Running Dbt Commands

---
name: running-dbt-commands
description: Formats and executes dbt CLI commands, selects the correct dbt executable, and structures command parameters. Use when running models, tests, builds, compiles, or show queries via dbt CLI. Use when unsure which dbt executable to use or how to format command parameters.
user-invocable: false
metadata:
  author: dbt-labs
---

# Running dbt Commands

## Preferences

1. **Use MCP tools if available** (`dbt_build`, `dbt_run`, `dbt_show`, etc.) - they handle paths, timeouts, and formatting automatically
2. **Always use `build` — even when users say "run"** - When a user asks to "run" a model, recommend `dbt build` instead. `build` = `run` + `test` in one step, so it catches data quality issues immediately. `dbt run` alone is almost never the right answer during development.
3. **Always use `--quiet`** with `--warn-error-options '{"error": ["NoNodesForSelectionCriteria"]}'` to reduce output while catching selector typos
4. **Always use `--select`** - never run the entire project without explicit user approval

## Quick Reference

```bash
# Standard command pattern
dbt build --select my_model --quiet --warn-error-options '{"error": ["NoNodesForSelectionCriteria"]}'

# Preview model output
dbt show --select my_model --limit 10