# running-dbt-commands

A skill that tells the agent how to format and run dbt CLI commands: which executable to call, which flags to add, how to write selectors.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1100 installs · ★ 746
- Author: dbt-labs
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/dbt/skills/running-dbt-commands/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/running-dbt-commands

## What it does

The skill covers how dbt CLI commands get formatted and executed: picking the right executable, structuring parameters, selectors and variables. Inside there is a reference to the three CLI flavors (dbt Core, dbt Fusion, dbt Cloud CLI), a table of graph operators for `--select`, the list of output keys for `dbt list --output json`, and a rundown of common mistakes.

The main rule: when you ask to run a model, the skill recommends `dbt build` instead of `dbt run`, since build runs the model and its tests in one step. It also insists on always passing `--select` and pairing `--quiet` with `--warn-error-options '{"error": ["NoNodesForSelectionCriteria"]}'` so a typo in the selector does not slip through. If MCP tools like `dbt_build` or `dbt_run` are available, the skill prefers them because they handle paths and timeouts on their own.

One catch with Fusion: `--resource-type` does not work with `dbt test`, so unit tests there go through `dbt build --select model_name` or by test name. Worth checking which CLI your project actually uses — if dbt Core sits in a venv, plain `dbt` picks it up, and Fusion needs `dbtf` or `~/.local/bin/dbt`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills --skill running-dbt-commands -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills --skill running-dbt-commands -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills --skill running-dbt-commands -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills running-dbt-commands
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/running-dbt-commands/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills --skill running-dbt-commands -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills --path skills/dbt/skills/running-dbt-commands
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills --skill running-dbt-commands -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/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/dbt/skills/running-dbt-commands/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- build a model and run its tests in one command
- pick the right dbt executable when several are installed
- validate a complex selector with `dbt list` before running
- preview model data without editing a SQL file
- read `target/run_results.json` after a failed run

## Example prompts
- build the stg_orders model and run its tests
- show the first 10 rows from orders
- run the unit test by name on Fusion

## 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: e0e8bd8ebdc59090.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE e0e8bd8ebdc59090
````text
---
name: running-dbt-commands
description: Formats and executes dbt CLI commands, selects the correct dbt executable, and structures command parameters. Use when running models, tests, builds, compiles, or show queries via dbt CLI. Use when unsure which dbt executable to use or how to format command parameters.
user-invocable: false
metadata:
  author: dbt-labs
---

# Running dbt Commands

## Preferences

1. **Use MCP tools if available** (`dbt_build`, `dbt_run`, `dbt_show`, etc.) - they handle paths, timeouts, and formatting automatically
2. **Always use `build` — even when users say "run"** - When a user asks to "run" a model, recommend `dbt build` instead. `build` = `run` + `test` in one step, so it catches data quality issues immediately. `dbt run` alone is almost never the right answer during development.
3. **Always use `--quiet`** with `--warn-error-options '{"error": ["NoNodesForSelectionCriteria"]}'` to reduce output while catching selector typos
4. **Always use `--select`** - never run the entire project without explicit user approval

## Quick Reference

```bash
# Standard command pattern
dbt build --select my_model --quiet --warn-error-options '{"error": ["NoNodesForSelectionCriteria"]}'

# Preview model output
dbt show --select my_model --limit 10

# Run inline SQL query
dbt show --inline "select * from {{ ref('orders') }}" --limit 5

# With variables (JSON format for multiple)
dbt build --select my_model --vars '{"key": "value"}'

# Full refresh for incremental models
dbt build --select my_model --full-refresh

# List resources before running
dbt list --select my_model+ --resource-type model
```

## dbt CLI Flavors

Three CLIs exist. **Ask the user which one if unsure.**

| Flavor | Location | Notes |
|--------|----------|-------|
| **dbt Core** | Python venv | `pip show dbt-core` or `uv pip show dbt-core` |
| **dbt Fusion** | `~/.local/bin/dbt` or `dbtf` | Faster and has stronger SQL comprehension |
| **dbt Cloud CLI** | `~/.local/bin/dbt` | Go-based, runs on platform |

**Common setup:** Core in venv + Fusion at `~/.local/bin`. Running `dbt` uses Core. Use `dbtf` or `~/.local/bin/dbt` for Fusion.

## Selectors

**Always provide a selector.** Graph operators:

| Operator | Meaning | Example |
|----------|---------|---------|
| `model+` | Model and all downstream | `stg_orders+` |
| `+model` | Model and all upstream | `+dim_customers` |
| `+model+` | Both directions | `+orders+` |
| `model+N` | Model and N levels downstream | `stg_orders+1` |

```bash
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE e0e8bd8ebdc59090

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the e0e8bd8ebdc59090 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.

First 2512 of 6666 bytes. © dbt-labs · Apache-2.0 · https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/dbt/skills/running-dbt-commands/SKILL.md

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---
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