h localhost DECR counter

# Append to string
skill run redis -- -h localhost APPEND mykey " more data"

# Get string length
skill run redis -- -h localhost STRLEN mykey

Key Management

Copy# List all keys
skill run redis -- -h localhost KEYS "*"

# List keys with pattern
skill run redis -- -h localhost KEYS "user:*"

# Check if key exists
skill run redis -- -h localhost EXISTS mykey

# Delete key
skill run redis -- -h localhost DEL mykey

# Delete multiple keys
skill run redis -- -h localhost DEL key1 key2 key3

# Rename key
skill run redis -- -h localhost RENAME oldkey newkey

# Get key type
skill run redis -- -h localhost TYPE mykey

# Set expiration (seconds)
skill run redis -- -h localhost EXPIRE mykey 60

# Set expiration (milliseconds)
skill run redis -- -h localhost PEXPIRE mykey 60000

# Remove expiration
skill run redis -- -h localhost PERSIST mykey

# Get time to live
skill run redis -- -h localhost TTL mykey

# Get TTL in milliseconds
skill run redis -- -h localhost PTTL mykey

Hash Operations

Copy# Set hash field
skill run redis -- -h localhost HSET user:1 name "John"

# Set multiple hash fields
skill run redis -- -h localhost HMSET user:1 name "John" email "john@example.com" age 30

# Get hash field
skill run redis -- -h localhost HGET user:1 name

# Get multiple hash fields
skill run redis -- -h localhost HMGET user:1 name email

# Get all hash fields and values
skill run redis -- -h localhost HGETALL user:1

# Get all hash keys
skill run redis -- -h localhost HKEYS user:1

# Get all hash values
skill run redis -- -h localhost HVALS user:1

# Check if hash field exists
skill run redis -- -h localhost HEXISTS user:1 name

# Delete hash field
skill run redis -- -h localhost HDEL user:1 age

# Increment hash field
skill run redis -- -h localhost HINCRBY user:1 visits 1

List Operations

Copy# Push to left (beginning)
skill run redis -- -h localhost LPUSH mylist "item1"

# Push to right (end)
skill run redis -- -h localhost RPUSH mylist "item2"

# Push multiple items
skill run redis -- -h localhost RPUSH mylist "item3" "item4" "item5"

# Get list length
skill run redis -- -h localhost LLEN mylist

# Get list range
skill run redis -- -h localhost LRANGE mylist 0 -1  # All items

# Get first N items
skill run redis -- -h localhost LRANGE mylist 0 9

# Get specific range
skill run redis -- -h localhost LRANGE mylist 5 10

# Pop from left
skill run redis -- -h localhost LPOP mylist

# Pop from right
skill run redis -- -h localhost RPOP mylist

# Get item by index
skill run redis -- -h localhost LINDEX mylist 0

# Set item by index
skill run redis -- -h localhost LSET mylist 0 "new value"

# Trim list
skill run redis -- -h localhost LTRIM mylist 0 99

Set Operations

Copy# Add members to set
skill run redis -- -h localhost SADD myset "member1"

# Add multiple members
skill run redis -- -h localhost SADD myset "member2" "member3"

# Get all members
skill run redis -- -h localhost SMEMBERS myset

# Check if member exists
skill run redis -- -h localhost SISMEMBER myset "member1"

# Get set size
skill run redis -- -h localhost SCARD myset

# Remove member
skill run redis -- -h localhost SREM myset "member1"

# Pop random member
skill run redis -- -h localhost SPOP myset

# Get random member (without removing)
skill run redis -- -h localhost SRANDMEMBER myset

# Set intersection
skill run redis -- -h localhost SINTER set1 set2

# Set union
skill run redis -- -h localhost SUNION set1 set2

# Set difference
skill run redis -- -h localhost SDIFF set1 set2

Sorted Set Operations

Copy# Add member with score
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZADD leaderboard 100 "player1"

