Ask Database

Ask Database

Translate a question into SQL, run it through QueryBear's read-only gateway, and return the answer in plain language.

When to use

• The user asks a question whose answer is stored in their database: "how many active subscriptions do we have", "which users haven't logged in in 30 days", "what's the median order value last week".
• The user pastes a SQL question or asks "can you run this query".

QueryBear is read-only — never propose this skill for INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE/DDL. Mutations will be rejected by the gateway.

Steps

1. Pick a connection.

   • If the user has only one database, skip discovery and call get_schema and run_query with no connection argument.
   • If they have multiple and you don't know which, call list_connections once and ask the user to pick (or infer from context: "production" vs "staging").

2. Read the schema once per task with get_schema. Note the relevant tables and column types before writing SQL. Don't guess column names.

3. Write a focused SELECT.

   • Always include a LIMIT — usually 100 — unless the user explicitly asks for everything.
   • Aggregate when the question is a count, sum, average, or distribution.
   • Prefer one query that answers the question over five exploratory queries.

4. Run it via run_query. If QueryBear rejects the query (blocked column, blocked table, row-limit hit, timeout), surface the error message verbatim — don't paraphrase or guess around it.

5. Translate the result back to English. Lead with the answer. Show the underlying SQL underneath in a code block so the user can audit it. If the result is a list of more than ~10 rows, summarize patterns and offer to drill in.

Output format

**Answer:** <one sentence with the number/list/whatever>

```sql
<the query you ran>

## Don't

- Don't try to mutate. QueryBear blocks it; even attempting wastes a turn.
- Don't `SELECT *` on a wide table without a `LIMIT`.
- Don't guess column names. Re-read the schema if you're unsure.
- Don't return a 500-row table inline. Summarize and offer the full export.

## Reference

QueryBear MCP — read-only SQL gateway with schema introspection, query parsing, and row-limit enforcement. Tools used by this skill: `list_connections`, `get_schema`, `run_query`.