Find Hypertable Candidates
Analyzes an existing PostgreSQL database and scores which tables are worth converting into TimescaleDB hypertables.
Data & AnalyticsIntermediate★ 1,818⑂ 105AI score 9/10Last updated: Jun 26, 2026
What it does
- Supplies ready-to-run SQL over
pg_stat_user_tables,pg_tables,pg_indexes,pg_stat_statementsandpg_constraintto collect table size, insert/update ratios, index shapes and query patterns. - Applies an explicit scoring rubric — time-series traits (timestamp column, time filters, time aggregations), scale (1M+ rows or 100MB+), data patterns (entity ID, numeric measures, log structure) — where 8+ points = strong candidate.
- Flags migration compatibility issues: PK/unique constraints must include the partitioning column, hypertable→hypertable foreign keys are unsupported.
- Works from code as well as from a live connection, with good/poor pattern examples and a special case for sequential-ID tables (e.g.
orders) partitioned by ID with sparse indexes on time.
Who it's for
- Backend engineers and DBAs on PostgreSQL whose tables are outgrowing plain Postgres
- Teams evaluating a TimescaleDB / TigerData migration and needing a defensible shortlist
- Developers with IoT/sensor, event log, transaction, or monitoring-metric schemas
Examples
- "Scan this database and tell me which tables should become hypertables" → runs the stats query and returns a ranked list with scores.
- "Would
sensor_readingsbenefit from TimescaleDB?" → checks indexes, constraints and query patterns, then gives a score plus partition/segment_by advice. - "
ordersisn't time-series — is it still a candidate?" → evaluates BIGSERIAL-ID partitioning with a sparse minmax index oncreated_at.
· · · 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/timescale/pg-aiguide/HEAD/skills/find-hypertable-candidates/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/find-hypertable-candidates folder from the GitHub repo timescale/pg-aiguide into my ~/.claude/skills/find-hypertable-candidates/. When it's done, tell me in one line what this skill can do.
Install with a command instead
git clone https://github.com/timescale/pg-aiguide.git && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r pg-aiguide/skills/find-hypertable-candidates ~/.claude/skills/⚠ This is a third-party skill. Check the source repository before installing.
- Open a terminal.
- Clone the repo:
git clone https://github.com/timescale/pg-aiguide.git - Create the skills folder:
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills - Copy the skill:
cp -r pg-aiguide/skills/find-hypertable-candidates ~/.claude/skills/ - Optionally add the companion skill:
cp -r pg-aiguide/skills/migrate-postgres-tables-to-hypertables ~/.claude/skills/ - Restart Claude Code and ask something like "analyze my tables for hypertable candidacy".
- For real statistics you'll need access to a PostgreSQL 15+ instance (via psql or a database MCP connection).
View source on GitHub ↗License: Apache-2.0