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Guide · Agent skill

How to use the ClickHouse Analytics Patterns agent skill

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

The clickhouse-io skill gives an AI agent a reference of ClickHouse-specific patterns for table design, fast queries, batched inserts and materialized views. It is written for engineers, data engineers and analysts who work with ClickHouse analytics. After this guide you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for it in plain language, and what to check before using its examples.

ClickHouse Analytics Patternsaffaan-m/ECC · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Download the ZIP. Download the skill ZIP from this page. It contains SKILL.md.
  2. 2Unzip into a skills folder. Unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project.
  3. 3Or upload in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the skill.
  4. 4Describe a ClickHouse task. Ask in plain words, naming the table, engine or query you need.
  5. 5Prepare a ClickHouse database. Have a ClickHouse database ready if you plan to run the example SQL.
  6. 6Review before running. Check any generated SQL or insert code against your schema before running it, especially on production data.

What the skill makes the agent do

Agent skills are folders of instructions that an agent can load when a task matches them. This one, named clickhouse-io, is documentation-style guidance about ClickHouse, a column-oriented database built for fast analytical queries over large datasets.

When the skill is active, the agent can draw on patterns for choosing table engines such as MergeTree, ReplacingMergeTree and AggregatingMergeTree, writing filtered and aggregated queries, batching inserts instead of inserting row by row, and building materialized views for real-time summaries.

  • Table design examples using MergeTree, ReplacingMergeTree and AggregatingMergeTree
  • Query tips, including filtering on indexed columns first and using uniq and quantile
  • Batched and streaming insert examples in TypeScript
  • Materialized view examples for hourly statistics
  • Ready-made SQL for slow queries, table sizes, daily active users, retention, funnels and cohorts

Install the skill from the ZIP or the Claude apps

Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. The package contains one file, SKILL.md. To use the skill across your projects, unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/. To use it in one project only, unzip it into that project's .claude/skills/ folder.

If you use the Claude apps, you can instead upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

  • Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/
  • Project install: the .claude/skills/ folder inside your project

Trigger the skill with natural requests

You do not need a special command. Describe a ClickHouse task in plain words and the agent can use the skill when the request matches its description, which covers ClickHouse database patterns, query optimization, analytics and data engineering.

Be specific about the table, the engine or the query you need. The more the request names ClickHouse concepts, the more likely the agent will pick up the right patterns.

  • "Design a ClickHouse table for hourly trade volume per market, using AggregatingMergeTree."
  • "Rewrite this ClickHouse query so the filter on date runs before the LIKE filter."
  • "Write a batched insert in TypeScript for my events table."
  • "Give me ClickHouse SQL to find queries slower than one second in the last hour."

Check what you need before running the examples

The skill only contains examples. It does not run them, and it does not connect to a database by itself. To run the example SQL you need a ClickHouse database. The TypeScript insert examples need Node.js and the @clickhouse/client library.

If you use the examples as written, the TypeScript code reads CLICKHOUSE_URL, CLICKHOUSE_USER and CLICKHOUSE_PASSWORD from environment variables. The URL falls back to http://localhost:8123 if CLICKHOUSE_URL is not set.

  • A ClickHouse database to run the SQL against
  • Node.js with the @clickhouse/client library for the TypeScript examples
  • Environment variables CLICKHOUSE_URL, CLICKHOUSE_USER and CLICKHOUSE_PASSWORD if you use the examples as written
  • The skill runs no scripts and uses no network access

Safety notes before you use the code

The examples are illustrative. They include a SELECT * query and a sample insert loop marked as bad, and they may need tuning for your real schema. Review any SQL before running it against production data, especially statements that write or create tables.

The skill itself runs no scripts and makes no network calls. Any database access comes from code you or the agent run in your own environment.

  • Review generated SQL and insert code before running it on production data
  • Replace the sample table and column names with your own schema
  • Keep database credentials in environment variables rather than in files

Tips for getting better results

Give the agent your real table definition and a sample of your query. The patterns are easier to apply when they match your schema.

Ask for the trade-off, not just the answer. For example, ask why a table uses ReplacingMergeTree and what duplicates it can leave behind.

  • Paste the CREATE TABLE statement for the table you are querying
  • Share the query and say how long it takes now
  • Ask for batched inserts rather than one insert per row

What people use it for

  • Choosing between MergeTree, ReplacingMergeTree and AggregatingMergeTree for an event table
  • Rewriting a slow analytics query to filter on indexed columns first
  • Replacing row-by-row inserts in a data pipeline with batched inserts
  • Setting up an hourly materialized view that stores summed volume and unique users
  • Writing ClickHouse SQL for daily active users, retention or conversion funnels

Frequently asked questions

How do I install the clickhouse-io skill?

Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. Put it in ~/.claude/skills/ to use it everywhere, or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder to use it in one project. In the Claude apps, you can upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

What do I need to use the clickhouse-io skill?

You need a ClickHouse database to run the example SQL. The TypeScript insert examples also need Node.js and the @clickhouse/client library. If you use the examples as written, set CLICKHOUSE_URL, CLICKHOUSE_USER and CLICKHOUSE_PASSWORD.

Is the clickhouse-io skill free?

The skill is published under the MIT licence. This page does not state any price, so check the source repository for licence terms in full.

Does the skill connect to my database?

No. The skill is documentation-style guidance with examples. It does not run anything by itself and it does not connect to or change a live database.

Can I use this skill with PostgreSQL or BigQuery?

No, not directly. The SQL is ClickHouse-specific, including functions such as uniq, quantile and the AggregateFunction state types. Use a skill or guide written for your own database instead.

Why does the skill show an insert example marked as bad?

It contrasts batched inserts, marked PASS, with one insert per row in a loop, marked FAIL, because single-row inserts are slow. Use the batched pattern for real pipelines and check the examples against your own schema before use.

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Our verdict

Choose this skill if you design ClickHouse tables, write analytics queries or build batched ingestion pipelines and want a reference the agent can draw on. Pick something else if you use a different database such as PostgreSQL or BigQuery, or if you want an agent that connects to and changes a live database on its own.

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