# Add multiple members
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZADD leaderboard 85 "player2" 92 "player3"

# Get range by rank
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZRANGE leaderboard 0 -1

# Get range with scores
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZRANGE leaderboard 0 -1 WITHSCORES

# Get reverse range (highest first)
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZREVRANGE leaderboard 0 -1 WITHSCORES

# Get range by score
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZRANGEBYSCORE leaderboard 80 100

# Get member score
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZSCORE leaderboard "player1"

# Get member rank
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZRANK leaderboard "player1"

# Increment score
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZINCRBY leaderboard 5 "player1"

# Get sorted set size
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZCARD leaderboard

# Remove member
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZREM leaderboard "player1"

# Remove by rank range
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZREMRANGEBYRANK leaderboard 0 2

# Remove by score range
skill run redis -- -h localhost ZREMRANGEBYSCORE leaderboard 0 50

Pub/Sub Operations

Copy# Subscribe to channel
skill run redis -- -h localhost SUBSCRIBE mychannel

# Subscribe to multiple channels
skill run redis -- -h localhost SUBSCRIBE channel1 channel2

# Subscribe to pattern
skill run redis -- -h localhost PSUBSCRIBE "news:*"

# Publish message
skill run redis -- -h localhost PUBLISH mychannel "Hello World"

# List active channels
skill run redis -- -h localhost PUBSUB CHANNELS

# Count subscribers
skill run redis -- -h localhost PUBSUB NUMSUB mychannel

Database Management

Select Database

Copy# Switch to database 0 (default)
skill run redis -- -h localhost -n 0

# Switch to database 1
skill run redis -- -h localhost -n 1

# Select within session
skill run redis -- -h localhost SELECT 2

Flush Operations

Copy# Flush current database
skill run redis -- -h localhost FLUSHDB

# Flush all databases
skill run redis -- -h localhost FLUSHALL

# Async flush (non-blocking)
skill run redis -- -h localhost FLUSHDB ASYNC

Monitoring & Administration

Server Information

Copy# Get all server info
skill run redis -- -h localhost INFO

# Get specific section
skill run redis -- -h localhost INFO server
skill run redis -- -h localhost INFO memory
skill run redis -- -h localhost INFO stats
skill run redis -- -h localhost INFO replication
skill run redis -- -h localhost INFO cpu

# Get server config
skill run redis -- -h localhost CONFIG GET "*"

# Get specific config
skill run redis -- -h localhost CONFIG GET maxmemory

# Set config value
skill run redis -- -h localhost CONFIG SET maxmemory 100mb

Monitoring Commands

Copy# Monitor all commands in real-time
skill run redis -- -h localhost MONITOR

# Get slow log
skill run redis -- -h localhost SLOWLOG GET 10

# Reset slow log
skill run redis -- -h localhost SLOWLOG RESET

# Get client list
skill run redis -- -h localhost CLIENT LIST

# Get current client name
skill run redis -- -h localhost CLIENT GETNAME

# Set client name
skill run redis -- -h localhost CLIENT SETNAME myapp

# Kill client
skill run redis -- -h localhost CLIENT KILL addr 127.0.0.1:6379

Performance & Statistics

Copy# Get database size
skill run redis -- -h localhost DBSIZE

# Get last save time
skill run redis -- -h localhost LASTSAVE

# Measure command latency
skill run redis -- -h localhost --latency

# Continuous latency monitoring
skill run redis -- -h localhost --latency-history

# Benchmark
skill run redis -- -h localhost --stat

# Ping server
skill run redis -- -h localhost PING

Advanced Examples

Cache Pattern

Copy# Check cache
skill run redis -- -h localhost GET cache:user:123

# If miss, set cache with TTL
skill run redis -- -h localhost SET cache:user:123 '{"name":"John"}' EX 300

# Delete cache
skill run redis -- -h localhost DEL cache:user:123

# Clear all cache keys
skill run redis -- -h localhost EVAL "return redis.call('del', unpack(redis.call('keys', 'cache:*')))" 0

