# Build and validate dbt data models

Editorial description and links. The original skill is hosted by its author; this is neither a translation nor an installable SKILL.md.

Start with the target table, work back to its sources and validate transformations against data. dbt Labs connects SQL, model dependencies and tests.

Editorial selection based on source review and use cases. Comparative superiority has not been tested.

Author: dbt Labs — https://github.com/dbt-labs
Original skill: dbt Labs. Editorial description: kossolapov.com.

Original: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/SKILL.md
Revision: 2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d
License: Apache-2.0 — https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/LICENSE

## Use cases

- Build a sales mart with an explicit row grain
- Investigate duplicates introduced by joins
- Assess the impact of changing an existing model

## Outcome

dbt models, tests and documented checks of input and output data.

## Example task

Design a daily sales mart. Define the row grain, inspect existing models and sources, then add SQL and tests for refunds and duplicates.

## Requirements and limitations

agents:
- An agent that can read Agent Skills instructions; tool access depends on the host

tools:
- dbt CLI and an existing dbt project with the appropriate warehouse adapter
- dbt show access to test data; optional dbt MCP integration
- For breaking changes: companion working-with-dbt-mesh, included in the source file list

keys:
- Authorized test warehouse profile or credentials

paidDependencies:
- Warehouse queries and optional dbt platform services may be billed

limitations:
- Requires real schema and data access; does not infer business definitions reliably from names alone.
- Breaking column changes require the companion working-with-dbt-mesh skill and a migration plan.
- Use selective runs and bounded exploration to control warehouse cost.
- Editorial selection based on source inspection, not a comparative performance certification.

## Source files at the reviewed revision

Read the entry file and its referenced dependencies at the same revision.

- LICENSE: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/LICENSE
  SHA-256: a25c0f444db00399e225e96559b376d92188fbab622b50c5d4db7c556f77daff; bytes: 11338
- skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/SKILL.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/SKILL.md
  SHA-256: bcbf2ea18ff5a6ba5988febf0d8989560cbe05fdf76e61c84ef3f012c5f79a7b; bytes: 7435
- skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/debugging-dbt-errors.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/debugging-dbt-errors.md
  SHA-256: f542cf623fd1a5c2969f1464874e58d04ea9245313a1ea3503cf0848eeed9d87; bytes: 4154
- skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/discovering-data.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/discovering-data.md
  SHA-256: c9eedadd6defa42cd31912c01d118349cd8eb258e44af9397cbeaf4db61bbef2; bytes: 6569
- skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/evaluating-impact-of-a-dbt-model-change.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/evaluating-impact-of-a-dbt-model-change.md
  SHA-256: 7f4c4542d72834cc3d0f6aa9a488c4bdbd48d189744020632dc66ea76f3b3f72; bytes: 3604
- skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/managing-packages.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/managing-packages.md
  SHA-256: e91601808e75fd5dba61fb471d3e3e67a2f88f46a55252446924b6d2e7e196d1; bytes: 2443
- skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/planning-dbt-models.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/planning-dbt-models.md
  SHA-256: da9c9431b59c3da8a67466896139841046be5287115434f26da60882e1b7a6fc; bytes: 7284
- skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/writing-data-tests.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/writing-data-tests.md
  SHA-256: 2b110c633f3696c2f3d620535f927fc93a5a90e64bdc32759c62617cab53b0f2; bytes: 6366
- skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/writing-documentation.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/references/writing-documentation.md
  SHA-256: 99796521bfb88076703b73983e5c4a484e6470322fd908911a2407c2736c0552; bytes: 1063
- skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/scripts/review_run_results.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/using-dbt-for-analytics-engineering/scripts/review_run_results.md
  SHA-256: c8554bbb0d1683706cdea7a98496cc2af5f4774b7c236bd90f5d72612dcfaa93; bytes: 1746
- skills/dbt/skills/working-with-dbt-mesh/SKILL.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/working-with-dbt-mesh/SKILL.md
  SHA-256: 69a2701a0dfd63cd03c3e2de6dad33df45d53841cafaa1789062dcb799ad271d; bytes: 18936
- skills/dbt/skills/working-with-dbt-mesh/references/cross-project-collaboration.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/working-with-dbt-mesh/references/cross-project-collaboration.md
  SHA-256: 7929c38a90e5472912fd69784a89ff42b96935b35cea64b7679edfde1eec5278; bytes: 6335
- skills/dbt/skills/working-with-dbt-mesh/references/groups-and-access.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/working-with-dbt-mesh/references/groups-and-access.md
  SHA-256: 101b5a401654f4461d1e2b58a7c1b529f00d85d582b7c0d68a8f0a5e27d7e324; bytes: 6192
- skills/dbt/skills/working-with-dbt-mesh/references/model-contracts.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/working-with-dbt-mesh/references/model-contracts.md
  SHA-256: 81dfabcce915f62fa684da88a0d3389d86cc67acdda60eb81923f75694415d24; bytes: 6306
- skills/dbt/skills/working-with-dbt-mesh/references/model-versions.md: https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills/blob/2116bc1397c6b1f8d406e0c52a0601c2a969b90d/skills/dbt/skills/working-with-dbt-mesh/references/model-versions.md
  SHA-256: c828f842ec4df3cd7303a35e8acd4cc376ba3453e27ed51c5a1a86991c452455; bytes: 13998


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