> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lightdash.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Agent skills

> Use AI coding agents like Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, and Antigravity to build and maintain your Lightdash semantic layer.

AI coding agents can help you build and maintain your Lightdash semantic layer more efficiently. By installing Lightdash skills, you enable these agents to understand your semantic layer structure and use the latest Lightdash features correctly.

## What are skills?

Skills are context files that teach AI coding agents about Lightdash's YAML configuration, metrics, dimensions, and best practices. They're powered by [agentskills.io](https://agentskills.io) and provide agents with the knowledge they need to:

* Generate correct YAML configurations for metrics and dimensions
* Follow Lightdash naming conventions and best practices
* Understand table relationships and joins
* Use the latest Lightdash features and syntax

## Supported tools

Lightdash skills work with popular AI coding assistants:

* **Cursor** - AI-powered code editor
* **Claude Code** - Anthropic's coding assistant
* **Codex** - OpenAI's code generation model
* **Antigravity** - AI development platform
* **GitHub Copilot** - GitHub's AI pair programmer (supports skills in `.github/skills` and `.claude/skills` directories). Learn more about [Copilot agent skills](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/agents/about-agent-skills).
* Other tools that support the skills format

## Installing skills

Use the Lightdash CLI to install skills for your preferred AI coding agent.

### Prerequisites

* [Lightdash CLI installed](/guides/cli/how-to-install-the-lightdash-cli)

### Install globally

Install skills globally to use them across all your projects (recommended, since the version of skills is tied to the version of the Lightdash CLI, which is typically installed globally):

```bash theme={null}
# Install globally for Claude (default)
lightdash install-skills --global

# Install globally for Cursor
lightdash install-skills --agent cursor --global

# Install globally for Codex
lightdash install-skills --agent codex --global
```

Global skills are installed to your home directory (e.g., `~/.claude/skills/`).

### Install for your project

Install skills at the project level for team collaboration:

```bash theme={null}
# Install for Claude (default)
lightdash install-skills

# Install for Cursor
lightdash install-skills --agent cursor

# Install for Codex
lightdash install-skills --agent codex
```

This creates a skills directory at your git root:

* `.claude/skills/` for Claude (also works with GitHub Copilot)
* `.cursor/skills/` for Cursor
* `.codex/skills/` for Codex

<Tip>
  **Using GitHub Copilot?** Run `lightdash install-skills` (the default command) to install skills to `.claude/skills/`. GitHub Copilot automatically reads skills from this directory.
</Tip>

### Install to a custom path

Specify a custom installation path:

```bash theme={null}
lightdash install-skills --path ./my-project
```

## Using skills with your agent

Once installed, your AI coding agent automatically picks up the Lightdash skills. You can then ask your agent to:

* Create new metrics and dimensions
* Generate YAML configurations for dbt models
* Fix validation errors in your semantic layer
* Refactor existing metric definitions
* Add joins between tables

### Example prompts

```
Create a revenue metric that sums the amount field from the orders table
```

```
Add a customer_segment dimension based on the lifetime_value field
```

```
Generate the Lightdash YAML configuration for my users dbt model
```

The agent uses the installed skills to generate correct, up-to-date Lightdash configurations.

## Keeping skills updated

Run `lightdash --version` to check if your skills are up to date. This command returns the relevant skill update command based on where your skills are currently installed and whether they're outdated.

```bash theme={null}
lightdash --version
```

This ensures your agent always has the latest skill definitions with the newest Lightdash features and best practices.