# spring-data-neo4j

Provides integration patterns for Spring Data Neo4j in Spring Boot projects. Helps set up node mappings, Cypher queries, and repository slice tests.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 3800 installs · ★ 363
- Author: giuseppe-trisciuoglio
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/giuseppe-trisciuoglio/developer-kit/tree/HEAD/plugins/developer-kit-java/skills/spring-data-neo4j/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/spring-data-neo4j

## What it does

This skill supplies structural templates for integrating graph databases into Spring Boot services. It guides the creation of entities using `@Node` and `@Relationship`, handles business keys or generated identifiers, and configures the `NEO4J_5` Cypher-DSL dialect. Complex data retrieval relies on the `@Query` annotation with `$paramName` placeholders.

Repository design splits into standard blocking `Neo4jRepository` and non-blocking `ReactiveNeo4jRepository`. Do not mix imperative and reactive repositories. Reactive operations require Neo4j version 4 or higher on the database side. For test isolation, the skill sets up `@DataNeo4jTest` and an embedded Neo4j Harness server with test fixtures.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add giuseppe-trisciuoglio/developer-kit --skill spring-data-neo4j -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add giuseppe-trisciuoglio/developer-kit --skill spring-data-neo4j -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add giuseppe-trisciuoglio/developer-kit --skill spring-data-neo4j -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install giuseppe-trisciuoglio/developer-kit spring-data-neo4j
```

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

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add giuseppe-trisciuoglio/developer-kit --skill spring-data-neo4j -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/giuseppe-trisciuoglio/developer-kit --path plugins/developer-kit-java/skills/spring-data-neo4j
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add giuseppe-trisciuoglio/developer-kit --skill spring-data-neo4j -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/giuseppe-trisciuoglio/developer-kit/tree/HEAD/plugins/developer-kit-java/skills/spring-data-neo4j/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- Map graph nodes and relationships using `@Node` and `@Relationship`
- Write parameterized Cypher queries with `@Query` in Spring repositories
- Configure imperative or reactive repository interfaces for Neo4j
- Set up slice tests using `@DataNeo4jTest` and the embedded Neo4j Harness

## Example prompts
- Create a Spring Data Neo4j Movie entity with relationships to actors and directors
- Write a custom Cypher query in AuthorRepository using @Query to find books by author
- Set up an integration test using @DataNeo4jTest and Neo4j Harness

## 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: c591f87e8ed5545f.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE c591f87e8ed5545f
````text
---
name: spring-data-neo4j
description: Provides Spring Data Neo4j integration patterns for Spring Boot applications. Use when you need to work with a graph database, Neo4j nodes and relationships, Cypher queries, or Spring Data Neo4j. Creates node entities with @Node annotation, defines relationships with @Relationship, writes Cypher queries using @Query, configures imperative and reactive Neo4j repositories, implements graph traversal patterns, and sets up testing with embedded databases.
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Glob, Grep
---

# Spring Data Neo4j Integration Patterns

## Overview

Provides Spring Data Neo4j integration patterns for Spring Boot applications. Covers node entity mapping with `@Node` and `@Relationship`, repository configuration (imperative and reactive), custom Cypher queries with `@Query`, and integration testing with embedded Neo4j databases.

## When to Use

Use this skill when working with:
- Graph databases and Neo4j integration in Spring Boot
- Node entities, relationships, and Cypher queries
- Spring Data Neo4j repositories (imperative or reactive)
- Neo4j testing with embedded databases

## Instructions

### 1. Set Up Spring Data Neo4j

**Add the dependency:**

Maven:
```xml
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-data-neo4j</artifactId>
</dependency>
```

Gradle:
```groovy
implementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-data-neo4j'
```

**Configure connection in application.properties:**
```properties
spring.neo4j.uri=bolt://localhost:7687
spring.neo4j.authentication.username=neo4j
spring.neo4j.authentication.password=secret
```

**Configure Cypher-DSL dialect (recommended):**
```java
@Configuration
public class Neo4jConfig {
    @Bean
    Configuration cypherDslConfiguration() {
        return Configuration.newConfig()
            .withDialect(Dialect.NEO4J_5).build();
    }
}
```

> **Validation Checkpoint**: Run `MATCH (n) RETURN count(n)` via cypher-shell to verify the connection works before proceeding.

### 2. Define Node Entities

1. **Use `@`Node annotation** to mark entity classes
2. **Choose ID strategy:**
   - Business key as `@`Id (immutable, natural identifier)
   - Generated `@`Id `@`GeneratedValue (Neo4j internal ID)
3. **Define relationships** with `@`Relationship annotation
4. **Keep entities immutable** with final fields
5. **Use `@`Property** for custom property names

> **Validation Checkpoint**: If entity save fails, check for constraint violations—duplicate IDs violate uniqueness constraints.

### 3. Create Repositories

1. **Extend repository interface:**
   - `Neo4jRepository<Entity, ID>` for imperative operations
````
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