# platform-soql-query

Writes and tunes Salesforce SOQL/SOSL: turns a plain-language request into a query, checks selectivity and reads the query plan.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 6800 installs · ★ 1112
- Author: forcedotcom
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/forcedotcom/sf-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/platform-soql-query/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/platform-soql-query

## What it does

The skill kicks in when you edit `.soql` files, describe the query you want in words, or dig into a slow one. It picks the shape for you: child-to-parent traversal, a subquery, an aggregate with COUNT and GROUP BY, semi-join and anti-join, or SOSL when the search spans objects.

Bundled references cover syntax, operators and date literals, selectivity and indexing rules, common anti-patterns, and Apex selector templates. Starter query files sit in `assets/`, and `scripts/post-tool-validate.py` runs after a `.soql` edit to do static validation plus live query plan analysis.

It expects `jq` 1.6.0 or newer, `python3` 3.10.0 or newer, and Salesforce CLI `sf` 2.0.0 or newer. Running a query against an org is not its job — that goes to `platform-data-manage`, and DML inside Apex belongs to `platform-apex-generate`. When a query moves into Apex, security mode and field access are on you to verify; the skill flags them but does not enforce anything.

## Requirements
- Works with: Salesforce

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add forcedotcom/sf-skills --skill platform-soql-query -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add forcedotcom/sf-skills --skill platform-soql-query -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add forcedotcom/sf-skills --skill platform-soql-query -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install forcedotcom/sf-skills platform-soql-query
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/platform-soql-query/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add forcedotcom/sf-skills --skill platform-soql-query -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/forcedotcom/sf-skills --path skills/platform-soql-query
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add forcedotcom/sf-skills --skill platform-soql-query -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/forcedotcom/sf-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/platform-soql-query/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- turn a plain-language request into a working SOQL query
- find the non-selective filter behind a slow query
- swap record loading for an aggregate with COUNT and GROUP BY
- choose between a subquery and a relationship traversal
- check a freshly edited `.soql` file for anti-patterns

## Example prompts
- write SOQL for all contacts with an email, newest first
- why is this query slow? check the selectivity of the filters
- rewrite this as an aggregate with COUNT grouped by status

## 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: 890fe0a48a886a31.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 890fe0a48a886a31
```text
---
name: platform-soql-query
description: "Use when the user needs SOQL/SOSL authoring or optimization: natural-language-to-query generation, relationship queries, aggregates, query-plan/selectivity analysis, and performance or safety improvements. TRIGGER when the user writes, optimizes, or debugs SOQL/SOSL, touches .soql files, or asks about relationship queries, aggregates, or query performance. DO NOT TRIGGER for bulk data operations (use platform-data-manage), Apex DML logic (use platform-apex-generate), or report/dashboard queries."
metadata:
  version: "1.1"
  domains: ["Platform"]
  relatedSkills:
    - "experience-lwc-generate"
    - "platform-apex-generate"
    - "platform-apex-logs-debug"
    - "platform-apex-test-run"
    - "platform-data-manage"
  cliTools:
    - tool: ["jq"]
      semver: ">=1.6.0"
    - tool: ["python3"]
      semver: ">=3.10.0"
    - tool: ["sf"]
      semver: ">=2.0.0"
---

# platform-soql-query: Salesforce SOQL Query Expert

Use this skill when the user needs **SOQL/SOSL authoring or optimization**: natural-language-to-query generation, relationship queries, aggregates, query-plan analysis, and performance/safety improvements for Salesforce queries.

## When This Skill Owns the Task

Use `platform-soql-query` when the work involves:
- `.soql` files
- query generation from natural language
- relationship queries and aggregate queries
- query optimization and selectivity analysis
- SOQL/SOSL syntax and governor-aware design

Delegate elsewhere when the user is:
- performing bulk data operations → [platform-data-manage](../platform-data-manage/SKILL.md)
- embedding query logic inside broader Apex implementation → [platform-apex-generate](../platform-apex-generate/SKILL.md)
- debugging via logs rather than query shape → [platform-apex-logs-debug](../platform-apex-logs-debug/SKILL.md)

---

## Required Context to Gather First

Ask for or infer:
- target object(s)
- fields needed
- filter criteria
- sort / limit requirements
- whether the query is for display, automation, reporting-like analysis, or Apex usage
- whether performance / selectivity is already a concern

---

## Recommended Workflow

### 1. Generate the simplest correct query
Prefer:
- only needed fields
- clear WHERE criteria
- reasonable LIMIT when appropriate
- relationship depth only as deep as necessary

### 2. Choose the right query shape
| Need | Default pattern |
|---|---|
| parent data from child | child-to-parent traversal |
| child rows from parent | subquery |
| counts / rollups | aggregate query |
| records with / without related rows | semi-join / anti-join |
| text search across objects | SOSL |
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 890fe0a48a886a31

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 890fe0a48a886a31 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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