Ghost Database Management
Teaches Claude to create, fork, and share Ghost managed PostgreSQL databases via CLI or MCP for agent workflows.
Dev & CodingIntermediate★ 1,825⑂ 106AI score 8/10Last updated: Aug 27, 2026
What it does
- Guides on-demand creation and deletion of PostgreSQL databases on Ghost (ghost.build) with single commands.
- Provides a forking workflow that copies a full database in seconds so migrations and schema changes can be tested safely.
- Explains shareable snapshots (URL/token) so databases can be passed between agents as inputs and outputs.
- Covers MCP server setup (
ghost mcp install) and read-only mode (ghost config set read_only true) for safe agent access. - Includes auto-pause/resume handling and an LLM-optimized schema inspection command.
Who it's for
- Developers who want a dedicated Postgres per agent or per agent run.
- Backend and data engineers validating migrations against a production copy.
- Anyone sharing sample datasets or bug-reproduction databases with a team.
- CLI/MCP-first users who don't need a web dashboard.
Examples
- "Create a new app database with a users table" →
ghost create my-app-db, then run DDL withghost sql. - "Check whether this migration is safe" →
ghost fork abc123 exp, testALTER TABLEon the fork, apply to the original on success, delete the fork on failure. - "Share a bug-repro database" →
ghost share abc123 --expires 24h; the recipient runsghost create --from-share <token>.
· · · 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/ghost-database/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/ghost-database folder from the GitHub repo timescale/pg-aiguide into my ~/.claude/skills/ghost-database/. 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/ghost-database ~/.claude/skills/⚠ This is a third-party skill. Check the source repository before installing.
- Open a terminal and clone the repo:
git clone https://github.com/timescale/pg-aiguide.git - Copy the skill into Claude Code's skills folder:
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r pg-aiguide/skills/ghost-database ~/.claude/skills/ - Install the Ghost CLI (macOS/Linux/WSL):
curl -fsSL https://install.ghost.build | sh(Windows PowerShell:irm https://install.ghost.build/install.ps1 | iex) - Authenticate with your GitHub account:
ghost login - (Optional) Install the MCP server so agents can call Ghost tools directly:
ghost mcp install - (Recommended) Enable read-only mode to block destructive tools:
ghost config set read_only true - Restart Claude Code and try a prompt like "Create a new Ghost database for my app" to confirm it works.
View source on GitHub ↗License: Apache-2.0