Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Google Cloud Database Onboarding agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The Google Cloud Database Onboarding skill (cloud-databases-onboarding) is an agent skill that helps you choose a Google Cloud database service for a new project. It asks you a few questions about your data, workload, scale and any migration plans, then suggests one service with reasons. This guide explains what agent skills are, how to install this one, how to trigger it, and what to check before you act on its output.
Google Cloud Database Onboardinggoogle/skills · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download and unzip. Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
- 2Or upload it in the Claude apps. Go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the skill.
- 3Describe your database need. Ask a natural question such as 'Help me pick a database' and answer the agent's questions about data, workload, scale and migration.
- 4Review the recommendation. Check the single suggested service and the reasoning behind it before going further.
- 5Review drafted files. If you proceed, the agent drafts Terraform or gcloud files. Read them before you run anything.
- 6Validate and apply yourself. Run the bundled validation script and your own validation, then apply any changes yourself or through your review process.
What is an agent skill and what does this one do?
An agent skill is a folder of instructions and supporting files that an AI agent loads when a task matches the skill's description. This skill covers one job: choosing a Google Cloud database.
When you ask which database to use, the agent asks questions about your data model, workload, scale and migration context. It then compares your answers against a built-in recommendation matrix and suggests one service with its reasoning. If you decide to go ahead, it drafts Terraform or gcloud configuration files for you to review. The skill says it is designed not to run live changes to your cloud account itself.
Install the skill (ZIP download or upload)
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. For a personal setup, place the unzipped folder in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder.
You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project only: .claude/skills/ inside your project
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills (upload)
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need a special command. The skill's description matches requests such as 'What database service should I use?' or 'Help me pick a database', and requests to create a new database on Google Cloud.
It is not meant for general Google Cloud maintenance, managing existing databases, or database migrations, so those requests will not match its purpose.
- What database service should I use for a mobile app with offline sync?
- Help me pick a database for a new analytics project on Google Cloud.
- I want to create a new database on Google Cloud. Draft the Terraform for it.
What you need before you start
The skill runs scripts and requires some tools. It does not use the network, according to its listing.
To draft and validate commands you need the Google Cloud SDK (gcloud). If you want Terraform configuration validated, you need Terraform. The bundled validation script runs with Python 3.
- Google Cloud SDK (gcloud) for drafted or validated commands
- Terraform, if you want Terraform configuration validated
- Python 3 to run the bundled validation script
python3 scripts/database_onboarding_skill.py --verifySafety notes: scripts and network
The skill includes scripts, so review them before installing. The bundled script is scripts/database_onboarding_skill.py. Its documented use in the skill is verification of the reference files and formatting.
The skill's instructions say it must only draft provisioning commands for review and must not execute write operations. Its gcloud guidance avoids --quiet and -q so you can review each command. Commands run directly in a terminal are tagged with an attribution environment variable, as described in the skill's attribution file. The skill does not use network access, according to its listing.
- Review scripts/database_onboarding_skill.py before running it
- Apply drafted Terraform or gcloud changes yourself after review
- The skill is not for managing or changing existing databases
Tips for better recommendations
Answer the discovery questions with specifics. The skill is built to avoid recommending a database before it understands your data model, transaction needs and throughput.
Point the agent at the folder where the Terraform or gcloud files should go, and ask it to confirm the file paths before it changes anything.
- Describe transaction needs (strict consistency or eventual) plainly
- Give rough scale and growth expectations
- Mention any migration from an existing database up front, even though the skill does not handle the migration itself
What people use it for
- Picking a database for a new web app on Google Cloud
- Getting a plain-English comparison before committing to a database service
- Drafting starter Terraform or gcloud files for a new database for team review
- Creating a structured checklist of data, workload and scale questions for a team decision
Frequently asked questions
Is the Google Cloud Database Onboarding skill free?
The skill is published under the Apache-2.0 licence, as listed on this page. Google Cloud itself may charge for the databases you create, so check Google Cloud pricing before provisioning.
How do I install the cloud-databases-onboarding skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
What do I need to run the skill?
You need the Google Cloud SDK (gcloud) for drafted or validated commands, Python 3 to run the bundled validation script, and Terraform if you want Terraform configuration validated.
Does the skill change my live Google Cloud account?
The skill says it is designed not to run live changes. It drafts configuration files for you to review, and leaves terraform apply or gcloud execution to human review or CI/CD pipelines.
Can this skill help me migrate or manage an existing database?
No. The skill says it is not for general maintenance, managing existing databases, or database migrations. Use it for choosing a service and drafting starter provisioning code for a new database.
Is this skill a replacement for a database expert?
No. The recommendation comes from a simplified matrix, so the skill is not suited to final production decisions without expert review.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you are new to Google Cloud or want a structured checklist before choosing a database for a new project. Skip it for existing databases, migrations, or final production decisions made without an expert, and avoid it if you cannot review gcloud or Terraform code yourself.
Download the skill