# encore-go-database

Guides SQL queries, schema migrations, and PostgreSQL setup in Encore Go services using the sqldb package.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 553 installs · ★ 30
- Author: encoredev
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/encoredev/skills/tree/HEAD/encore/go-database/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/encore-go-database

## What it does

This skill teaches the coding agent how to manage PostgreSQL databases inside Encore Go services. It configures the database instance using `sqldb.NewDatabase` from `encore.dev/storage/sqldb` and manages schema migrations. Migration scripts reside in the `migrations/` directory with sequential numeric prefixes such as `1_create_users.up.sql`. Encore executes them on service launch.

Database operations follow Go's standard library conventions. The agent uses `QueryRow` and `Query` for reads, `Exec` for mutations, and atomic transactions via `Begin` and `Commit`. Method `.Scan()` maps columns by index position rather than name. If the argument sequence diverges from the `SELECT` query, values map to incorrect fields.

All database queries require parameterized arguments like `$1` and `$2` to prevent SQL injection. Single-row queries must explicitly handle `sqldb.ErrNoRows`. For existing ORM libraries, the skill exposes `db.Stdlib()`.

## Requirements
- Works with: PostgreSQL

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add encoredev/skills --skill encore-go-database -a claude-code
```
```bash
npx skills add encoredev/skills --skill go-database -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add encoredev/skills --skill go-database -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add encoredev/skills --skill go-database -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install encoredev/skills go-database
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/go-database/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add encoredev/skills --skill go-database -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/encoredev/skills --path encore/go-database
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add encoredev/skills --skill go-database -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/encoredev/skills/tree/HEAD/encore/go-database/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- configure PostgreSQL connections via `sqldb.NewDatabase`
- structure ordered SQL migrations inside the `migrations/` folder
- execute parameterized queries using `QueryRow`, `Query`, or `Exec`
- run atomic operations inside database transactions

## Example prompts
- Create a `user_sessions` table and prepare `migrations/1_sessions.up.sql`
- Add a Go function using `QueryRow` and `sqldb.ErrNoRows` to fetch a user by `id`
- Implement an atomic balance transfer using `db.Begin` and transaction rollback

## 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: bf23ca90d4d83d67.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE bf23ca90d4d83d67
````text
---
name: encore-go-database
description: Work with PostgreSQL in Encore Go using `sqldb.NewDatabase` from `encore.dev/storage/sqldb` — schema migrations and SQL queries.
when_to_use: >-
  User wants to add a database table, write a migration, run a SQL query, insert/update/delete rows, or design a relational schema in an Encore Go service. Covers `sqldb.NewDatabase`, `db.QueryRow(ctx, ...)`, `db.Query(ctx, ...)`, `db.Exec(ctx, ...)`, `db.Stdlib()` for ORM integration, the `migrations/` directory, `*.up.sql` files, and sequential migration numbering. Trigger phrases: "Postgres table", "user_sessions table", "SQL", "migration", "QueryRow", "INSERT", "SELECT", "schema", "sqldb".
---

# Encore Go Database Operations

## Instructions

### Database Setup

```go
package user

import "encore.dev/storage/sqldb"

var db = sqldb.NewDatabase("userdb", sqldb.DatabaseConfig{
    Migrations: "./migrations",
})
```

## Query Methods

Encore's database API mirrors Go's standard `database/sql` package. Use `.Scan()` to read query results into variables.

### `Query` - Multiple Rows

```go
type User struct {
    ID    string
    Email string
    Name  string
}

func listActiveUsers(ctx context.Context) ([]*User, error) {
    rows, err := db.Query(ctx, `
        SELECT id, email, name FROM users WHERE active = true
    `)
    if err != nil {
        return nil, err
    }
    defer rows.Close()

    var users []*User
    for rows.Next() {
        var u User
        if err := rows.Scan(&u.ID, &u.Email, &u.Name); err != nil {
            return nil, err
        }
        users = append(users, &u)
    }
    return users, rows.Err()
}
```

### `QueryRow` - Single Row

```go
func getUser(ctx context.Context, id string) (*User, error) {
    var u User
    err := db.QueryRow(ctx, `
        SELECT id, email, name FROM users WHERE id = $1
    `, id).Scan(&u.ID, &u.Email, &u.Name)

    if errors.Is(err, sqldb.ErrNoRows) {
        return nil, &errs.Error{
            Code:    errs.NotFound,
            Message: "user not found",
        }
    }
    if err != nil {
        return nil, err
    }
    return &u, nil
}
```

### `Exec` - No Return Value

For INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE operations:

```go
func createUser(ctx context.Context, email, name string) error {
    _, err := db.Exec(ctx, `
        INSERT INTO users (id, email, name)
        VALUES ($1, $2, $3)
    `, generateID(), email, name)
    return err
}

func updateUser(ctx context.Context, id, name string) error {
    _, err := db.Exec(ctx, `
        UPDATE users SET name = $1 WHERE id = $2
    `, name, id)
    return err
}

func deleteUser(ctx context.Context, id string) error {
    _, err := db.Exec(ctx, `
        DELETE FROM users WHERE id = $1
    `, id)
    return err
}
```

## Migrations
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE bf23ca90d4d83d67

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