Doca Pipeline Language Developer Tools
NVIDIAOfficialCreated by NVIDIA
- Skill
- Tool integration
- Software development
- Apache-2.0
- Medium risk
AutoGineer summary
Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author
This skill assists operators in utilizing the DOCA Pipeline Language (DPL) Developer Tools suite, which includes DPL Nspect, DPL Debugger, DPL Admin, P4 Runtime Shell, and the DPL Runtime Controller SDK. It is designed for tasks involving the inspection of runtime state, visualization of packet flows, dynamic configuration of the DPL Runtime Daemon (dpl_rtd), and development of custom P4Runtime applications. The skill assumes a pre-configured environment where the DPL Runtime Service container is active on a BlueField DPU. It explicitly excludes tasks related to DPL program authoring, compilation, deployment, initial DOCA setup, or hardware/firmware modifications.
What it does
- Inspects DPL runtime state including tables, keys, and counters using DPL Nspect.
- Visualizes packet flow through DPL programs using DPL Debugger.
- Modifies configuration items dynamically in the DPL Runtime Daemon via DPL Admin.
- Supports the development of custom P4Runtime applications using the DPL Runtime Controller SDK.
- Facilitates control plane management through the P4 Runtime Shell.
- Validates prerequisites for debug sessions, such as the use of the -g debug flag.
When to use it
- When you need to inspect active DPL runtime tables or counters on a DPU.
- When you need to debug or visualize packet paths through a loaded DPL program.
- When you need to change dpl_rtd configuration settings without a service restart.
- When you are building or integrating custom P4Runtime control-plane applications.
- When you need to troubleshoot connectivity between developer tools and the DPL Runtime Daemon.
Advantages
- Provides a structured approach to debugging and inspecting DPL programs.
- Clearly defines scope boundaries to prevent misconfiguration of hardware or firmware.
- Integrates with established DOCA workflows for runtime management.
- Ensures consistent use of developer tools across different DPL environments.
Usage examples
- “How do I inspect the DPL runtime tables on the DPU?”
- The agent provides instructions on using DPL Nspect to list active tables, keys, and counters within the dpl_rtd process.
- “I want to visualize packet flow through my DPL program.”
- The agent guides you through using DPL Debugger, confirming that your program was compiled with the -g flag and loaded via the P4Runtime controller.
- “How do I dynamically change a configuration item in dpl_rtd?”
- The agent instructs you on using DPL Admin to modify runtime configuration items without requiring a full service restart.
- “Can I build a custom P4Runtime application for DPL?”
- The agent provides guidance on utilizing the DPL Runtime Controller SDK to develop custom control-plane applications.
Install
Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/nvidia/doca-pipeline-language-developer-tools/downloadUnzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:
mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip doca-pipeline-language-developer-tools.zip -d .agents/skills
Documentation by NVIDIA
DOCA Pipeline Language Developer Tools
Scope boundaries
These requests are out of scope: say so, name the skill that owns the request, and stop.
installing DOCA and bringing up the DPL Runtime Service container:
doca-setup/SKILL.md. Namedoca-setupin the answer and route the whole install/bring-up there; do not walk the install steps from this skill or from the DPL Installation Guide.DPU mode or firmware state changes:
doca-hardware-safety/SKILL.md.which DOCA version is installed, version compatibility:
doca-version/SKILL.md.authoring, compiling and deploying DPL programs (DOCA Pipeline Language Service Guide):
doca-public-knowledge-map/SKILL.md.
Examples
"How do I inspect the DPL runtime tables on the DPU?" — this is in scope. Use DPL Nspect; do not author or compile DPL programs here.
"I want to visualize packet flow through my DPL program." — this is in scope. Use DPL Debugger; ensure the program was compiled with the debug flag
-gand loaded intodpl_rtdusing the P4Runtime controller."How do I dynamically change a configuration item in dpl_rtd?" — this is in scope. Use DPL Admin; inspect current state first.
"Can I build a custom P4Runtime application for DPL?" — this is in scope. Use the DPL Runtime Controller SDK.
