# nosql-expert

Guides query-first schema design for Cassandra and DynamoDB, helping developers pick optimal partition keys and avoid hot partitions under heavy traffic.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code · 67 installs
- Author: davila7
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/skills/development/nosql-expert
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/nosql-expert

## What it does

The skill shifts schema architecture toward query-first thinking. In distributed wide-column and key-value systems, tables cannot serve ad-hoc queries without penalty. Ad-hoc joins do not exist here. Everything depends on read patterns defined before writing code. It targets systems like Cassandra, ScyllaDB, and DynamoDB instead of standard SQL or document stores.

Guidance covers single-table layouts, composite primary keys, and secondary index behavior. It helps pick high-cardinality partition keys so write throughput spreads evenly across nodes. It also checks if a partition threatens to exceed 10GB. When partitions grow indefinitely, sharding by date prefixes becomes necessary.

Using `ALLOW FILTERING` in production Cassandra queries signals an architectural flaw because it triggers full cluster scans. The skill also highlights write costs: while inserts append quickly to LSM trees, frequent deletes generate harmful tombstones.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **claude-code-templates**
```bash
npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill development/nosql-expert
```

2. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill nosql-expert -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

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

### Cursor

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install davila7/claude-code-templates nosql-expert
```

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

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates --path cli-tool/components/skills/development/nosql-expert
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### 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/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/skills/development/nosql-expert

## When to use it
- structure single-table schemas for Amazon DynamoDB
- select high-cardinality partition keys to prevent hot nodes
- map relational relationships into denormalized Cassandra tables
- audit database schemas for unbounded partition growth

## Example prompts
- Design a DynamoDB single-table schema to store customer profiles alongside their orders
- Inspect this Cassandra table design for hot partition risks and unbounded growth

## Similar
- [xlsx](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/xlsx.md) — skill · 187223 installs
- [google-agents-cli-observability](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/google-agents-cli-observability.md) — skill · 511300 installs
- [caveman-evidence-review](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/caveman-evidence-review.md) — skill · 104500 installs
- [migration](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/migration.md) — skill · 103900 installs
- [performance-optimization](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/performance-optimization.md) — skill · 65200 installs
- [supabase](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/supabase.md) — skill · 8 installs

From the same set: [davila7/claude-code-templates](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/davila7/claude-code-templates.md) — 804 cards

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md