Running Dbt Commands

This handles the messy reality of running dbt commands: picking the right CLI flavor (Core, Fusion, or Cloud), formatting selectors with graph operators, and structuring parameters so they actually work. It defaults to `dbt build` over `dbt run` because testing alongside execution catches issues immediately, always uses `--select` to avoid accidentally running your entire project, and includes `--quiet` with error options to reduce noise while catching selector typos. The Quick Reference section is legitimately useful if you forget the syntax for inline queries or how to pass variables as JSON strings. Built by dbt Labs, so the opinions here (like always using selectors, always building instead of just running) reflect how the tool is meant to be used in practice.

skills.sh installs: 1.1K
GitHub stars: 759
last updated: Aug 21, 2026

View on GitHub

Install

$ npx -y skills add dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills --skill running-dbt-commands --agent claude-code

Installs into .claude/skills of the current project.

Files

Running dbt Commands

Preferences

Use MCP tools if available (dbt_build, dbt_run, dbt_show, etc.) - they handle paths, timeouts, and formatting automatically
Always use build — even when users say "run" - When a user asks to "run" a model, recommend dbt build instead. build = run + test in one step, so it catches data quality issues immediately. dbt run alone is almost never the right answer during development.
Always use --quiet with --warn-error-options '{"error": ["NoNodesForSelectionCriteria"]}' to reduce output while catching selector typos
Always use --select - never run the entire project without explicit user approval

Quick Reference

# Standard command pattern
dbt build --select my_model --quiet --warn-error-options '{"error": ["NoNodesForSelectionCriteria"]}'

# Preview model output
dbt show --select my_model --limit 10

# Run inline SQL query
dbt show --inline "select * from {{ ref('orders') }}" --limit 5

# With variables (JSON format for multiple)
dbt build --select my_model --vars '{"key": "value"}'

# Full refresh for incremental models
dbt build --select my_model --full-refresh

SKILL.md on GitHub