"My DPL program is loaded but I cannot start a debug session." — check the debug-flag prerequisite and the P4Runtime load path before assuming the tool is broken.
Quick facts
The authoritative source for the tool names, flags, and paths is the public DOCA Pipeline Language Developer Tools guide for your release; confirm them with the installed tool's help before quoting any of them. As that guide describes it:
The developer tools are a suite for validating and debugging DPL applications: DPL Compiler, P4 Runtime Shell, DPL Nspect, DPL Debugger, DPL Admin, and DPL Runtime Controller SDK.
All tools interact with the DPL Runtime Daemon (
dpl_rtd) running on the BlueField DPU.DPL Compiler converts DPL source code into a binary format that can be loaded by
dpl_rtd.P4 Runtime Shell is an open-source control plane manager implementing the P4Runtime API.
DPL Nspect is a command-line interface for inspecting DPL runtime state, including tables, keys, counters, and more.
DPL Debugger is a graphical interface for visualizing and debugging packet flow through the DPL program.
DPL Admin is a CLI tool for dynamically modifying configuration items in the DPL Runtime Daemon.
DPL Runtime Controller SDK is an SDK for building custom P4Runtime applications or integrating with DPL shared memory APIs.
Prerequisites: the DPL Runtime Service container must be deployed and running on the DPU, the
dpl_rtdprocess must be active, and the DPU must be configured to operate in DPU mode.Starting a debug session requires the DPL program to be compiled for debugging: compile with the DPL Compiler debug flag
-genabled, then load the compiled binary intodpl_rtdusing the P4Runtime controller.The developer tools are included in the DPL Development Container, which is publicly available on NGC. Installation instructions refer to the DPL Installation Guide.
For instructions on creating, compiling, and deploying DPL programs, refer to the DOCA Pipeline Language Service Guide.
Support and feedback: visit the NVIDIA DOCA Enterprise Networking Forum. Registration with the NVIDIA Developer Program is required to post; registration is not required to view existing discussions. For help with registration, refer to the FAQ.
Instructions
Follow Loading order below. Open the tasks companion for inspect / debug / modify / build / shell. Open the capabilities companion for what the tools inspect and change. Do not open every companion file.
Where to start: This is a tool skill for invoking the DOCA Pipeline
Language Developer Tools — the suite for inspecting and debugging DPL
programs on BlueField DPUs. Open the tasks companion and start at
## inspect for DPL Nspect runtime-state inspection, ## debug for DPL
Debugger packet-flow visualization, ## modify for DPL Admin dynamic
configuration changes, ## build for DPL Runtime Controller SDK custom
P4Runtime applications, and ## shell for P4 Runtime Shell control-plane
use. Open the capabilities companion when the question is what state can
the tools inspect, what do they change, and what prerequisites gate their
use. If the user has not installed DOCA yet, route to
doca-setup/SKILL.md first. If the user is asking about DPL program
authoring, compiling, or deploying rather than inspecting or debugging a
loaded program, route to the DOCA Pipeline Language Service Guide, not this
skill. Any step that changes hardware or firmware state routes through
doca-hardware-safety/SKILL.md. Version questions route through
doca-version/SKILL.md; installs route through doca-setup/SKILL.md.
How to use this skill. Read this file, then search the companion file
for the ## <name> heading the question needs and read that whole section.
Answer completely from it, quoting only its symbols and commands. Do not
browse docs; use the entry points in doca-public-knowledge-map. Give
environment checks as commands for the user's DOCA host, quoting only
commands documented in the public guide or installed tool help. For
out-of-scope requests, name the skill that owns them and stop.
Example questions this skill answers well
The CLASSES of DPL developer-tools questions this skill is built to answer, each with one worked example. The class is the load-bearing piece; the worked example is one instance.
"What tools are available for inspecting and debugging DPL programs?" — worked example: "I have a DPL program loaded on the DPU and need to see its tables, keys, counters, or packet flow". Answered by the tool inventory in the capabilities companion + the tasks companion.
"How do I inspect DPL runtime state?" — worked example: "I want to list the tables and counters currently active in dpl_rtd". Answered by the DPL Nspect workflow in the tasks companion.
