data-gov API for agents (unofficial) — JSON over curl | clify
data.gov.uk (National Data Library): the UK government's open data directory. The CLI searches and reads dataset metadata through the public CKAN JSON API, lists data files and previews from dataset pages, and browses the curated theme collections and their chart data.
Host: data.gov.uk. Call these verified read commands with plain curl; no install, key, or account. Use the public JSON API with plain curl. No install, key, account, or browser is needed. Example: curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/sites.json'. Start with /search?q=weather, then call /abc/COMMAND. Responses are one JSON object. The hosted MCP and GitHub repo are also available.
Commands
search-datasets
Search the UK open data directory (CKAN package_search). Returns dataset metadata including publisher, licence and resources. Filter with Solr fq, sort, and page by offset. Params: q*, fq, sort, rows, start
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/data-gov/search-datasets?q=air+quality'
get-dataset
Get full metadata for one dataset by its UUID or CKAN name (CKAN package_show). Includes publisher, licence, description and every resource with its URL, format and date. Params: id*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/data-gov/get-dataset?id=bfaf890c-0ebc-42f7-954d-9cde251902a2'
list-dataset-files
List the data links shown on a dataset page on data.gov.uk: name, format, date, and the link or preview URL for each file. Params: id*, slug*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/data-gov/list-dataset-files'
preview-datafile
Open the preview page for one data file of a dataset. Shows the file title and a preview, or a message saying no preview is available. Params: id*, slug*, file_id*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/data-gov/preview-datafile'
list-filter-options
List the filter values the directory search offers (publisher names, topics and formats). Use these to build search filters. Params: none
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/data-gov/list-filter-options'
list-collections
List the curated theme collections on the data.gov.uk home page (Business and economy, Environment, etc.). Params: none
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/data-gov/list-collections'
list-collection-topics
List the topics inside a theme collection, e.g. environment has weather and air-quality. Params: theme*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/data-gov/list-collection-topics'
get-collection-topic
Get a collection topic page: headline chart title, description, the chart-data download link and the external 'get the data' link. Params: theme*, topic*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/data-gov/get-collection-topic'
download-collection-chart-data
Download the raw data behind a collection topic's headline chart, e.g. the UK annual mean temperature series. Params: theme*, topic*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/data-gov/download-collection-chart-data'