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API Rate Limiting Architect

Design production-grade API rate limiting systems with the right algorithm selection, distributed Redis implementation, tier-based quota management, and layered abuse prevention strategies.

Platinum
v1.0.00 activationsSecurityEngineeringadvanced

SupaScore

85
Research Quality (15%)
8.5
Prompt Engineering (25%)
8.5
Practical Utility (15%)
8.5
Completeness (10%)
8.5
User Satisfaction (20%)
8.5
Decision Usefulness (15%)
8.5

Best for

  • Design token bucket algorithms for burst-tolerant API endpoints
  • Implement distributed sliding window counters with Redis for multi-tier SaaS platforms
  • Configure hierarchical rate limits (per-second burst + per-hour quota) for enterprise API products
  • Build abuse detection layers that escalate from rate limiting to IP blocking
  • Architect global rate limiting for API gateways handling 100k+ RPS

What you'll get

  • Algorithm comparison matrix with traffic pattern suitability, Redis implementation pseudocode, and configuration examples
  • Multi-layer rate limiting architecture diagram with specific limits, escalation logic, and monitoring dashboards
  • Production-ready Redis Lua scripts for sliding window counters with performance benchmarks and operational runbooks
Not designed for ↓
  • ×Basic HTTP 429 response handling or client-side retry logic
  • ×Network-level DDoS protection (use CDN/WAF instead)
  • ×Application-layer business logic validation or input sanitization
  • ×Database query rate limiting or connection pooling
Expects

Detailed API traffic characteristics (RPS, burst patterns, client distribution) and business requirements (fair usage vs abuse prevention vs infrastructure protection).

Returns

Complete rate limiting architecture including algorithm selection, Redis implementation patterns, multi-tier quota structures, and operational monitoring strategies.

Evidence Policy

Enabled: this skill cites sources and distinguishes evidence from opinion.

rate-limitingapi-securitytoken-bucketsliding-windowredisdistributed-systemsapi-gatewaythrottlingddos-mitigationquota-managementhttp-429abuse-preventiontraffic-shaping

Research Foundation: 8 sources (4 official docs, 2 industry frameworks, 1 books, 1 web)

This skill was developed through independent research and synthesis. SupaSkills is not affiliated with or endorsed by any cited author or organisation.

Version History

v1.0.02/15/2026

Initial release

Prerequisites

Use these skills first for best results.

Works well with

Need more depth?

Specialist skills that go deeper in areas this skill touches.

Common Workflows

API Security Hardening

Complete API protection workflow from design through rate limiting, security hardening, and operational monitoring

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