runpod-usage
How Runpod works and how to work it — pods vs serverless, GPU/VRAM selection, storage, building a container, networking, plus the agentic pod development loop (provision → ssh-exec → set up → poll readiness) and on-pod install hygiene (uv/apt). Use to answer "how does X work", "which GPU", "how do I build a container", or "how do I stand up a workload on a pod". Guidance, not a tool — execute with runpodctl, runpod-mcp, or flash.
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Summary
How Runpod works and how to work it — pods vs serverless, GPU/VRAM selection, storage, building a container, networking, plus the agentic pod development loop (provision → ssh-exec → set up → poll readiness) and on-pod install hygiene (uv/apt). Use to answer "how does X work", "which GPU", "how do I build a container", or "how do I stand up a workload on a pod". Guidance, not a tool — execute with runpodctl, runpod-mcp, or flash.
Raw SKILL.md
2,616 bytes--- name: runpod-usage description: >- How Runpod works and how to work it — pods vs serverless, GPU/VRAM selection, storage, building a container, networking, plus the agentic pod development loop (provision → ssh-exec → set up → poll readiness) and on-pod install hygiene (uv/apt). Use to answer "how does X work", "which GPU", "how do I build a container", or "how do I stand up a workload on a pod". Guidance, not a tool — execute with runpodctl, runpod-mcp, or flash. metadata: author: runpod version: "1.2.0" # x-release-please-version license: Apache-2.0 --- # Runpod usage (concepts) Background knowledge for making the right choice before you act. This skill runs nothing — once you know what to do, execute with **runpod-mcp**/**runpodctl** (infra), **flash** (your own code), or **companion-clis** (models/images/data). **This skill explains; the golden paths demonstrate.** When the question is really "how do I do X" rather than "how does X work", the verified end-to-end example is the faster answer — [runpod/golden-paths/README.md](../runpod/golden-paths/README.md). Read the concept here, then follow the path. Read the one reference file that matches the question: | Question | Read | | --- | --- | | First-run setup / auth — get + set `RUNPOD_API_KEY`, SSH, companion creds | `reference/getting-started.md` | | Pods vs serverless, workers, cold starts, FlashBoot, queue vs load-balanced | `reference/concepts.md` | | **The development loop for ANY workload (start here)** — plan → prefer prebuilt → provision → verify → teardown | `reference/development-loop.md` | | **Stand up / iterate a workload on a pod** — the pod sub-loop | `reference/pod-workflows.md` | | **Deploy / iterate a serverless endpoint** — Hub vs flash vs custom, invoke + verify | `reference/endpoint-workflows.md` | | **Install software on a pod** — package hygiene, `uv`, non-interactive, caching | `reference/on-pod-setup.md` | | Build a Docker image Runpod can run (handler contract, Dockerfile, `--platform=linux/amd64`) | `reference/docker.md` | | **How to build an image well** — base image, layering, bake-in vs volume, pod vs serverless (queue/LB) contract | `reference/building-images.md` | | Where data lives — container disk vs network volume, model caching, S3 access | `reference/storage.md` | | Which GPU / how much VRAM / cost & availability / data centers | `reference/gpu-selection.md` | | Reaching a pod or endpoint over HTTP (proxy URLs, exposed ports) | `reference/networking.md` | | Common mistakes and how to avoid them | `reference/gotchas.md` |