answering-natural-language-questions-with-dbt

Answer natural language questions by querying dbt Semantic Layer metrics and executing SQL.

Updated Mar 13, 2026

Search Tags:#analytics #dbt #business intelligence #sql #data warehouse #semantic layer

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/niits/voz-company-crawler --skill answering-natural-language-questions-with-dbt-niits

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: answering-natural-language-questions-with-dbt
Source: https://github.com/niits/voz-company-crawler/tree/main/.agents/skills/answering-natural-language-questions-with-dbt
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/niits/voz-company-crawler --skill answering-natural-language-questions-with-dbt-niits

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill enables users to get answers to their business questions directly from the data warehouse by leveraging dbt's semantic layer or by writing and executing SQL queries.

Core Features & Use Cases

Semantic Layer Querying: Directly query metrics and dimensions defined in dbt's semantic layer.
SQL Generation & Execution: Write and execute SQL queries against the data warehouse when the semantic layer is insufficient.
Model Discovery: Explore dbt models to understand data structure and write ad-hoc SQL.
Use Case: A marketing manager asks, "What were our total sales last quarter?" This Skill can query the semantic layer for a 'total sales' metric, or if needed, generate and execute SQL against relevant dbt models to provide the answer.

Quick Start

Use the answering-natural-language-questions-with-dbt skill to find out the total sales for last quarter.

Frequently Asked Questions about answering-natural-language-questions-with-dbt

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I answer natural language questions using dbt's semantic layer?▼

This Skill answers natural language questions by translating them into direct queries for metrics and dimensions defined in dbt's semantic layer, executing them against your data warehouse to retrieve precise analytical results without manual SQL.

Can I generate and execute ad-hoc SQL queries against dbt models?▼

Yes, you can generate and execute ad-hoc SQL queries against dbt models. When the semantic layer is insufficient for data analysis, this Skill writes and runs custom SQL directly against your data warehouse to retrieve the required business intelligence.

Do I need the dbt CLI installed to query metrics from a data warehouse?▼

Yes, you need the dbt CLI installed to query metrics from a data warehouse. This Skill requires the dbt CLI and dbt Semantic Layer tools to discover dbt models, understand data structure, and execute queries for comprehensive data retrieval.

How does dbt model discovery work for business intelligence analysis?▼

dbt model discovery works for business intelligence analysis by exploring the dbt manifest and catalog to understand your data structure, allowing the Skill to identify relevant tables and write accurate ad-hoc SQL queries for comprehensive data warehouse retrieval.

What is the best way to get total sales metrics from last quarter using dbt?▼

The best way to get total sales metrics from last quarter using dbt is to query the semantic layer for a defined total sales metric. If the metric is not defined, this Skill generates and executes ad-hoc SQL against relevant dbt models to provide the answer.

What are the limitations of using a semantic layer for data warehouse queries?▼

A limitation of using a semantic layer for data warehouse queries is that it only returns pre-defined metrics and dimensions. When you need custom aggregations or unmapped data, this Skill falls back to generating and executing ad-hoc SQL against dbt models.