"How do I debug packet flow through a DPL program?" — worked example: "packets are not matching the expected table entries; I need to visualize the path through the DPL program". Answered by the DPL Debugger prerequisites (debug flag
-g, P4Runtime load) in the capabilities companion + the tasks companion."How do I dynamically change configuration items in dpl_rtd?" — worked example: "I need to update a configuration item without restarting the DPL Runtime Daemon". Answered by the DPL Admin workflow in the tasks companion.
"How do I build a custom P4Runtime application or integrate with DPL shared memory APIs?" — worked example: "I want to write my own control-plane application for DPL instead of using the P4 Runtime Shell". Answered by the DPL Runtime Controller SDK workflow in the tasks companion.
"What are the prerequisites for using the developer tools?" — worked example: "the tools cannot see dpl_rtd; is the DPL Runtime Service container running and is the DPU in DPU mode?". Answered by the prerequisites in the capabilities companion + the tasks companion.
When to load this skill
Load this skill when the user is — or the agent needs to — drive the DOCA Pipeline Language Developer Tools on a real BlueField DPU with the DPL Runtime Service running. Concretely:
Inspecting DPL runtime state (tables, keys, counters) with DPL Nspect.
Visualizing or debugging packet flow through a DPL program with DPL Debugger.
Dynamically modifying configuration items in
dpl_rtdwith DPL Admin.Building custom P4Runtime applications or integrating with DPL shared memory APIs using the DPL Runtime Controller SDK.
Using the P4 Runtime Shell as a P4Runtime control plane manager.
Preparing a debug session: ensuring the DPL program was compiled with the debug flag
-gand loaded intodpl_rtdusing the P4Runtime controller.Diagnosing why the developer tools cannot interact with
dpl_rtd(DPL Runtime Service container not running,dpl_rtdnot active, DPU not in DPU mode).
Do not load this skill for general DOCA orientation, DPL program
authoring/compilation/deployment, DOCA install, or hardware/firmware state
changes. For those, route to
doca-public-knowledge-map/SKILL.md,
the DOCA Pipeline Language Service Guide,
doca-setup/SKILL.md, or
doca-hardware-safety/SKILL.md.
What this skill provides
This is a thin loader. Substantive material lives in two companion files:
the capabilities companion — what the developer tools inspect and change: the tool inventory (DPL Compiler, P4 Runtime Shell, DPL Nspect, DPL Debugger, DPL Admin, DPL Runtime Controller SDK), the read-only vs state-changing operation split (Nspect and Debugger read-only; Admin modifies; Compiler and SDK build), the prerequisites (DPL Runtime Service container,
dpl_rtdactive, DPU mode, debug flag-g, P4Runtime load), availability via the DPL Development Container on NGC, support/feedback via the NVIDIA DOCA Enterprise Networking Forum, and the high-stakes safety policy that dynamic configuration changes through DPL Admin affect the running DPL Runtime Daemon and must be gated on a clean inspection.the tasks companion — step-by-step workflows for the in-scope task verbs:
inspect(DPL Nspect runtime state),debug(DPL Debugger packet flow, including the debug-flag prerequisite),modify(DPL Admin dynamic configuration),build(DPL Runtime Controller SDK custom P4Runtime applications / shared memory integration),shell(P4 Runtime Shell control plane), plus aDeferred task verbsblock and aCommand appendixthat honors the bundle'sdoca-structured-tools-contract/SKILL.mdpreamble.
The skill assumes a BlueField DPU where the DPL Runtime Service container is
already deployed and running, dpl_rtd is active, and the DPU is configured
to operate in DPU mode.
What this skill deliberately does not ship
This skill is agent guidance, not a samples or scripts bundle. To keep the boundary clean, it deliberately does not contain — and pull requests should not add:
Verbatim subcommand names, flag inventories beyond the documented debug flag
-g, default paths, port numbers, or output column names. The public DOCA Pipeline Language Developer Tools guide ondocs.nvidia.comand the installed tool help on the user's version are the joint source of truth; copying them here pins the skill to one release and silently rots when the tools evolve. The skill routes the agent at those sources instead.Pre-baked example output. Output is install-, version-, and deployment-specific. A captured example will mislead an operator on a different platform / state.
