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sql-code-review — GitHub Copilot skill for SQL review

Reviews SQL for security and performance issues, as well as maintainability. Use it when checking queries or a database schema.

Install into GitHub Copilot · Skills CLI (Vercel) All methods and platforms ↓
npx skills add github/awesome-copilot --skill sql-code-review
Open on GitHub

What sql-code-review does

sql-code-review guides GitHub Copilot through a review of selected SQL code. If nothing is selected, it reviews the entire project. Its security checks cover SQL injection, access permissions and protection of sensitive data.

The instructions include query examples and a review checklist. They cover indexes, join conditions and anti-patterns such as N+1 queries. Database-specific guidance addresses PostgreSQL and MySQL, along with SQL Server and Oracle.

Install it if you regularly review SQL against these concerns. For a task focused on query optimization, the description mentions a separate prompt.

What it helps with

  • Find potential SQL injection points
  • Review permissions and sensitive data protection
  • Spot missing or redundant indexes
  • Check join conditions and N+1 queries
  • Review schema naming and constraints

Example prompts for the agent

  • Use sql-code-review to check the selected SQL for injection risks and access-control issues.
  • Review the SQL in this project for index and join problems.
  • Check this PostgreSQL schema for suitable data types and constraints.

How to install sql-code-review

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add github/awesome-copilot --skill sql-code-review

2GitHub CLI

gh skill install github/awesome-copilot sql-code-review

3Manually: put the files in place

.github/skills/sql-code-review/SKILL.md

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Questions about sql-code-review

How do I install sql-code-review in GitHub Copilot?

Run npx skills add github/awesome-copilot --skill sql-code-review or gh skill install github/awesome-copilot sql-code-review.

What does sql-code-review do?

It guides an SQL review covering parameterized queries, permissions, indexes and schema design. It reviews the selection or the whole project when nothing is selected.

Which databases does sql-code-review cover?

The skill includes guidance for PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server and Oracle.

Source text

SKILL.md · MIT
---
name: sql-code-review
description: 'Universal SQL code review assistant that performs comprehensive security, maintainability, and code quality analysis across all SQL databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle). Focuses on SQL injection prevention, access control, code standards, and anti-pattern detection. Complements SQL optimization prompt for complete development coverage.'
---

# SQL Code Review

Perform a thorough SQL code review of ${selection} (or entire project if no selection) focusing on security, performance, maintainability, and database best practices.

## 🔒 Security Analysis

### SQL Injection Prevention
```sql
-- ❌ CRITICAL: SQL Injection vulnerability
query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = " + userInput;
query = f"DELETE FROM orders WHERE user_id = {user_id}";

-- ✅ SECURE: Parameterized queries
-- PostgreSQL/MySQL
PREPARE stmt FROM 'SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?';
EXECUTE stmt USING @user_id;

-- SQL Server
EXEC sp_executesql N'SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = @id', N'@id INT', @id = @user_id;
```

### Access Control & Permissions
- **Principle of Least Privilege**: Grant minimum required permissions
- **Role-Based Access**: Use database roles instead of direct user permissions
- **Schema Security**: Proper schema ownership and access controls
- **Function/Procedure Security**: Review DEFINER vs INVOKER rights

### Data Protection
- **Sensitive Data Exposure**: Avoid SELECT * on tables with sensitive columns
- **Audit Logging**: Ensure sensitive operations are logged
- **Data Masking**: Use views or functions to mask sensitive data
- **Encryption**: Verify encrypted storage for sensitive data

## ⚡ Performance Optimization

### Query Structure Analysis
```sql
-- ❌ BAD: Inefficient query patterns
SELECT DISTINCT u.* 
FROM users u, orders o, products p
WHERE u.id = o.user_id 
AND o.product_id = p.id
AND YEAR(o.order_date) = 2024;

-- ✅ GOOD: Optimized structure
SELECT u.id, u.name, u.email
FROM users u
INNER JOIN orders o ON u.id = o.user_id
WHERE o.order_date >= '2024-01-01' 
AND o.order_date < '2025-01-01';
```

