lookml_ingest
The lookml_ingest skill maps Looker LookML views, measures, and explores into ktx semantic layer sources through three patterns: overlays for manifest-backed tables, standalones for derived tables or filtered views, and join definitions. Use it when processing LookML files to translate view definitions, dimension/measure declarations, and explore join graphs into equivalent semantic layer configuration, respecting connection validation gates that prevent writes when the LookML connection mismatches the warehouse connection setting.
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Kaelio/ktx /tmp/lookml_ingest && cp -r /tmp/lookml_ingest/packages/cli/src/skills/lookml_ingest ~/.claude/skills/lookml_ingestSKILL.md
# LookML to ktx Semantic Layer
LookML views map to SL sources, `measure:` to measures, `explore: { join: }` to the join graph. This skill lays out the mapping and the three capture shapes.
## Mapping table
| LookML | ktx form | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| `view: X { sql_table_name: …; measure:/dimension:/join: }` | **Overlay** named `X` with `measures`, computed-only `columns`, `column_overrides`, `joins`, `segments` | Manifest-backed; inherit grain/columns |
| `view: X { derived_table: { sql: … } }` | **Standalone** with top-level `sql:`, explicit `grain:` + `columns:` | No manifest entry exists |
| `view: X { sql_always_where: <p> }` | **Standalone** with `sql: SELECT * FROM <base> WHERE <p>` | Enforcement, not opt-in |
| `explore: { join: Y { sql_on: …; relationship: … } }` | `joins:` entry `{ to: Y, on: "<local> = Y.<col>", relationship: … }` | On the overlay or standalone |
| `conditionally_filter` / `always_filter` | `segments: [{ name, expr }]` | Callers reference by name |
| Manifest entry | `_schema/*.yaml` | **Never edit** - auto-imported |
Type map: `date`/`datetime`/`timestamp` → `time`; `yesno` → `boolean`; `number` → `number`; `string` → `string`. Ignore `drill_fields:` (UI only).
## Decision rules
LookML writes target the run connection directly. Unlike Looker runtime ingestion, the LookML adapter is configured on the warehouse ktx connection, so do not look for `targetWarehouseConnectionId` and do not route through a mapping array.
Before any SL write, inspect the WorkUnit notes.
If notes contain:
```text
[LOOKML SL WRITES DISALLOWED]
reason: lookml_connection_mismatch
...
[/LOOKML SL WRITES DISALLOWED]
```
this is a hard gate. The model's declared Looker `connection:` does not match the warehouse connection's configured `expectedLookerConnectionName`. Continue wiki extraction and context candidates. Do not call `sl_write_source` or `sl_edit_source` for that WorkUnit. The runner also removes those write tools for this WorkUnit; treat the missing tools as expected. Preserve the mismatch reason in any `emit_unmapped_fallback` you create.
When SL is allowed:
- **Overlay** when the view is a thin wrapper over a manifest table (`sql_table_name:` matches a manifest entry). Do not repeat base columns or grain.
- **Standalone** when the view uses `derived_table:` or `sql_always_where:`. `sl_write_source` rejects overlays whose name has no manifest entry; that error points here.
- **Skip** a view with only `view:`, `sql_table_name:`, and bare `dimension:` entries (no `measure:`, `description:`, `derived_table:`, `sql_always_where:`, `join:`). The pre-filter already short-circuits those.
- Include `rawPaths` on every `sl_write_source`/`sl_edit_source` call with the exact LookML raw file(s) that support the action.
## Preflight: never guess column names
LookML's `dimension_group: date { type: time; timeframes: [raw, date, week, month] }` expands at Looker-render time into `${view.date_raw}`, `${view.date_date}`, `${view.date_week}`, and so on. **These are NOT physical warehouse columns.** The physical column is whatever the group's `sql:` clause references (e.g. `${TABLE}.date` → column `date`).
A prior replay hallucinated `date_date`, `date_week` into `sql:`, `columns:`, and `grain:` across 4+ standalones; every measure on each affected source returned `400 Unrecognized name: date_date` at query time. Preventable.
Verify each sql_table_name from the LookML view with entity_details before
mapping to an SL source.