Session Management

Copy# Create session
skill run redis -- -h localhost SET session:abc123 '{"user_id":1,"email":"user@example.com"}' EX 3600

# Get session
skill run redis -- -h localhost GET session:abc123

# Extend session TTL
skill run redis -- -h localhost EXPIRE session:abc123 3600

# Delete session
skill run redis -- -h localhost DEL session:abc123

Rate Limiting

Copy# Simple rate limit (5 requests per minute)
skill run redis -- -h localhost INCR rate:user:123:minute
skill run redis -- -h localhost EXPIRE rate:user:123:minute 60

# Check rate limit
skill run redis -- -h localhost GET rate:user:123:minute

Distributed Locks

Copy# Acquire lock
skill run redis -- -h localhost SET lock:resource:1 "token123" NX EX 30

# Release lock
skill run redis -- -h localhost DEL lock:resource:1

# Check lock
skill run redis -- -h localhost GET lock:resource:1

Batch Operations

Execute Multiple Commands

Copy# Pipe commands to redis-cli
cat << EOF | skill run redis -- -h localhost
SET key1 "value1"
SET key2 "value2"
GET key1
EOF

# From file
skill run redis -- -h localhost < commands.txt

Scan Keys

Copy# Scan keys (safer than KEYS for production)
skill run redis -- -h localhost SCAN 0 MATCH "user:*" COUNT 100

# Scan with cursor
skill run redis -- -h localhost SCAN 0
skill run redis -- -h localhost SCAN cursor MATCH "pattern*"

Security

Authentication

Copy# Connect with password
skill run redis -- -h localhost -a your_password

# Or use environment variable
export REDISCLI_AUTH=your_password
skill run redis -- -h localhost

# Authenticate in session
skill run redis -- -h localhost AUTH your_password

ACL (Redis 6+)

Copy# List users
skill run redis -- -h localhost ACL LIST

# Get current user
skill run redis -- -h localhost ACL WHOAMI

# Create user
skill run redis -- -h localhost ACL SETUSER alice on \>password ~cached:* +get

# Delete user
skill run redis -- -h localhost ACL DELUSER alice

Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

Copy# Test connection
skill run redis -- -h localhost PING

# Check server is running
docker ps | grep redis

# Verify port
telnet localhost 6379

Authentication Failed

Copy# Check password
export REDISCLI_AUTH=correct_password
skill run redis -- -h localhost PING

# Or use -a flag
skill run redis -- -h localhost -a correct_password PING

Cannot Connect to Docker Network

Copy# Connect to host Redis from container
# macOS/Windows: use host.docker.internal
skill run redis -- -h host.docker.internal

# Linux: use host IP
skill run redis -- -h 172.17.0.1

Performance Issues

Copy# Check slow queries
skill run redis -- -h localhost SLOWLOG GET 10

# Check memory usage
skill run redis -- -h localhost INFO memory

# Check connected clients
skill run redis -- -h localhost CLIENT LIST

Common Errors

Redis CLI Options

Useful Flags

Copy# Raw output (no formatting)
skill run redis -- -h localhost --raw GET mykey

# CSV output
skill run redis -- -h localhost --csv LRANGE mylist 0 -1

# Execute and exit
skill run redis -- -h localhost -c "SET key value"

# Repeat command N times
skill run redis -- -h localhost --repeat 5 PING

# Sleep between commands
skill run redis -- -h localhost --interval 1 --repeat 10 INFO stats

# Enable cluster mode
skill run redis -- -h localhost -c --cluster

# SSL/TLS connection
skill run redis -- -h localhost --tls --cacert ca.crt

Docker Image Details

• Image: redis:7-alpine
• Base: Alpine Linux
• Size: ~30MB
• Redis Version: 7.x
• Included Tools: redis-cli, redis-benchmark
• Platforms: linux/amd64, linux/arm64

Resources

• Redis Documentation
• Redis Commands Reference
• Redis CLI Documentation
• Redis Data Types
• Redis Pub/Sub
• Redis Patterns

Quick Reference

Essential Commands Table