### Index Strategy Review
- **Missing Indexes**: Identify columns that need indexing
- **Over-Indexing**: Find unused or redundant indexes
- **Composite Indexes**: Multi-column indexes for complex queries
- **Index Maintenance**: Check for fragmented or outdated indexes

### Join Optimization
- **Join Types**: Verify appropriate join types (INNER vs LEFT vs EXISTS)
- **Join Order**: Optimize for smaller result sets first
- **Cartesian Products**: Identify and fix missing join conditions
- **Subquery vs JOIN**: Choose the most efficient approach

### Aggregate and Window Functions
```sql
-- ❌ BAD: Inefficient aggregation
SELECT user_id, 
       (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM orders o2 WHERE o2.user_id = o1.user_id) as order_count
FROM orders o1
GROUP BY user_id;

-- ✅ GOOD: Efficient aggregation
SELECT user_id, COUNT(*) as order_count
FROM orders
GROUP BY user_id;
```

## 🛠️ Code Quality & Maintainability

### SQL Style & Formatting
```sql
-- ❌ BAD: Poor formatting and style
select u.id,u.name,o.total from users u left join orders o on u.id=o.user_id where u.status='active' and o.order_date>='2024-01-01';

-- ✅ GOOD: Clean, readable formatting
SELECT u.id,
       u.name,
       o.total
FROM users u
LEFT JOIN orders o ON u.id = o.user_id
WHERE u.status = 'active'
  AND o.order_date >= '2024-01-01';
```

### Naming Conventions
- **Consistent Naming**: Tables, columns, constraints follow consistent patterns
- **Descriptive Names**: Clear, meaningful names for database objects
- **Reserved Words**: Avoid using database reserved words as identifiers
- **Case Sensitivity**: Consistent case usage across schema

### Schema Design Review
- **Normalization**: Appropriate normalization level (avoid over/under-normalization)
- **Data Types**: Optimal data type choices for storage and performance
- **Constraints**: Proper use of PRIMARY KEY, FOREIGN KEY, CHECK, NOT NULL
- **Default Values**: Appropriate default values for columns

## 🗄️ Database-Specific Best Practices

### PostgreSQL
```sql
-- Use JSONB for JSON data
CREATE TABLE events (
    id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    data JSONB NOT NULL,
    created_at TIMESTAMPTZ DEFAULT NOW()
);

-- GIN index for JSONB queries
CREATE INDEX idx_events_data ON events USING gin(data);

-- Array types for multi-value columns
CREATE TABLE tags (
    post_id INT,
    tag_names TEXT[]
);
```

### MySQL
```sql
-- Use appropriate storage engines
CREATE TABLE sessions (
    id VARCHAR(128) PRIMARY KEY,
    data TEXT,
    expires TIMESTAMP
) ENGINE=InnoDB;

-- Optimize for InnoDB
ALTER TABLE large_table 
ADD INDEX idx_covering (status, created_at, id);
```

### SQL Server
```sql
-- Use appropriate data types
CREATE TABLE products (
    id BIGINT IDENTITY(1,1) PRIMARY KEY,
    name NVARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
    price DECIMAL(10,2) NOT NULL,
    created_at DATETIME2 DEFAULT GETUTCDATE()
);

-- Columnstore indexes for analytics
CREATE COLUMNSTORE INDEX idx_sales_cs ON sales;
```

### Oracle
```sql
-- Use sequences for auto-increment
CREATE SEQUENCE user_id_seq START WITH 1 INCREMENT BY 1;

CREATE TABLE users (
    id NUMBER DEFAULT user_id_seq.NEXTVAL PRIMARY KEY,
    name VARCHAR2(255) NOT NULL
);
```

