# creating-openlineage-extractors

Helps implement custom OpenLineage extraction for Apache Airflow operators. Useful when you need column-level lineage or support for third-party operators.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 933 installs · ★ 456
- Author: astronomer
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/astronomer/agents/tree/HEAD/skills/creating-openlineage-extractors/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-14
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/creating-openlineage-extractors

## What it does

The skill guides agents through two strategies for tracking lineage in Airflow: implementing built-in OpenLineage methods on custom operators, or creating standalone classes derived from `BaseExtractor`. Direct methods on the operator are simpler to maintain. Standalone extractors serve as the fallback when third-party provider code cannot be edited directly.

It details how to implement `get_openlineage_facets_on_start` and `get_openlineage_facets_on_complete` using `OperatorLineage`, `Dataset`, and facets like `outputStatistics`. For unmodifiable operators, it covers `BaseExtractor` patterns, including class mapping via `get_operator_classnames` and extraction hooks like `_execute_extraction`.

On Astronomer Astro, lineage runs automatically without manual transport setup, requiring only extractor registration in `airflow.cfg` or environment variables. Custom extractors tend to drift when underlying operators update, so keep them reserved strictly for external code.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add astronomer/agents --skill creating-openlineage-extractors -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/creating-openlineage-extractors/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/creating-openlineage-extractors/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add astronomer/agents --skill creating-openlineage-extractors -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/creating-openlineage-extractors/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add astronomer/agents --skill creating-openlineage-extractors -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/creating-openlineage-extractors/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install astronomer/agents creating-openlineage-extractors
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/creating-openlineage-extractors/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add astronomer/agents --skill creating-openlineage-extractors -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/astronomer/agents --path skills/creating-openlineage-extractors
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/creating-openlineage-extractors/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add astronomer/agents --skill creating-openlineage-extractors -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/astronomer/agents/tree/HEAD/skills/creating-openlineage-extractors/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- build custom OpenLineage extractors for third-party Airflow operators
- add OpenLineage lifecycle methods to in-house custom operators
- track dataset facets and runtime row counts on task completion
- capture column-level lineage from complex operator logic

## Example prompts
- Write a custom OpenLineage extractor for an external Airflow operator
- Add get_openlineage_facets methods to MyCustomOperator
- Configure OperatorLineage inputs and outputs for my data task

## Source text · SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 85d649fb1fc0b077.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 85d649fb1fc0b077
````text
---
name: creating-openlineage-extractors
description: Create custom OpenLineage extractors for Airflow operators. Use when the user needs lineage from unsupported or third-party operators, wants column-level lineage, or needs complex extraction logic beyond what inlets/outlets provide.
---

# Creating OpenLineage Extractors

This skill guides you through creating custom OpenLineage extractors to capture lineage from Airflow operators that don't have built-in support.

> **Reference:** See the [OpenLineage provider developer guide](https://airflow.apache.org/docs/apache-airflow-providers-openlineage/stable/guides/developer.html) for the latest patterns and list of supported operators/hooks.

## When to Use Each Approach

| Scenario | Approach |
|----------|----------|
| Operator you own/maintain | **OpenLineage Methods** (recommended, simplest) |
| Third-party operator you can't modify | Custom Extractor |
| Need column-level lineage | OpenLineage Methods or Custom Extractor |
| Complex extraction logic | OpenLineage Methods or Custom Extractor |
| Simple table-level lineage | Inlets/Outlets (simplest, but lowest priority) |

> **Important:** Always prefer OpenLineage methods over custom extractors when possible. Extractors are harder to write, easier to diverge from operator behavior after changes, and harder to debug.

### On Astro

Astro includes built-in OpenLineage integration — no additional transport configuration is needed. Lineage events are automatically collected and displayed in the Astro UI's **Lineage tab**. Custom extractors deployed to an Astro project are automatically picked up, so you only need to register them in `airflow.cfg` or via environment variable and deploy.

---

## Two Approaches

### 1. OpenLineage Methods (Recommended)

Use when you can add methods directly to your custom operator. This is the **go-to solution** for operators you own.

### 2. Custom Extractors

Use when you need lineage from third-party or provider operators that you **cannot modify**.

---

## Approach 1: OpenLineage Methods (Recommended)

When you own the operator, add OpenLineage methods directly:

```python
from airflow.models import BaseOperator


class MyCustomOperator(BaseOperator):
    """Custom operator with built-in OpenLineage support."""

    def __init__(self, source_table: str, target_table: str, **kwargs):
        super().__init__(**kwargs)
        self.source_table = source_table
        self.target_table = target_table
````
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