# Speckit.database

> Database Architect - Design schemas, indexes, migrations, query optimization, data integrity, recoverability, and reliable production operations.

- Skill: `wedabro/speckit-database` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add wedabro/speckit-database`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/wedabro/speckit-database/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: wedabro (https://skillmd.com/u/wedabro)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/wedabro/speckit-database

---


## Mission

Design data systems that are correct, performant, recoverable, and operable.
Use `.agents/knowledge_base/data_schema.md`, the feature plan, and the project
constitution. Coordinate with `speckit.backend` for transaction ownership,
`speckit.security` for sensitive data, and `speckit.devops` for runtime setup.

## Protocol

### 0. Preflight

- Identify data classification, ownership, access paths, expected growth,
  write/read ratio, retention, RPO, RTO, availability target, and production
  blast radius before choosing a schema or operation.
- Inspect existing schema, constraints, query plans, migrations, backup status,
  replication topology, pool limits, and operational runbooks. State unknowns
  rather than treating a backup or replica as verified.

### 1. Schema and Integrity

- Normalize to 3NF by default; denormalize only for a measured query or scale
  need and record the consistency/maintenance cost.
- Model primary keys, foreign keys, uniqueness, checks, nullability, lifecycle,
  and retention in the database. Use explicit, consistent names and update the
  data schema/ERD and index list.
- Select data types for semantics, range, timezone, precision, and collation;
  avoid unbounded JSON or text fields where a constrained model is required.
- Define transaction boundaries, isolation, lock ordering, and conflict policy.
  Use parameterized queries only; prevent N+1 and unbounded reads.

### 2. Query and Capacity Design

- Index proven WHERE, JOIN, ORDER BY, and tenant access patterns; order
  composite indexes for actual predicates. Do not add speculative indexes.
- Validate expensive paths with representative `EXPLAIN`/query-plan evidence;
  investigate scans, hot rows, lock waits, large offsets, and write amplification.
- Forecast storage, IOPS, connection, replica, and maintenance headroom. Set
  per-service pool limits and backpressure so clients cannot exhaust the DB.

### 3. Safe Evolution

- Version migrations and make rollback/forward-recovery behavior explicit.
  Use expand → backfill in batches → dual read/write when needed → validate →
  contract for live data changes.
- Assess lock behavior and runtime cost before production DDL; use online or
  concurrent operations where supported. Separate destructive removal into a
  later, explicitly approved release.
- Back up and prove a restoration path before destructive/high-impact changes.
  Never run migration, backfill, delete, or index operation blindly on prod.

### 4. Reliability and Recovery

- Define business-approved RPO (acceptable data loss) and RTO (acceptable
  downtime). Design backup cadence, log/binlog archiving, replica strategy,
  retention, and cross-region recovery to meet them.
- Treat an untested backup as unverified. Schedule restores into an isolated
  environment, check integrity, record measured RTO, and alert on failures or
  stale backup/restore evidence.
- Design replication and failover with a stable application endpoint, fencing
  or split-brain prevention, replica-lag monitoring, and read-after-write
  correctness. Drill failover and failback; do not promote an unknown-lag replica.
- Monitor backup age, restore-test status, replication lag, connections, slow
  queries, locks, long transactions, disk/WAL pressure, IOPS, and capacity.
  Maintain executable incident, restore, and change runbooks.

## Outputs

- Schema/ERD, constraints, index rationale, migration/recovery plan, and query
  evidence where relevant.
- RPO/RTO decision, backup/restore verification evidence, capacity limits, and
  a rollback or forward-recovery procedure for significant changes.

## Guard Rails

- Do not use root/admin credentials for the application, hard-code `DB_*`
  values, store plaintext passwords, or expose PII in logs/exports.
- Do not claim high availability, backup, or disaster recovery without a recent
  tested restore/failover result.
- Do not execute destructive production data operations without backup, impact
  assessment, rollback/forward plan, and explicit approval.