running-dbt-commands

SKILL.md

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