databricks-dabs

Q: How do I install databricks-dabs?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/databricks/databricks-agent-skills --skill databricks-dabs in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/databricks-dabs/ (personal) or .claude/skills/databricks-dabs/ (project).

by databricksAI & Agents

Create, configure, validate, deploy, run, and manage Declarative Automation Bundles (DABs, formerly Databricks Asset Bundles). Use when working with Databricks resources via DABs including dashboards, jobs, pipelines, alerts, volumes, and apps.

Installs: 898
Last 24h: —
Trending rank: —
Security: Not audited

Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/databricks/databricks-agent-skills --skill databricks-dabs

01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads databricks-dabs automatically when relevant.
03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

Declarative Automation Bundles (DABs)

Use this skill for any bundle-related request including creating, configuring, validating, deploying, running, and managing Databricks resources through DABs.

Reference Documentation

The following reference files provide detailed guidance for specific bundle tasks:

Bundle Structure - Bundle structure, databricks.yml configuration, resource definitions, path resolution, variables, and multi-environment targets
SDP Pipelines - Spark Declarative Pipeline configurations for DABs
SQL Alerts - SQL Alert schemas and configuration (critical - API differs from other resources)
Deploy and Run - Validation, deployment, running resources, monitoring logs, and troubleshooting common issues
Resource Permissions - Permission levels and access control for bundle resources, per-resource-type levels, grants vs permissions

When to Use This Skill

Load this skill for any request involving:

Creating new bundle projects or resources
Configuring databricks.yml or resource YAML files
Setting up multi-environment deployments (dev/prod targets)
Deploying or running bundle resources
Managing permissions for bundle resources
Troubleshooting bundle validation or deployment errors
Working with specific resource types (dashboards, jobs, pipelines, alerts, volumes, apps)

General Guidelines

Always validate after configuration changes - Use bundle validate --strict --target <target> after any change
Use reference documentation - Consult the appropriate reference file for detailed patterns and examples
Follow naming conventions - Resource files should use <name>.<resource_type>.yml format
Path resolution is critical - Paths differ based on file location (see Bundle Structure reference)
Preserve existing structure - Keep user comments and structure when editing YAML files
Use variables - Parameterize catalog, schema, and warehouse for multi-environment support
Namespace App names - App names are workspace-global and limited to 30 characters. With Databricks CLI 0.270.0 or later, shared-development defaults should include the app and ${workspace.current_user.domain_friendly_name}; override production with a stable name, and persist an explicit local value when the default is invalid, collides, or must distinguish multiple non-production targets in one workspace. On older CLI versions, require an explicit app_name value instead

Required App Completion Contract

Before validating any bundle that creates or changes an App, re-read the final bundle YAML and confirm all of the following structural requirements:

Each App resource uses a dedicated name variable, such as name: ${var.app_name}, while preserving an existing equivalent variable when present.
For Databricks CLI 0.270.0 or later, each App name variable defaults to a recognizable App prefix plus ${workspace.current_user.domain_friendly_name} for development, and the production target overrides it with a stable name. On older CLI versions, App name variables have no default and each developer must provide values.
No development App name uses ${workspace.current_user.short_name}, a bare ${bundle.target}, or a hardcoded value.

Only after this check, run databricks bundle validate --strict --target <target> --output json and inspect each resolved resources.apps.<key>.name. Each name must contain only lowercase letters, digits, and hyphens and be at most 30 characters. If a resolved name is invalid, collides after normalization, or multiple non-production targets share a workspace, persist a shorter, distinct value in the uncommitted .databricks/bundle/<target>/variable-overrides.json file and validate again. Successful validation alone does not satisfy this contract because validation does not catch every invalid or non-namespaced App name.

Documentation

Declarative Automation Bundles
Bundle Examples Repository - official end-to-end example bundles (jobs, pipelines, dashboards, apps, and more); use as working references for patterns not covered by the reference files above

FAQ

What does the databricks-dabs skill do?

How do I install databricks-dabs?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/databricks/databricks-agent-skills --skill databricks-dabs in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/databricks-dabs/ (personal) or .claude/skills/databricks-dabs/ (project).

Which AI agents can use databricks-dabs?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is databricks-dabs safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains databricks-dabs?

It is published by databricks in databricks/databricks-agent-skills. It has 898 recorded installs.