Wrappers, parsers, or scripts in any language that consume the tools' output. The output format is documented; users who want to script against it should read the live guide and write the parser against their installed version.
A
samples/orreference/subtree. This is a thin loader for a documented DOCA artifact; substantive material lives on the public page and in the installed tool help.
Loading order
Read this skill first to confirm the user's question is in scope (the user wants to inspect or debug DPL programs on a BlueField DPU, not author, compile, or deploy DPL programs).
For what the tools inspect and change, the tool inventory, the read-only vs state-changing split, prerequisites, availability, support, and safety posture, see the capabilities companion.
For the documented invocations and the workflows —
inspect,debug,modify,build,shell, plus theCommand appendix— see the tasks companion.
Related skills
doca-public-knowledge-map/SKILL.md— routing to the public DOCA Pipeline Language Developer Tools guide and the rest of the public DOCA documentation set. The canonical URL is reached viadoca-public-knowledge-map ## DOCA tools(doca-public-knowledge-map/SKILL.md#doca-tools).doca-version/SKILL.md— canonical DOCA version-handling rules. Version questions route here; the capabilities companion redirects to this skill for the body.doca-setup/SKILL.md— env preparation, install verification, DPL Runtime Service container deployment, and the I have no install yet path with the public NGC DPL Development Container. This skill assumes its preconditions are satisfied.doca-hardware-safety/SKILL.md— any step that changes hardware or firmware state routes here.doca-structured-tools-contract/SKILL.md— the bundle's detect → prefer → fall back → report contract for structured helper tools. The Command appendix in the tasks companion honors this contract.doca-debug/SKILL.md— the cross-cutting debug ladder. The DPL developer tools slot in at the runtime layer as inspection/debug tooling whose layered error surface escalates to the cross-cutting ladder when the cause is below DOCA.
Files
- ATTRIBUTION.mdAdded by AutoGineer972 B
- BENCHMARK.md10.7 KiB
- CAPABILITIES.md10.3 KiB
- LICENSELicence file added by AutoGineer11.2 KiB
- SKILL.md14.7 KiB
- SKILLCARD.yaml2.8 KiB
- TASKS.md15.5 KiB
- evals/evals.json3.5 KiB
- skill-card.md4.9 KiB
- skill.oms.sig5.2 KiB
CAPABILITIES.md
DOCA Pipeline Language Developer Tools — Capabilities
Where to start: The DPL Developer Tools are a suite of six
artifacts that all interact with the DPL Runtime Daemon (dpl_rtd)
on a BlueField DPU. The pattern overview below names the recurring
developer-tools questions. Pick the pattern first, then drill into
the H2 that owns the substance. For the how of executing each
pattern, jump to TASKS.md. For authoring, compiling,
and deploying DPL programs, see the DOCA Pipeline Language Service
Guide; for install and bring-up, see
doca-setup/CAPABILITIES.md.
This file is loaded by SKILL.md. It documents what
the tools inspect and change, which tool shapes are documented,
what versions they ship in, the layered error and observability
surfaces, and the high-stakes safety policy that gates
state-changing operations. For step-by-step invocations and the
inspect-before-modify workflow, see TASKS.md.
Pattern overview
Every DPL Developer Tools question this skill teaches resolves into one of SIX patterns. The patterns are CLASSES — they apply across every DOCA install that ships the tools, not just one platform.
