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dbt Model Builder

A dbt workflow skill that discovers project conventions first, then mandates `dbt build` and output verification before calling a model done.

Data & AnalyticsIntermediate1209AI score 9/10Last updated: Jul 16, 2026

What it does

  • Triggers whenever you ask to create, add, write, implement, or modify a dbt model, table, or SQL transformation.
  • Reads dbt_project.yml and 2–3 existing models to learn naming, config, and SQL patterns before writing anything.
  • Finds similar models (fct_*, *agg*) to mirror join types, aggregation patterns, and NULL handling.
  • After writing: dbt compile for syntax, then mandatory dbt build — compile alone is never treated as done.
  • Verifies real output with dbt show: exact column names, sane row counts, plausible values, no surprise NULLs; hand-checks calculations against a sample row.
  • Stops and reassesses after 3+ failed builds, and re-reads the original request before declaring completion.

Who it's for

  • Analytics engineers and data engineers working in dbt projects daily.
  • Anyone burned by an assistant declaring success after a passing compile.
  • Teams that want new models to automatically follow existing repo conventions.

Examples

  1. "Build fct_customer_monthly_revenue from orders" → learns existing fct patterns, writes SQL, builds, then verifies grain and revenue math with dbt show.
  2. "Implement the staging model per the column spec in schema.yml" → matches column names exactly and cross-checks against actual output.
  3. "Add a new join and derived column to an existing model" → previews upstream data, edits, builds, and checks the row-count impact.

· · · Install guide · · ·

Try it now, no install

Paste this into Claude to use the skill without installing anything.

Read the instructions in this file and follow them to help me:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AltimateAI/data-engineering-skills/HEAD/skills/dbt/creating-dbt-models/SKILL.md

What I want: (describe your task here)

If Claude can't open the link, open it yourself and paste the contents instead.

If it works for you, download the ZIP below and install it. Then it runs on its own — no pasting each time.

Install in the Claude app (no terminal)
  1. Download the ZIP with the button below.
  2. In Claude, open Settings → Capabilities and turn on 'Code execution and file creation'. (one time)
  3. Go to Customize → Skills → + → 'Upload a skill' and upload the ZIP.
Download ZIP
Install in Claude Code

Let Claude do it — paste this into Claude Code

Install the skill I found on Claude Skill Mart.
Copy the skills/dbt/creating-dbt-models folder from the GitHub repo AltimateAI/data-engineering-skills into my ~/.claude/skills/creating-dbt-models/.
When it's done, tell me in one line what this skill can do.

Install with a command instead

git clone https://github.com/AltimateAI/data-engineering-skills.git && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r data-engineering-skills/skills/dbt/creating-dbt-models ~/.claude/skills/

This is a third-party skill. Check the source repository before installing.

  1. Open a terminal (git required).
  2. Clone the repo: git clone https://github.com/AltimateAI/data-engineering-skills.git
  3. Create the skills folder: mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
  4. Copy just this skill: cp -r data-engineering-skills/skills/dbt/creating-dbt-models ~/.claude/skills/
  5. Run Claude Code from inside your dbt project directory (the dbt CLI and a working profiles.yml connection are prerequisites).
  6. Ask something like "create a model for ..." or "modify this model" and the skill activates automatically.
  7. Point your default target at a dev environment so builds never hit production.