# Coral

> Query live sources through Coral MCP. Use when the task needs GitHub, Jira, Slack, Linear, Datadog, Sentry, files, or connected data.

- Skill: `withcoral/coral` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add withcoral/coral`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/withcoral/coral/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: withcoral (https://skillmd.com/u/withcoral)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/withcoral/coral

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# Coral

## Overview

Use this as the Coral entrypoint for external context. Query Coral before answering from assumptions or changing code when live external state matters.

- Use Coral MCP tools/resources for discovery and query.
- Do not use the `coral` CLI, compile Coral, copy binaries, or bootstrap a server unless explicitly asked.
- Do not switch to vendor tools for the same read unless the user asks to continue without Coral or Coral does not cover the source.

## Support Checks

- Confirm Coral MCP tools/resources before making external-system claims.
- If Coral MCP is unavailable, state the blocker and stop; no local recovery.
- Distinguish missing source config, missing credentials, query errors, and empty results.
- If scope is missing, inspect guidance first, then ask for the smallest missing identifier.

## Workflow

1. Identify the needed source, entity, and scope from the user request.
2. Discover relevant tables, table functions, columns, and filters with `search`; use `list_catalog` when you need a paged catalog view narrowed by catalog, schema, or kind.
3. Use `describe` with `schema` and a bare `surface` name when you need exact metadata; add `catalog` for a three-part table. Coral resolves whether the surface is a table or table function. Keep the request target or earlier discovery result because an exact response returns metadata without repeating the target. Read `kind`, `guide`, `required_filters`, function arguments, and result columns; use `coral://guide` for query patterns and `coral://tables` for table summaries.
4. Inspect `coral.columns` for table columns, required filters, virtual columns, and descriptions.
5. Inspect `coral.table_functions` for source-scoped function guides, arguments, and result columns.
6. Inspect `coral.inputs` when source configuration affects the answer.
7. Query with `sql`: select useful columns, include required filters or function arguments, and add `LIMIT` unless complete output is requested.
8. Summarize evidence, gaps, and next action. If editing code, use the Coral result to guide changes.

## Query Rules

- Use each table's `sql_reference` when available. Empty `catalog_name` means `schema_name.table_name`; otherwise use `catalog_name.schema_name.table_name`. Quote identifiers separately, never the whole qualified reference.
- Use each table function's `sql_call_example`, filling in required arguments before querying it.
- Keep metadata discovery bounded: page catalog discovery, query `coral.columns` for one table or `coral.table_functions` for one source when possible, and add `LIMIT` when reading broad metadata directly.
- Virtual columns are filter-only and return `NULL`; check `is_virtual`.
- Required filters must appear in `WHERE`; inspect `required_filters` and `is_required_filter`.
- Secret inputs always return `value = NULL`; use `is_set`.
- Cross-source joins work and execute locally after source scans complete.
- Keep answers compact: name the source, table, required filters, and query shape. Avoid exhaustive column dumps unless requested.
- Lead with the answer or blocker. Include SQL only when it helps the user trust or reuse the result.

## Boundaries

- Manifest fallback is only by request; inspect the smallest relevant sections and summarize table/filter shape.
- Do not paste large manifest excerpts, present source-wide conclusions without query coverage, or treat query failures as empty results.

## Feedback

If the MCP `feedback` tool is available, file feedback when Coral blocks progress, pushes an unproductive pattern, or a vendor tool was easier for the same read.

Include `trying_to_do`, `tried`, and `stuck`, with table/source names, query snippets, and error text. Do not file feedback for ordinary empty results or missing credentials unless Coral made the problem unclear.