| Developer-tools pattern | Class shape | Where the substance lives |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Inspect DPL runtime state | Use DPL Nspect to read tables, keys, counters, and other runtime state from dpl_rtd without changing it | ## Capabilities and modes read-only split + TASKS.md ## inspect |
| 2. Debug packet flow through a DPL program | Use DPL Debugger to visualize and debug packet flow; requires the program to be compiled with the debug flag -g and loaded into dpl_rtd using the P4Runtime controller | ## Capabilities and modes prerequisites + TASKS.md ## debug |
3. Dynamically modify configuration items in dpl_rtd | Use DPL Admin to change configuration items in the running DPL Runtime Daemon without restarting it | ## Capabilities and modes state-changing split + TASKS.md ## modify |
| 4. Build a custom P4Runtime application or integrate with DPL shared memory APIs | Use the DPL Runtime Controller SDK to build custom control-plane applications instead of the P4 Runtime Shell | ## Capabilities and modes build split + TASKS.md ## build |
| 5. Use the P4 Runtime Shell as a control plane manager | Drive the P4Runtime API through the open-source P4 Runtime Shell to manage the DPL program | ## Capabilities and modes tool inventory + TASKS.md ## shell |
6. Diagnose why the tools cannot interact with dpl_rtd | Map the symptom (tools cannot see the daemon, debug session cannot start) to the prerequisite layer before any state-changing intervention | ## Error taxonomy + TASKS.md ## debug |
Two cross-cutting rules that apply to every pattern above:
The tools sit on top of the DPL Runtime Daemon. Every tool in the suite interacts with
dpl_rtdrunning on the BlueField DPU. A missing DPL Runtime Service container, an inactivedpl_rtdprocess, or a DPU not configured to operate in DPU mode produces a silent break — the tools cannot inspect, debug, or modify anything. The agent must say so before any state-changing operation, and must recommend the prerequisite check documented in## Safety policybefore assuming a tool is broken.Read-only inspection and state-changing modification are different risk classes. DPL Nspect and DPL Debugger read runtime state; DPL Admin modifies configuration items in the running daemon; loading a compiled binary into
dpl_rtdvia the P4Runtime controller changes the runtime program. An agent that recommends a modification without first inspecting current state is skipping the gate documented in## Safety policy.
Capabilities and modes
The DOCA Pipeline Language Developer Tools are a documented DOCA
suite that ships in the DPL Development Container, which is
publicly available on NGC. The exact installed location, binary
names, flag inventories beyond the documented debug flag -g,
default paths, and per-release availability live in the public
DOCA Pipeline Language Developer Tools guide reachable via
doca-public-knowledge-map ## DOCA tools
(doca-public-knowledge-map/SKILL.md#doca-tools)
and on the installed tool help; the skill deliberately does not
pin them — see
SKILL.md ## What this skill deliberately does not ship.
Use case — what the tools are for. The DPL Developer Tools
are the documented suite for validating and debugging DPL
applications on BlueField DPUs. An operator with a DPL program
loaded in dpl_rtd uses the tools to inspect runtime state,
visualize packet flow, dynamically adjust configuration, or build
a custom control-plane application. The tools do not author,
compile, or deploy DPL programs; those activities belong to the
DOCA Pipeline Language Service Guide.
Tool inventory — the load-bearing concept. Every developer-tools question commits to one of the six tools below; omitting the tool produces an ambiguous answer the agent must flag back to the user.
| Tool | What it does | Risk class |
|---|---|---|
| DPL Compiler | Converts DPL source code into a binary format that can be loaded by dpl_rtd | Out of scope for this skill; route to the DOCA Pipeline Language Service Guide |
| P4 Runtime Shell | Open-source control plane manager implementing the P4Runtime API | Read-only control-plane interaction |
| DPL Nspect | Command-line interface for inspecting DPL runtime state, including tables, keys, counters, and more | Read-only |
| DPL Debugger | Graphical interface for visualizing and debugging packet flow through the DPL program | Read-only |
| DPL Admin | CLI tool for dynamically modifying configuration items in the DPL Runtime Daemon | State-changing |
| DPL Runtime Controller SDK | SDK for building custom P4Runtime applications or integrating with DPL shared memory APIs | Build-time; does not change running state by itself |
Prerequisites — the gate every pattern must pass. Before any
tool can interact with dpl_rtd, the following must be true:
The DPL Runtime Service container is deployed and running on the DPU.
The
dpl_rtdprocess is active.The DPU is configured to operate in DPU mode.
