postgresql-psql

Comprehensive guide for PostgreSQL psql - the interactive terminal client for PostgreSQL. Use when connecting to PostgreSQL databases, executing queries, managing databases/tables, configuring connection options, formatting output, writing scripts, managing transactions, and using advanced psql features for database administration and development.

Quality

71%

Does it follow best practices?

Impact

—

No eval scenarios have been run

Securityby

Risky

Do not use without reviewing

Optimize this skill with Tessl

npx tessl skill review --optimize ./claude/skills/postgresql-psql/SKILL.md

Quality

Content

42%

Reviews the quality of instructions and guidance provided to agents. Good implementation is clear, handles edge cases, and produces reliable results.

This skill is comprehensive but severely over-engineered for its purpose. It functions more as exhaustive reference documentation than a focused skill guide, explaining concepts Claude already knows and listing every possible option rather than curating the most useful patterns. The actionability is strong with executable examples, but the extreme verbosity and lack of progressive disclosure make it inefficient for context window usage.

Suggestions

Reduce content by 70-80% by removing explanations of basic concepts (REPL, SQL commands, what psql is) and focusing only on non-obvious patterns and gotchas

Split into multiple files: keep SKILL.md as a quick-start overview (~100 lines) with references to separate files for meta-commands reference, scripting patterns, and troubleshooting

Add explicit validation checkpoints to multi-step workflows, especially for backup/restore and destructive operations (e.g., 'Verify backup integrity before proceeding')

Remove exhaustive lists of every meta-command option - Claude can look these up; instead focus on the 10-15 most commonly needed commands with context on when to use each

Dimension	Reasoning	Score
Conciseness	Extremely verbose at ~1000+ lines. Explains basic concepts Claude already knows (what REPL is, what SQL commands are), includes exhaustive lists of every meta-command and option rather than focusing on what's actually useful, and contains significant redundancy throughout.	1 / 3
Actionability	Provides extensive executable code examples throughout - connection strings, SQL queries, bash scripts, and psql commands are all copy-paste ready with concrete syntax and real examples.	3 / 3
Workflow Clarity	While individual operations are clear, multi-step workflows like backup/restore lack explicit validation checkpoints. The 'SQL Script Best Practices' section shows some workflow structure but doesn't include verification steps for destructive operations.	2 / 3
Progressive Disclosure	Monolithic wall of text with no references to external files. All content is inline regardless of complexity - API references, examples, troubleshooting, and advanced features are all crammed into one massive document rather than being appropriately split.	1 / 3
	Total	7 / 12 Passed

Description

100%

Based on the skill's description, can an agent find and select it at the right time? Clear, specific descriptions lead to better discovery.

This is a well-crafted skill description that excels across all dimensions. It clearly identifies the specific tool (psql), lists comprehensive concrete actions, includes an explicit 'Use when' clause with natural trigger terms, and is distinctive enough to avoid conflicts with other database-related skills.

Dimension	Reasoning	Score
Specificity	Lists multiple specific concrete actions: 'connecting to PostgreSQL databases, executing queries, managing databases/tables, configuring connection options, formatting output, writing scripts, managing transactions, and using advanced psql features'.	3 / 3
Completeness	Clearly answers both what ('Comprehensive guide for PostgreSQL psql - the interactive terminal client') and when ('Use when connecting to PostgreSQL databases, executing queries, managing databases/tables...'). Has explicit 'Use when' clause with detailed triggers.	3 / 3
Trigger Term Quality	Includes natural keywords users would say: 'PostgreSQL', 'psql', 'queries', 'databases', 'tables', 'connection', 'scripts', 'transactions', 'database administration'. Good coverage of terms a developer would naturally use.	3 / 3
Distinctiveness Conflict Risk	Very specific to PostgreSQL's psql tool - the combination of 'PostgreSQL', 'psql', and 'interactive terminal client' creates a clear niche that wouldn't conflict with general database skills or other database systems.	3 / 3
	Total	12 / 12 Passed

Validation

81%

Warnings & errors only

Checks the skill against the spec for correct structure and formatting. All validation checks must pass before discovery and implementation can be scored.

Validation — 9 / 11 Passed

Validation for skill structure

Criteria	Description	Result
skill_md_line_count	SKILL.md is long (1337 lines); consider splitting into references/ and linking	Warning
frontmatter_unknown_keys	Unknown frontmatter key(s) found; consider removing or moving to metadata	Warning

	Total	9 / 11 Passed

Repository: einverne/dotfiles
Commit: b1b2fe0

Reviewed: 4 months ago

Table of Contents

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