Automatically discover database skills when working with SQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, database schema design, query optimization, migrations, connection pooling, ORMs, or database selection...
Provides automatic access to comprehensive database design, optimization, and implementation skills.
This skill auto-activates when you're working with:
The Database category contains 19 skills across 2 subcategories:
Database (12 skills):
Plus 4 more in ../database/INDEX.md
Caching (7 skills): See ../caching/INDEX.md
Read ../database/INDEX.md Read ../caching/INDEX.md
Sequence: Selection → Schema design → Connection pooling
Read ../database/database-selection.md # Choose database Read ../database/postgres-schema-design.md # or mongodb-document-design.md Read ../database/database-connection-pooling.md
Sequence: Optimization → Connection pooling → ORM patterns
Read ../database/postgres-query-optimization.md # Debug slow queries Read ../database/database-connection-pooling.md # Check pool settings Read ../database/orm-patterns.md # Fix N+1 queries
Sequence: Schema design → Migrations
Read ../database/postgres-schema-design.md # Design changes Read ../database/postgres-migrations.md # Implement safely
Sequence: Redis structures → Cache patterns
Read ../database/redis-data-structures.md # Redis patterns Read ../caching/INDEX.md # Cache patterns
PostgreSQL skills (relational, ACID, complex queries):
postgres-schema-design.md - Design relational schemaspostgres-query-optimization.md - Optimize complex queriespostgres-migrations.md - Evolve schema over timeMongoDB skills (document-oriented, flexible schema):
mongodb-document-design.md - Design document structuresRedis skills (in-memory, key-value, caching):
redis-data-structures.md - Caching, sessions, rate limitingCross-database skills:
database-selection.md - Start here for new projectsdatabase-connection-pooling.md - All databases need thisorm-patterns.md - When using ORMs (SQLAlchemy, Prisma, Mongoose)Database skills commonly combine with:
API skills (discover-api):
Backend language skills (discover-backend):
Testing skills (discover-testing):
Data pipeline skills (discover-data):
Observability skills (discover-observability):
This gateway skill (~200 lines, ~2K tokens) enables progressive loading:
Total context: 2K + 3K + skill(s) = 5-10K tokens vs 25K+ for entire index.
"Design a PostgreSQL schema for an e-commerce app": Read ../database/postgres-schema-design.md
"Why is my query slow?": Read ../database/postgres-query-optimization.md
"How do I safely change my database schema?": Read ../database/postgres-migrations.md
"Should I use MongoDB or PostgreSQL?": Read ../database/database-selection.md
"Implement caching with Redis": Read ../database/redis-data-structures.md
"Fix N+1 queries in my ORM": Read ../database/orm-patterns.md
Need ACID transactions? YES → PostgreSQL
Need complex queries/joins? YES → PostgreSQL
Need flexible schema? YES → MongoDB
Need real-time caching? YES → Redis
Need full-text search? YES → PostgreSQL (with extensions) or Elasticsearch
Need graph relationships? YES → Neo4j or PostgreSQL (with extensions)
Need analytics? YES → DuckDB or Redpanda + Iceberg
For detailed decision-making: Read ../database/database-selection.md
Schema design → postgres-schema-design.md:
Query optimization → postgres-query-optimization.md:
Migrations → postgres-migrations.md:
MongoDB → mongodb-document-design.md:
Redis → redis-data-structures.md:
Before using ORMs, load: Read ../database/orm-patterns.md
Common ORM pitfalls:
Supported ORMs:
Read ../database/INDEX.md for full category overviewdatabase-selection.md for new projectsNext Steps: Run Read ../database/INDEX.md to see full category details, or load specific skills using the bash commands above.
