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erikshafer
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cli-kafka-tooling

Manage Kafka topics, messages, and consumer groups via CLI tools.

Updated Apr 21, 2026
Search Tags:#kafka#offsets#kcat#event processing#consumer groups#aspire dashboard
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/erikshafer/CritterCab --skill cli-kafka-tooling
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: cli-kafka-tooling
Source: https://github.com/erikshafer/CritterCab/tree/main/docs/skills/cli-kafka-tooling
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/erikshafer/CritterCab --skill cli-kafka-tooling

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires kcat, kafka-console-*, and includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill provides a comprehensive set of command-line tools and dashboards for managing Kafka operations, simplifying tasks such as topic management, message consumption, and operational visibility.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Topic Management: List, create, and describe Kafka topics.
  • Message Consumption: Read messages from Kafka topics using kcat.
  • Message Production: Send test messages to Kafka topics using kcat.
  • Consumer Group Management: Join consumer groups, inspect offsets, and manage consumer groups.
  • Operational Visibility: Monitor Kafka container health, logs, and traces using the Aspire dashboard.
  • Use Case: When debugging a failing Kafka consumer, use this Skill to inspect consumer-group offsets, verify topic existence, and check the Aspire dashboard for Kafka container health.

Quick Start

Use the kcat tool to consume the latest message from the 'telemetry.location-pings' topic.

Frequently Asked Questions about cli-kafka-tooling

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I consume messages from a Kafka topic using kcat?▼

You can inspect Kafka consumer-group offsets and verify topic existence by running the provided command-line scripts. This allows you to quickly identify lag or missing messages when debugging event processing pipelines.

What is the best way to monitor Kafka container health and logs?▼

Yes, you can use kcat to send test messages to Kafka topics. This Skill provides command-line scripts for message production, allowing you to easily inject test data into your event processing system.

Do I need kcat installed to manage Kafka topics and consumer groups?▼

Kafka command-line tooling focuses on direct topic management, message production, and consumption via kcat. It differs from dashboard-only approaches by combining CLI scripts for active operations with the Aspire dashboard for passive monitoring and debugging.

Why does my Kafka consumer group show lag when using command line tools?▼

Kafka consumer group lag occurs when message consumption rates fall behind production rates. You can use this Skill's kcat scripts to inspect consumer-group offsets and the Aspire dashboard to check container health for underlying performance bottlenecks.

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