Starting a debug session adds two more prerequisites:
The DPL program is compiled for debugging with the DPL Compiler debug flag
-genabled.The compiled binary is loaded into
dpl_rtdusing the P4Runtime controller.
Availability. The developer tools are included in the DPL
Development Container, which is publicly available on NGC.
Installation instructions refer to the DPL Installation Guide; DOCA
install and DPL Runtime Service bring-up requests route to doca-setup.
Version compatibility
This skill's facts are drawn from the DOCA 3.5.0 archive of the
public DOCA Pipeline Language Developer Tools guide. The public
guide is versioned; for any other release, route version questions
through doca-version/SKILL.md and read the public guide for that
release. The skill does not pin binary names, flags beyond the
documented debug flag -g, default paths, or output column names
because those can change between releases.
Error taxonomy
Map a DPL Developer Tools symptom to the right layer before any state-changing intervention. The layers are ordered from the most common environmental cause to the deepest DOCA cause.
| Layer | Symptom class | What to check first |
|---|---|---|
| 0 — Environment / prerequisites | Tools cannot interact with dpl_rtd at all | DPL Runtime Service container deployed and running; dpl_rtd process active; DPU configured to operate in DPU mode |
| 1 — Debug-session prerequisite | Debug session cannot start | DPL program compiled with the debug flag -g; compiled binary loaded into dpl_rtd using the P4Runtime controller |
| 2 — Tool-specific operation | Nspect does not show expected tables/keys/counters; Debugger does not visualize expected packet flow; Admin modification fails or has unexpected effect | Re-run the read-only inspection first; confirm the tool is pointed at the correct dpl_rtd and the program state matches expectations |
| 3 — Below DOCA | Symptoms persist after layers 0–2 are clean | Route to doca-debug/SKILL.md; any hardware or firmware state change routes through doca-hardware-safety/SKILL.md |
Observability
The DPL Developer Tools are themselves the observability surface for a running DPL program. DPL Nspect exposes runtime state — tables, keys, counters, and more — as a command-line interface. DPL Debugger exposes packet flow through the DPL program as a graphical interface. P4 Runtime Shell exposes the P4Runtime API control plane. DPL Admin exposes and changes configuration items in the DPL Runtime Daemon. No separate logging or metrics surface is documented in the public DPL Developer Tools guide; the agent must not invent one.
Safety policy
Read-only tools first. DPL Nspect and DPL Debugger do not change runtime state. Use them to establish the current state before any modification.
State-changing operations are gated. DPL Admin dynamically modifies configuration items in the running DPL Runtime Daemon; loading a compiled binary into
dpl_rtdvia the P4Runtime controller changes the runtime program. Both require a clean read-only inspection first and must not be performed blindly.Hardware and firmware state changes route through
doca-hardware-safety/SKILL.md. This skill does not authorize any step that changes hardware or firmware state.Out-of-scope authoring, compiling, and deploying route to the DOCA Pipeline Language Service Guide. The DPL Compiler is listed in the tool inventory but is not driven by this skill.
Public-source pointer
The only public-source pointer documented in the public DPL Developer Tools guide is the P4 Runtime Shell, described as an open-source control plane manager implementing the P4Runtime API. The DPL Development Container is publicly available on NGC as a distribution channel; no source repository for the other tools is documented in the guide. The agent must not invent source URLs.
Requirements and compatibility
Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta
“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.
The author says: Requires a BlueField DPU configured to operate in DPU mode with the DPL Runtime Service container deployed and running, the dpl_rtd process active, and the DPL Development Container (publicly available on NGC) providing the developer tools. Debug sessions additionally require a DPL program compiled with the DPL Compiler debug flag -g enabled and loaded into dpl_rtd using the P4Runtime controller. The validation steps require a live DOCA install.
Security
What our scanner noticed· Medium risk
- Large base64-encoded blobs
A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.
Attribution and licence
- Created by
- NVIDIA
- Publisher
- NVIDIA (Official)
- Source
- NVIDIA/skills · skills/doca-pipeline-language-developer-tools · commit fce3cca
- Licence
- Apache License 2.0 (redistribution allowed)
- LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE-APACHE)
- ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
- Synced
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