# surrealql-performance

A skill that tells your coding agent how to make SurrealDB queries faster: record ID design, indexing, computed fields. Useful when a query is slow or scans too much.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 416 installs · ★ 28
- Author: surrealdb
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/surrealdb/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/surrealql-performance/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-09-29
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/surrealql-performance

## What it does

The skill covers three areas: how to shape record IDs and keys around your access patterns, how to pick indexes, and how to stop recomputing the same values on every read. It ships three references — `references/keys.md` on locality and range scans, `references/indexing.md` on index types and composite field order, and `references/computed-fields.md` on computed fields, views and events.

The core advice is short. Record IDs are stored in sorted order, so the most selective component goes first and ranges come from `SELECT * FROM person:1..1000` rather than a `WHERE` on the ID. Index only what you filter, sort or join on, because each one adds write cost. To check that an index is actually used, the skill points at `EXPLAIN` and `EXPLAIN FULL`.

It targets the latest stable SurrealDB release and asks you to confirm version-sensitive syntax — record ranges, `COMPUTED` fields, `FULLTEXT` options — against the docs, then validate examples with `surreal validate`. Pinned to an older release? Some examples may not run, so check the syntax before copying it into production.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add surrealdb/agent-skills --skill surrealql-performance -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add surrealdb/agent-skills --skill surrealql-performance -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add surrealdb/agent-skills --skill surrealql-performance -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install surrealdb/agent-skills surrealql-performance
```

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

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add surrealdb/agent-skills --skill surrealql-performance -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/surrealdb/agent-skills --path skills/surrealql-performance
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add surrealdb/agent-skills --skill surrealql-performance -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/surrealdb/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/surrealql-performance/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- find out why a query scans the whole table
- lay out record IDs so range scans hit the key
- choose between standard, `UNIQUE`, `FULLTEXT` and vector indexes
- confirm with `EXPLAIN` that the index is really used
- decide whether to store a derived value or compute it on read

## Example prompts
- Queries on the person table are slow — check the plan and tell me which index I need
- Help me design record IDs for weather data so lookups by city and date go through the key
- Should this aggregate live in a `DEFINE TABLE ... AS SELECT` view or be computed on read?

## 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: 94a779ea06230773.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 94a779ea06230773
```text
---
name: surrealql-performance
description: "Optimize SurrealDB performance through record ID and key design, indexing strategy, and computed/derived fields. Use when queries are slow, when designing record IDs for locality and range scans, choosing between standard/unique/full-text/vector indexes, verifying index usage with EXPLAIN, or deciding whether to precompute values with computed fields, views, or events. Triggers: slow query, performance, record id design, range scan, DEFINE INDEX, EXPLAIN, computed field, FUTURE, DEFINE TABLE AS SELECT."
metadata:
  author: surrealdb
  version: "0.1.0"
---

# SurrealQL Performance

Techniques for making SurrealDB queries fast: structuring record IDs and keys
for data locality, choosing and verifying the right indexes, and precomputing
values with computed fields and views instead of recomputing them on every read.

Target the **latest** stable SurrealDB release. Confirm version-sensitive syntax
(record ranges, `COMPUTED` fields, `FULLTEXT` index options) against
`https://surrealdb.com/docs`, and validate examples with `surreal validate`. See
the `surrealql` skill for version detection.

## When to use this skill

- A query is slow or scans more records than expected
- Designing record IDs to support efficient lookups and range scans
- Choosing between standard, `UNIQUE`, full-text `SEARCH`, or vector indexes
- Confirming whether an index is actually used (`EXPLAIN`)
- Deciding whether to store a derived value vs. compute it on read

## Topic map

| Topic | Reference |
| --- | --- |
| Record ID & key structuring for locality and range scans | [references/keys.md](references/keys.md) |
| Index types, composite order, verifying usage, rebuild cost | [references/indexing.md](references/indexing.md) |
| Computed fields, precomputed views, event-maintained values | [references/computed-fields.md](references/computed-fields.md) |

## Top rules

- **Design IDs for access patterns.** Record IDs are stored in sorted order. Put
  the most selective, range-friendly component first (e.g.
  `weather:['London', d'2025-02-13T05:00Z']`) so related records sit together and
  range queries avoid full-table scans. See [references/keys.md](references/keys.md).
- **Prefer record ranges over `WHERE` on the ID.** `SELECT * FROM person:1..1000`
  uses key ordering directly; filtering with `WHERE` after a full scan does not.
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 94a779ea06230773

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First 2385 of 3164 bytes. © surrealdb · MIT · https://github.com/surrealdb/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/surrealql-performance/SKILL.md

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