Conciseness

The body stays dense with dbt-specific, non-obvious knowledge (the tests: to data_tests: rename, the trailing-semicolon trap, DAG-skip semantics of dbt build) rather than generic tutorials, so it is efficient. Minor trims exist — the 11-row run_results field table includes inferable entries like adapter_response/compiled, and "This is unlike most SQL editors which add the semicolon by default" is a cuttable tail — keeping it at 4 rather than 5.

Actionability

Guidance is executable end to end: a complete schema.yml example, a singular-test SQL file, a Jinja {% test %} macro, runnable dbt test/build selector commands, and copy-paste jq triage one-liners. Specific examples cover the common cases, matching the 5 anchor.

Workflow Clarity

Sections follow the real sequence (author tests, run, parse run_results.json failures, gate CI) and the jq triage block plus "upload run_results.json as an artifact" give explicit checkpoint guidance. Not 5: there is no explicit fix-and-re-run loop after triage, and the severity-override syntax is deferred to a reference file.

Progressive Disclosure

Both references (references/macros.md, references/ci-integration.md) exist as real, topically relevant files, are one level deep, summarized at point of use, and listed again in a References section. Macro patterns and CI snippets are appropriately split out while core authoring/running/parsing guidance stays inline — matches the 5 anchor.

Specificity

"generic, singular and custom-macro tests, model assertions, reading failures from run_results.json and gating dbt build on the results" lists multiple concrete, verifiable actions spanning authoring, diagnostics, and CI gating. This matches the 5 anchor (comprehensive coverage) rather than 4, since every capability in the skill's scope is named explicitly.

Completeness

The description explicitly answers both questions: the trigger clause "Use whenever a dbt project needs data tests or CI gates" gives a concrete when, and the colon-delimited list gives a concrete what. It matches the 5 anchor exactly; it is not 4 because the when-clause is already explicit and specific.

Trigger Term Quality

"dbt project", "data tests", "CI gates", "run_results.json", and "dbt build" are natural phrases dbt users say, giving good keyword coverage. A few natural terms are missing (e.g. built-in test names like not_null/unique, or the legacy "schema tests" phrasing), which fits 4 rather than the synonym-and-extension completeness of 5.

Distinctiveness Conflict Risk

The niche is clear (dbt data testing and CI gating) and triggers are dbt-specific vocabulary like "run_results.json" and "dbt build", so overlap with other skills is minimal. Fits the 5 anchor (clear niche with distinct triggers).