Setup Metabase Instance

Set Up a Local Metabase Instance

This skill helps users run a local Metabase instance for development, testing, or exploration.

Important: Network Access Required

This skill requires network access. All curl, java, and docker commands must be run outside the Cursor sandbox. Request full network access or run outside the sandbox before attempting these commands. Do not run them inside the sandbox as they will fail.

Prerequisites Check

Run these checks in order. Stop at the first successful path.

1. Check for Java 21+

Expand PATH first to avoid the macOS stub at /usr/bin/java:

export PATH=”/opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@21/bin:/opt/homebrew/bin:/usr/local/opt/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/opt/openjdk@21/bin:/usr/local/bin:$PATH”
java -version 2>&1 | head -1

If the output shows Java 21 or higher → use Section A (JAR). Keep this PATH export for all subsequent commands. If not found or version < 21 → check Docker (step 2).

2. Check for Docker

docker --version 2>&1

If Docker is available: Use the Docker method (Section B).

If neither Java 21+ nor Docker is available: Direct the user to install Docker:

• macOS/Windows: Docker Desktop
• Linux: Docker Engine

Tell them to re-run this skill after installing Docker.

Section A: JAR Method (Java 21+)

A1. Check for existing Metabase directory

ls -la ./metabase 2>/dev/null

If ./metabase exists and contains files, ask the user:

• "A ./metabase directory already exists. Should I use it (preserving existing data) or remove it and start fresh?"

If the user wants to start fresh:

rm -rf ./metabase

A2. Create directory and download JAR

mkdir -p ./metabase

Get the latest OSS release URL and download:

curl -sL -o ./metabase/metabase.jar https://downloads.metabase.com/latest/metabase.jar

Tell the user this may take a minute (the JAR is ~400MB).

A3. Check if port 3000 is in use

lsof -i :3000 2>/dev/null | grep LISTEN

If the port is in use, ask the user:

• "Port 3000 is already in use. Would you like to use a different port?"
• Suggest port 3001, 3002, etc.

Store the chosen port as $PORT (default: 3000).

A4. Start Metabase in the background

Use the same PATH as in the Java prerequisite step when the agent uses a fresh shell (prepend the macOS Homebrew line again if unsure). Optionally set JAVA_CMD=$(command -v java) after that export so you invoke the same binary you version-checked.

export PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@21/bin:/opt/homebrew/bin:/usr/local/opt/openjdk/bin:/usr/local/opt/openjdk@21/bin:/usr/local/bin:$PATH"
cd ./metabase && \
  MB_DB_FILE=./metabase.db \
  MB_JETTY_PORT=$PORT \
  nohup java -jar metabase.jar > metabase.log 2>&1 &
echo $! > metabase.pid

Tell the user: "Metabase is starting in the background. I'll check when it's ready..."

Also mention:

• "View logs: tail -f ./metabase/metabase.log"
• "The process ID is saved in ./metabase/metabase.pid"

A5. Wait for Metabase to be ready

Poll the health endpoint every 5 seconds until it returns {"status":"ok"}:

curl -s http://localhost:$PORT/api/health

Keep polling until the response is {"status":"ok"}. Metabase usually starts within 30-60 seconds.

If the health check keeps failing after 2 minutes, check if the process is still running:

ps -p $(cat ./metabase/metabase.pid 2>/dev/null) > /dev/null 2>&1 && echo "Running" || echo "Not running"
tail -50 ./metabase/metabase.log

Once healthy, tell the user: "Metabase is ready at http://localhost:$PORT"

Section B: Docker Method

B1. Check for existing Metabase directory

ls -la ./metabase 2>/dev/null

If ./metabase exists and contains files, ask the user:

• "A ./metabase directory already exists. Should I use it (preserving existing data) or remove it and start fresh?"

If the user wants to start fresh:

rm -rf ./metabase

B2. Create directory for data persistence

mkdir -p ./metabase

B3. Check if port 3000 is in use

lsof -i :3000 2>/dev/null | grep LISTEN

If the port is in use, ask the user for an alternative port. Store as $PORT (default: 3000).