## 🧪 Testing & Validation

### Data Integrity Checks
```sql
-- Verify referential integrity
SELECT o.user_id 
FROM orders o 
LEFT JOIN users u ON o.user_id = u.id 
WHERE u.id IS NULL;

-- Check for data consistency
SELECT COUNT(*) as inconsistent_records
FROM products 
WHERE price < 0 OR stock_quantity < 0;
```

### Performance Testing
- **Execution Plans**: Review query execution plans
- **Load Testing**: Test queries with realistic data volumes
- **Stress Testing**: Verify performance under concurrent load
- **Regression Testing**: Ensure optimizations don't break functionality

## 📊 Common Anti-Patterns

### N+1 Query Problem
```sql
-- ❌ BAD: N+1 queries in application code
for user in users:
    orders = query("SELECT * FROM orders WHERE user_id = ?", user.id)

-- ✅ GOOD: Single optimized query
SELECT u.*, o.*
FROM users u
LEFT JOIN orders o ON u.id = o.user_id;
```

### Overuse of DISTINCT
```sql
-- ❌ BAD: DISTINCT masking join issues
SELECT DISTINCT u.name 
FROM users u, orders o 
WHERE u.id = o.user_id;

-- ✅ GOOD: Proper join without DISTINCT
SELECT u.name
FROM users u
INNER JOIN orders o ON u.id = o.user_id
GROUP BY u.name;
```

### Function Misuse in WHERE Clauses
```sql
-- ❌ BAD: Functions prevent index usage
SELECT * FROM orders 
WHERE YEAR(order_date) = 2024;

-- ✅ GOOD: Range conditions use indexes
SELECT * FROM orders 
WHERE order_date >= '2024-01-01' 
  AND order_date < '2025-01-01';
```

## 📋 SQL Review Checklist

### Security
- [ ] All user inputs are parameterized
- [ ] No dynamic SQL construction with string concatenation
- [ ] Appropriate access controls and permissions
- [ ] Sensitive data is properly protected
- [ ] SQL injection attack vectors are eliminated

### Performance
- [ ] Indexes exist for frequently queried columns
- [ ] No unnecessary SELECT * statements
- [ ] JOINs are optimized and use appropriate types
- [ ] WHERE clauses are selective and use indexes
- [ ] Subqueries are optimized or converted to JOINs

### Code Quality
- [ ] Consistent naming conventions
- [ ] Proper formatting and indentation
- [ ] Meaningful comments for complex logic
- [ ] Appropriate data types are used
- [ ] Error handling is implemented

### Schema Design
- [ ] Tables are properly normalized
- [ ] Constraints enforce data integrity
- [ ] Indexes support query patterns
- [ ] Foreign key relationships are defined
- [ ] Default values are appropriate

## 🎯 Review Output Format

### Issue Template
````
## [PRIORITY] [CATEGORY]: [Brief Description]

**Location**: [Table/View/Procedure name and line number if applicable]
**Issue**: [Detailed explanation of the problem]
**Security Risk**: [If applicable - injection risk, data exposure, etc.]
**Performance Impact**: [Query cost, execution time impact]
**Recommendation**: [Specific fix with code example]

**Before**:
```sql
-- Problematic SQL
```

**After**:
```sql
-- Improved SQL
```

**Expected Improvement**: [Performance gain, security benefit]
````

### Summary Assessment
- **Security Score**: [1-10] - SQL injection protection, access controls
- **Performance Score**: [1-10] - Query efficiency, index usage
- **Maintainability Score**: [1-10] - Code quality, documentation
- **Schema Quality Score**: [1-10] - Design patterns, normalization

### Top 3 Priority Actions
1. **[Critical Security Fix]**: Address SQL injection vulnerabilities
2. **[Performance Optimization]**: Add missing indexes or optimize queries
3. **[Code Quality]**: Improve naming conventions and documentation

Focus on providing actionable, database-agnostic recommendations while highlighting platform-specific optimizations and best practices.

© github · MIT · github/awesome-copilot

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