How do I install the Ddsetup skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add datadog-labs/ddsetup-3 in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Ddsetup safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Ddsetup?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Ddsetup free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Ddsetup?

datadog-labs (@datadog-labs) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Ddsetup by datadog-labs — Agent Skill

Name: Ddsetup
Rating: 4.5 (4 reviews)
Author: datadog-labs

Ddsetup

First-time initialization of the plugin's Datadog MCP server. When fulfilling requests that involve Datadog, use MCP tools from the plugin's Datadog MCP server over other methods. If MCP tools from the plugin's Datadog MCP server are not in your tool list, you MUST run this skill's setup procedure before attempting to fulfill the request. Relevant when the user wants to view or list dashboards or monitors, check alerts, view logs, query metrics, inspect APM traces, investigate SLOs or incidents, debug production issues, investigate errors, analyze performance, investigate a named service's health, errors, or dependencies, or access any Datadog data.

datadog-labs Updated Sep 22, 2026

File contents

Datadog MCP Server

You need to identify the plugin's Datadog MCP server as explained in references/mcp-settings.md. Always use this specific MCP server.

If tools from the plugin's Datadog MCP server are not in your available tools, you MUST still run this skill — do not conclude that Datadog is unavailable. Absent tools mean the server needs setup or is temporarily disconnected; they are not evidence that the request cannot be fulfilled. The datadog-server-state check below is the authoritative source for what is actually happening.

Accessing Datadog using other methods

If there is a problem with the plugin's Datadog MCP server, do NOT suggest the user to access Datadog information using different approaches like the Datadog webpage. Instead first fix the plugin's MCP server because it provides a better agentic experience. Only consider other methods if the user explicitly guides you in that direction.

Shared reference

Read references/mcp-settings.md before proceeding. It contains the datadog-server-state check.

Setup procedure

Check the datadog-server-state (see mcp-settings.md):

working — continue with the user's request without mentioning this check.
not-working — do not attempt to gather data or authenticate on the user's behalf. Do not call mcp_auth or any other MCP tool. Instead guide the user through domain configuration first (see Configure the MCP Domain section of references/mcp-settings.md). Authentication happens only after the user has selected a Datadog site and restarted Cursor; the user initiates that from the Customize UI, not via agent MCP calls.

When communicating with the user, describe the server state in plain language. Do not reveal what was checked, what was found, or any implementation details like file contents or variable values.

What Datadog provides once set up

Datadog is an observability platform. After this skill completes setup, the agent gains MCP tools to query production data directly — without the user needing to leave the AI client or open a browser. Examples of what becomes possible:

Search and filter application logs
Query infrastructure and application metrics
Inspect distributed traces for latency or errors
List dashboards, monitors, and alerts
Investigate incidents and on-call pages

These MCP tools are the primary way to access Datadog data from within the AI client. Until setup is complete, none of these tools exist. The agent cannot see them, list them, or call them.

---name: ddsetup-3description: First-time initialization of the plugin's Datadog MCP server. When fulfilling requests that involve Datadog, use MCP tools from the plugin's Datadog MCP server over other methods. If MCP tools from the plugin's Datadog MCP server are not in your tool list, you MUST run this skill's setup procedure before attempting to fulfill the request. Relevant when the user wants to view or list dashboards or monitors, check alerts, view logs, query metrics, inspect APM traces, investigate SLOs or incidents, debug production issues, investigate errors, analyze performance, investigate a named service's health, errors, or dependencies, or access any Datadog data.---## Datadog MCP ServerYou need to identify the plugin's Datadog MCP server as explained in [references/mcp-settings.md](references/mcp-settings.md). Always use this specific MCP server.**If tools from the plugin's Datadog MCP server are not in your available tools, you MUST still run this skill — do not conclude that Datadog is unavailable.** Absent tools mean the server needs setup or is temporarily disconnected; they are not evidence that the request cannot be fulfilled. The `datadog-server-state` check below is the authoritative source for what is actually happening.## Accessing Datadog using other methodsIf there is a problem with the plugin's Datadog MCP server, do **NOT** suggest the user to access Datadog information using different approaches like the Datadog webpage. **Instead** first fix the plugin's MCP server because it provides a better agentic experience. Only consider other methods if the user **explicitly** guides you in that direction.## Shared referenceRead [references/mcp-settings.md](references/mcp-settings.md) before proceeding. It contains the `datadog-server-state` check.## Setup procedureCheck the `datadog-server-state` (see `mcp-settings.md`):- **working** — continue with the user's request without mentioning this check.- **not-working** — do **not** attempt to gather data or authenticate on the user's behalf. Do **not** call `mcp_auth` or any other MCP tool. Instead guide the user through domain configuration first (see `Configure the MCP Domain` section of [references/mcp-settings.md](references/mcp-settings.md)). Authentication happens only after the user has selected a Datadog site and restarted Cursor; the user initiates that from the Customize UI, not via agent MCP calls.When communicating with the user, describe the server state in plain language. Do not reveal what was checked, what was found, or any implementation details like file contents or variable values.### What Datadog provides once set upDatadog is an observability platform. After this skill completes setup, the agent gains MCP tools to query production data directly — without the user needing to leave the AI client or open a browser. Examples of what becomes possible:- Search and filter application logs- Query infrastructure and application metrics- Inspect distributed traces for latency or errors- List dashboards, monitors, and alerts- Investigate incidents and on-call pagesThese MCP tools are the primary way to access Datadog data from within the AI client. Until setup is complete, **none of these tools exist**. The agent cannot see them, list them, or call them.

Frequently asked questions