B4. Check for existing Metabase container

docker ps -a --filter "name=metabase-local" --format "{{.Names}} {{.Status}}"

If a container named metabase-local exists:

• If running: Ask if they want to stop it and start fresh, or keep using it
• If stopped: Ask if they want to remove it and start fresh, or restart it

To remove an existing container:

docker rm -f metabase-local 2>/dev/null

B5. Get the latest Metabase version

The latest tag on Docker Hub is often outdated. Get the actual latest version from GitHub:

curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/metabase/metabase/releases/latest | grep '"tag_name"' | head -1

This returns something like "tag_name": "v0.52.5". Extract the version (e.g., v0.52.5).

Verify the Docker image exists:

docker manifest inspect metabase/metabase:$VERSION 2>&1 | head -5

If it doesn't exist, fall back to latest.

B6. Start Metabase container

docker run -d \
  --name metabase-local \
  -p $PORT:3000 \
  -v "$(pwd)/metabase:/metabase.db" \
  -e MB_DB_FILE=/metabase.db/metabase.db \
  -e MB_JETTY_HOST=0.0.0.0 \
  -e MB_ENABLE_EMBEDDING_SDK=true \
  -e MB_ENABLE_EMBEDDING_SIMPLE=true \
  metabase/metabase:$VERSION

Tell the user: "Metabase is starting via Docker. I'll check when it's ready..."

B7. Wait for Metabase to be ready

Poll the health endpoint every 5 seconds until it returns {"status":"ok"}:

curl -s http://localhost:$PORT/api/health

Keep polling until the response is {"status":"ok"}. Metabase usually starts within 30-60 seconds.

If the health check keeps failing after 2 minutes, check the container status and logs:

docker ps --filter "name=metabase-local" --format "{{.Status}}"
docker logs metabase-local 2>&1 | tail -50

Once healthy, tell the user:

• "Metabase is ready at http://localhost:$PORT"
• "View logs: docker logs -f metabase-local"

Next Steps: MCP Setup

Once the health check passes and Metabase is ready, ask the user:

"Would you like to set up the Metabase MCP so you can query your data directly from the IDE?"

• If they agree, invoke the setup-metabase-mcp skill. The MCP setup will:

  • Configure the MCP server with the local instance URL (http://localhost:$PORT)
  • Guide them through authentication
  • Enable querying tables, metrics, and dashboards from the IDE

• If they decline, let them know they can set up the MCP later by asking for "Metabase MCP setup".

Stopping Metabase

When the user asks to stop Metabase, determine which method was used.

Stop JAR-based Metabase

if [ -f ./metabase/metabase.pid ]; then
  kill $(cat ./metabase/metabase.pid) 2>/dev/null && rm ./metabase/metabase.pid && echo "Metabase stopped"
else
  # Fallback: find by process
  pkill -f "metabase.jar" && echo "Metabase stopped"
fi

Stop Docker-based Metabase

docker stop metabase-local && echo "Metabase stopped"

To also remove the container (but keep data):

docker rm metabase-local

Checking Metabase Status

Check JAR status

if [ -f ./metabase/metabase.pid ] && ps -p $(cat ./metabase/metabase.pid) > /dev/null 2>&1; then
  echo "Metabase (JAR) is running with PID $(cat ./metabase/metabase.pid)"
else
  echo "Metabase (JAR) is not running"
fi

Check Docker status

docker ps --filter "name=metabase-local" --format "{{.Names}}: {{.Status}}"

Environment Variables Reference

These can be customized when starting Metabase:

For all options, see the Metabase Environment Variables documentation.

Troubleshooting

"Address already in use"

Another process is using the port. Either stop that process or choose a different port.

"Java version too old"

Install Java 21+ or use the Docker method instead.

"Unable to locate a Java Runtime" on macOS

You are likely hitting /usr/bin/java (stub). Prepend Homebrew OpenJDK to PATH as in Check for Java 21+, or call the real binary explicitly, e.g. /opt/homebrew/bin/java -version.

Metabase starts but is slow

First startup takes longer as it initializes the database. Subsequent starts are faster.

"Cannot connect to Docker daemon"

Make sure Docker Desktop is running (macOS/Windows) or the Docker service is started (Linux).