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 & AnalyticsIntermediate★ 120⑂ 9AI 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.ymland 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 compilefor syntax, then mandatorydbt 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
- "Build
fct_customer_monthly_revenuefrom orders" → learns existing fct patterns, writes SQL, builds, then verifies grain and revenue math withdbt show. - "Implement the staging model per the column spec in schema.yml" → matches column names exactly and cross-checks against actual output.
- "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)
- Download the ZIP with the button below.
- In Claude, open Settings → Capabilities and turn on 'Code execution and file creation'. (one time)
- Go to Customize → Skills → + → 'Upload a skill' and upload the 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.
- Open a terminal (git required).
- Clone the repo:
git clone https://github.com/AltimateAI/data-engineering-skills.git - Create the skills folder:
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills - Copy just this skill:
cp -r data-engineering-skills/skills/dbt/creating-dbt-models ~/.claude/skills/ - Run Claude Code from inside your dbt project directory (the
dbtCLI and a workingprofiles.ymlconnection are prerequisites). - Ask something like "create a model for ..." or "modify this model" and the skill activates automatically.
- Point your default target at a dev environment so builds never hit production.
View source on GitHub ↗License: MIT