instantdb — Claude Code skill: build apps on InstantDB
A skill that steers the agent through building apps on InstantDB: schema, permissions, queries, file storage. Useful when you want a backend without running a server.
npx skills add instantdb/skills --skill instantdb -a claude-codeWhat instantdb does
The skill turns the agent into a senior frontend engineer who knows InstantDB. It helps you ship a working app in React, vanilla JS or Expo, with Instant's client-side database as the backend: queries, transactions, auth, permissions, storage, realtime and offline support.
Inside are rules for the CLI and the SDKs. The agent checks which package manager the project uses, then installs the right one: @instantdb/react, @instantdb/core, @instantdb/react-native and others. Schema and permissions live in instant.schema.ts and instant.perms.ts, and changes go out with npx instant-cli push schema --yes and npx instant-cli push perms --yes. For a fresh app there is npx instant-cli init-without-files --title <APP_NAME>, which prints an app id and admin token.
Then come the strict parts, and they are why this skill is worth keeping around. Any field you filter or order by must be indexed in the schema, or the query errors out. Pagination keys work on top-level namespaces only, never on nested relations. In permissions data.ref always returns a list, so comparing it to a single value fails. You will need an InstantDB account and a login through npx instant-cli login before any of this runs.
What it helps with
- stand up a backend for a React app without your own server
- define a schema and push it to the cloud in one command
- set permissions on fields and relations
- upload images through Instant Storage and link them to records
- write a query with filter, order and pagination that does not error
Example prompts for the agent
- Build a notes app in React with InstantDB, put the schema in
instant.schema.ts - Add an index on
dueDateto the schema and a query that orders by it - Set permissions so only the owner can view the email field
How to install instantdb
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add instantdb/skills --skill instantdb -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/instantdb/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/instantdb/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add instantdb/skills --skill instantdb -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/instantdb/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add instantdb/skills --skill instantdb -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/instantdb/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install instantdb/skills instantdb2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/instantdb/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add instantdb/skills --skill instantdb -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/instantdb/skills --path skills/instantdbManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/instantdb/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add instantdb/skills --skill instantdb -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about instantdb
How do I install instantdb in Claude?
Run npx skills add instantdb/skills --skill instantdb -a claude-code. The skill lands in ~/.claude/skills/instantdb/SKILL.md.
What does the instantdb skill do?
It guides the agent through building InstantDB apps: writing the schema, queries and permissions, and wiring up file storage. Works with React, vanilla JS and Expo.
What do I need before using it?
An InstantDB account and a login via npx instant-cli login. For a new app, npx instant-cli init-without-files --title <APP_NAME> prints the app id and admin token, which you store in an env file.