## Identifier Verification Protocol
Before writing a wiki page or SL source on any topic:
1. `discover_data({query: "<topic>"})` - see what wikis, SL sources, and raw
tables already exist. Prefer updating existing pages over creating new ones.
Before emitting any `schema.table` or `schema.table.column` into a wiki body,
SL source, `tables:` frontmatter, `sl_refs`, or `emit_unmapped_fallback`:
2. `entity_details({connectionId, targets: [{display: "<identifier>"}]})` -
confirm the identifier resolves; inspect native types, FK/PK, and
sampleValues.
3. For literal values from the source, such as status codes or plan tiers,
check whether they appear in `entity_details` sampleValues for the relevant
column. If sampleValues is short or the sample may have missed real values,
run a `sql_execution` probe with the same warehouse connection id:
`sql_execution({connectionId, sql: "SELECT DISTINCT <col> FROM <ref> LIMIT 50"})`.
4. If the candidate identifier still does not resolve, do one of:
- Use `sql_execution({connectionId, sql: "SELECT 1 FROM <ref> LIMIT 0"})`.
If it errors, the identifier is fictional.
- Wrap the identifier in `[unverified - from <rawPath>]` in the wiki body,
citing the exact raw path that mentioned it.
- When recording `emit_unmapped_fallback` with `no_physical_table`, include
the failing probe error in `clarification`.
5. Never copy `<schema>.<table>` placeholder strings from these instructions
into output.
**Required flow before writing any overlay or standalone**:
1. Call `sl_discover({ query: "<tableName>" })` for each base table you're about to touch. That returns the real columns.
2. If the table isn't in the manifest, use the warehouse `connectionId`
returned by `discover_data` or the target connection chosen from
`sl_discover`, then call a dialect-appropriate SQL probe with that
connection id, for example:
`sql_execution({connectionId: "warehouse", sql: "SELECT 1 FROM analytics.orders LIMIT 0"})`.
Replace `warehouse`, `analytics`, and `orders` with the verified connection,
schema or dataset, and table from the WorkUnit evidence.
3. Use only those names in `sql:`, `columns:`, and `grain:`. Map each `dimension_group` to ONE `{ name: <physical_col>, type: time, role: time }` entry - never one per timeframe.
| LookML input | ktx `columns:` entry |
|---|---|
| `dimension_group: month { type: time; timeframes: [month]; sql: ${TABLE}.month_date ;; }` | `{ name: month_date, typUse when answering a question that needs data from a ktx-connected database - investigating, analyzing, "how many", "show me", "what's the breakdown of", finding records by value, exploring tables, comparing periods, explaining metrics, or any data-analysis request. Triggers even when the user does not say "analytics"; if the answer requires querying a configured ktx connection, this skill applies.
Map dbt `schema.yml` / `properties.yml` models and sources into ktx semantic-layer overlays and column notes. Covers `sources:` vs `models:`, column `data_tests` (not_null, unique, accepted_values, relationships), and how bundle-time writes complement manifest backfill from git sync. Load when the WorkUnit's `skillNames` includes `dbt_ingest` or when raw files are dbt YAML under `models/` / `sources/`.
Identify recurring cross-table historic-SQL analytical intents from a bounded pattern shard and emit typed pattern evidence for deterministic wiki projection.
Convert one changed historic-SQL table usage bucket into typed table usage evidence for deterministic _schema projection.
Classify and resolve conflicts detected during bundle ingest (structural duplicates, definitional contradictions, near-duplicate clusters, re-ingest changes, evictions).
Capture semantic-layer and knowledge updates from a live database schema snapshot.
Extract durable ktx knowledge and semantic-layer contribution proposals from staged Looker runtime dashboard, Look, and explore JSON. Load for WorkUnits whose raw files are under explores/, dashboards/, or looks/.
Convert Metabase questions, models, and metrics into ktx Semantic Layer source definitions. Covers result-metadata to KSL column type mapping, FK/PK detection, near-duplicate deduplication, pre-aggregation decomposition, join-graph connectivity, and how to react to priorProvenance from earlier ingest syncs. Load when the WorkUnit contains `cards/<id>.json` files under a Metabase bundle.