# neo4j-migration-skill

Moves Neo4j driver code and Cypher queries from 4.x and 5.x to current versions, Cypher 25 included. Useful right before you bump a dependency.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 470 installs · ★ 116
- Author: neo4j-contrib
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/neo4j-contrib/neo4j-skills/tree/HEAD/neo4j-migration-skill/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-21
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/neo4j-migration-skill

## What it does

The skill walks the codebase and collects everything that needs touching: Cypher strings in source files, `.cypher` files, `@Query` annotations in OGM/SDN, plus dependency files like `requirements.txt`, `package.json`, `pom.xml`, `*.csproj` and `go.mod`. Scanning comes first, edits second.

Then it applies substitution tables. On the Cypher side that means quantifier groups instead of `[:REL*1..5]`, `elementId(n)` instead of `id(n)`, `CALL (x) { ... }` instead of importing with `WITH`, and `CALL IN TRANSACTIONS` instead of `PERIODIC COMMIT`. On the driver side: package renames, removed methods such as `read_transaction`, changed exception types. Languages covered are Python, JavaScript/Node.js, Java, .NET and Go.

One trap worth knowing: `elementId()` returns a string like `"4:abc123:0"`, not an integer. Any code that stored or compared the id as `int` needs a separate fix. In the Python driver 6.x, drivers and sessions no longer close on garbage collection, so you add a `with` block or call `.close()`. The skill does not write new Cypher and does not handle database administration — sibling skills in the same repository cover those.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add neo4j-contrib/neo4j-skills --skill neo4j-migration-skill -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/neo4j-migration-skill/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/neo4j-migration-skill/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add neo4j-contrib/neo4j-skills --skill neo4j-migration-skill -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/neo4j-migration-skill/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add neo4j-contrib/neo4j-skills --skill neo4j-migration-skill -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/neo4j-migration-skill/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install neo4j-contrib/neo4j-skills neo4j-migration-skill
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/neo4j-migration-skill/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add neo4j-contrib/neo4j-skills --skill neo4j-migration-skill -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/neo4j-contrib/neo4j-skills --path neo4j-migration-skill
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/neo4j-migration-skill/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add neo4j-contrib/neo4j-skills --skill neo4j-migration-skill -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/neo4j-contrib/neo4j-skills/tree/HEAD/neo4j-migration-skill/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- audit a codebase for removed Neo4j APIs before upgrading
- rewrite Cypher queries for the Cypher 25 dialect
- clear deprecated API warnings after a version bump
- swap `id(n)` for `elementId(n)` and fix the types downstream
- list Neo4j dependencies across every language in the project

## Example prompts
- Scan this project and list every deprecated Neo4j call before I migrate
- Convert the Cypher queries in this file to Cypher 25
- Upgrade the Python driver from 5.x to 6.x and show me the diffs

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

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: 654e633d7cd33a75.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 654e633d7cd33a75
````text
---
name: neo4j-migration-skill
description: Migrates Neo4j driver code and Cypher queries from older versions (4.x, 5.x)
  to current (2025.x/2026.x, Cypher 25). Covers Python, JavaScript/Node.js, Java, .NET,
  and Go drivers — package renames, removed APIs, version requirements, diff-ready fixes.
  Also handles Cypher syntax migration — QPE paths, CALL subqueries, id() → elementId(),
  PERIODIC COMMIT → CALL IN TRANSACTIONS, and all Cypher 25 removals.
  Does NOT write new Cypher queries — use neo4j-cypher-skill.
  Does NOT cover DB administration or server ops — use neo4j-cli-tools-skill.
  Does NOT provision new Neo4j instances — use neo4j-getting-started-skill.
allowed-tools: WebFetch Bash
version: 1.0.12
---

## When to Use
- Upgrading driver dependency from 4.x or 5.x to 6.x
- Migrating Cypher queries to Cypher 25 syntax
- Fixing deprecated API warnings after a driver or Neo4j version bump
- Auditing a codebase for removed/deprecated Neo4j APIs before upgrading

## When NOT to Use
- **Writing new Cypher queries** → `neo4j-cypher-skill`
- **DB admin** (backup, restore, import, cypher-shell) → `neo4j-cli-tools-skill`
- **Starting fresh** → `neo4j-getting-started-skill`
- **GDS algorithm migration** — not covered here; consult GDS release notes

---

## Entry Criteria

Before starting, ask:
1. **Target Neo4j version** — needed to select Cypher dialect and driver version
2. **Languages in use** — scan `package.json`, `requirements.txt`, `pom.xml`, `*.csproj`, `go.mod`
3. **Current driver versions** — read from dependency files; do NOT guess

If target is >= 2025.06: ask whether Cypher 5 or Cypher 25 dialect will be used (both supported; Cypher 25 is the new default).

---

## Step 1 — Scan Codebase

```bash
# Find Cypher strings (queries embedded in source)
grep -rn "MATCH\|MERGE\|CREATE\|CALL\|RETURN" --include="*.py" --include="*.js" \
  --include="*.ts" --include="*.java" --include="*.cs" --include="*.go" \
  --include="*.cypher" --include="*.cql" . | grep -v ".git"

# Find dependency files
find . -name "requirements*.txt" -o -name "package.json" -o -name "pom.xml" \
  -o -name "*.csproj" -o -name "go.mod" | grep -v ".git" | grep -v node_modules
```

Collect findings before modifying anything. List all deprecated patterns found.

---

## Step 2 — Cypher Migration (4.x / 5.x → Cypher 25)
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 654e633d7cd33a75

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 654e633d7cd33a75 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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