# SQL Server Skills

> SQL Server Skills

- Skill: `vince-winkintel/sql-server-skills` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add vince-winkintel/sql-server-skills`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/vince-winkintel/sql-server-skills/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Data & Analytics
- Author: vince-winkintel (https://skillmd.com/u/vince-winkintel)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/vince-winkintel/sql-server-skills

---


# SQL Server Skills

Comprehensive SQL Server skill for AI agents. Covers performance diagnostics, index analysis, execution plan interpretation, query optimization, schema management, backup/restore, and monitoring — all via `sqlcmd` and T-SQL DMVs.

---

## Requirements

- **`sqlcmd`** — [Microsoft Download](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/tools/sqlcmd/sqlcmd-utility)
- **SQL Server 2016+** — All DMV queries target compatibility level 130+
- **Permissions** — `VIEW SERVER STATE` for most DMV queries; `sysadmin` or `db_owner` for some operations

---

## Quick Connect

```bash
# Windows Authentication (domain-joined machine)
sqlcmd -S "$SQL_SERVER" -E

# SQL Authentication
sqlcmd -S "$SQL_SERVER" -U "$SQL_USER" -P "$SQL_PASSWORD" -d "$SQL_DATABASE"

# Named instance + specific database
sqlcmd -S "$SQL_SERVER" -U "$SQL_USER" -P "$SQL_PASSWORD" -d "$SQL_DATABASE"

# Run a diagnostic script
sqlcmd -S "$SQL_SERVER" -U "$SQL_USER" -P "$SQL_PASSWORD" -d master -i scripts/top-slow-queries.sql

# Run with output to file
sqlcmd -S "$SQL_SERVER" -U "$SQL_USER" -P "$SQL_PASSWORD" -d master -i scripts/wait-stats.sql -o results.txt -s "," -W
```

---

## Skill Organization

| Sub-Skill | Path | Use When |
|-----------|------|----------|
| **Diagnostics** | `sqlserver-diagnostics/SKILL.md` | Server is slow — find the bottleneck (wait stats, slow queries, active requests) |
| **Indexes** | `sqlserver-indexes/SKILL.md` | Find missing indexes, fix fragmentation, drop unused indexes |
| **Execution Plans** | `sqlserver-execution-plans/SKILL.md` | Read and interpret query execution plans, spot bad operators |
| **Query Optimization** | `sqlserver-query-optimization/SKILL.md` | Fix stored procedures, views, anti-patterns, parameter sniffing |
| **Schema** | `sqlserver-schema/SKILL.md` | CREATE/ALTER TABLE, migrations, constraints, data types |
| **Backup/Restore** | `sqlserver-backup/SKILL.md` | BACKUP DATABASE, RESTORE, check backup history |
| **Monitoring** | `sqlserver-monitoring/SKILL.md` | SQL Agent jobs, error log, blocking, deadlocks, long-running transactions |

---

## Decision Tree — What Are You Trying To Do?

```
Is the server slow or a query timing out?
├── I don't know WHERE the bottleneck is → sqlserver-diagnostics
│   └── Start with wait-stats.sql, then top-slow-queries.sql
│
├── I have a specific slow query → sqlserver-execution-plans
│   └── Capture the plan, identify bad operators
│
├── I suspect missing or broken indexes → sqlserver-indexes
│   └── Run missing-indexes.sql + index-fragmentation.sql
│
└── I want to rewrite/fix bad T-SQL code → sqlserver-query-optimization
    └── Check anti-patterns: cursors, non-SARGable, DELETE+INSERT loops

Is there a blocking/locking issue?
└── sqlserver-monitoring (blocking-analysis.sql)

Do I need to change the schema?
└── sqlserver-schema

Do I need to backup or restore a database?
└── sqlserver-backup

Do I need to check SQL Agent jobs or the error log?
└── sqlserver-monitoring
```

---

## Common Workflows

### Workflow 1: Server Is Slow — Start Here

```bash
# Step 1: What is SQL Server waiting on?
sqlcmd -S "$SQL_SERVER" -U "$SQL_USER" -P "$SQL_PASSWORD" -d master -i scripts/wait-stats.sql

# Step 2: Which queries are consuming the most resources?
sqlcmd -S "$SQL_SERVER" -U "$SQL_USER" -P "$SQL_PASSWORD" -d master -i scripts/top-slow-queries.sql

# Step 3: What's running right now?
sqlcmd -S "$SQL_SERVER" -U "$SQL_USER" -P "$SQL_PASSWORD" -d master -i scripts/active-queries.sql
```

Then read `sqlserver-diagnostics/SKILL.md` to interpret results.

---

### Workflow 2: Optimize a Specific Query

```sql
-- Step 1: Capture I/O and time stats
SET STATISTICS IO ON;
SET STATISTICS TIME ON;
GO
-- paste your query here
GO

-- Step 2: Get XML execution plan
SET STATISTICS XML ON;
GO
-- paste your query here
GO
SET STATISTICS XML OFF;
```

Then read `sqlserver-execution-plans/SKILL.md` to interpret the plan.

---

### Workflow 3: Monthly Index Maintenance

```bash
# Find missing indexes (sorted by impact score)
sqlcmd -S "$SQL_SERVER" -U "$SQL_USER" -P "$SQL_PASSWORD" -d "$SQL_DATABASE" -i scripts/missing-indexes.sql

# Check fragmentation
sqlcmd -S "$SQL_SERVER" -U "$SQL_USER" -P "$SQL_PASSWORD" -d "$SQL_DATABASE" -i scripts/index-fragmentation.sql

# Find unused indexes costing write overhead
sqlcmd -S "$SQL_SERVER" -U "$SQL_USER" -P "$SQL_PASSWORD" -d "$SQL_DATABASE" -i scripts/unused-indexes.sql
```

See `sqlserver-indexes/SKILL.md` for interpretation and the rebuild/reorganize decision.

---

### Workflow 4: Investigate Blocking

```bash
# Run blocking analysis
sqlcmd -S "$SQL_SERVER" -U "$SQL_USER" -P "$SQL_PASSWORD" -d master -i scripts/blocking-analysis.sql
```

See `sqlserver-monitoring/SKILL.md` for deadlock investigation and KILL guidance.

---

## Sub-Skill Quick Reference

- **`sqlserver-diagnostics/SKILL.md`** — DMV-based bottleneck analysis (most important starting point)
- **`sqlserver-indexes/SKILL.md`** — Full index lifecycle: find, fix, maintain, drop
- **`sqlserver-execution-plans/SKILL.md`** — Read plans, spot table scans, fix key lookups
- **`sqlserver-query-optimization/SKILL.md`** — Stored proc rewrites, anti-patterns, hints
- **`sqlserver-schema/SKILL.md`** — DDL patterns, migrations, data type guidance
- **`sqlserver-backup/SKILL.md`** — Backup/restore commands and history queries
- **`sqlserver-monitoring/SKILL.md`** — Jobs, error log, blocking, deadlocks