Managing Nocodb

---
name: managing-nocodb
description: |
  Use when working with Nocodb — nocoDB spreadsheet-database platform management
  covering base inventory, table structure analysis, view configurations,
  webhook monitoring, shared view auditing, and API token management. Use when
  reviewing database schemas, investigating data sync issues, monitoring webhook
  deliveries, or auditing shared access links.
connection_type: nocodb
preload: false
---

# NocoDB Management Skill

Manage and monitor NocoDB bases, tables, views, webhooks, and shared access.

## MANDATORY: Discovery-First Pattern

**Always list bases and tables before querying specific records or configurations.**

### Phase 1: Discovery

```bash
#!/bin/bash

NOCODB_API="${NOCODB_URL}/api/v1"

nocodb_api() {
    curl -s -H "xc-auth: $NOCODB_API_TOKEN" \
         -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
         "${NOCODB_API}/${1}"
}

echo "=== Bases ==="
nocodb_api "db/meta/projects" | jq -r '
    .list[] |
    "\(.id)\t\(.title)\t\(.type // "database")\t\(.sources | length) sources"
' | column -t

echo ""
echo "=== Tables (first base) ==="
BASE_ID=$(nocodb_api "db/meta/projects" | jq -r '.list[0].id')
nocodb_api "db/meta/projects/${BASE_ID}/tables" | jq -r '
    .list[] |
    "\(.id)\t\(.title)\t\(.columns | length) cols\t\(.meta.rowCount // "?")"
' | column -t | head -20

echo ""
echo "=== Shared Views ==="
nocodb_api "db/meta/projects/${BASE_ID}/tables" | jq -r '.list[].id' | while read tid; do
    nocodb_api "db/meta/tables/${tid}/shared-views" 2>/dev/null | jq -r --arg tid "$tid" '
        .list[]? |
        "\($tid)\t\(.id)\t\(.type)\t\(.password != null)"
    '
done | column -t | head -15
```

### Phase 2: Analysis

```bash
#!/bin/bash

BASE_ID=$(nocodb_api "db/meta/projects" | jq -r '.list[0].id')

echo "=== Table Schema Summary ==="
nocodb_api "db/meta/projects/${BASE_ID}/tables" | jq -r '
    .list[] |
    "\(.title)\t\(.columns | length) cols\tLinks: \([.columns[] | select(.uidt == "LinkToAnotherRecord")] | length)"
' | column -t | head -20

echo ""
echo "=== Webhooks ==="
nocodb_api "db/meta/projects/${BASE_ID}/tables" | jq -r '.list[].id' | while read tid; do
    nocodb_api "db/meta/tables/${tid}/hooks" 2>/dev/null | jq -r --arg tid "$tid" '
        .list[]? |
        "\($tid)\t\(.title)\t\(.event)\t\(.active)"
    '
done | column -t | head -15

echo ""
echo "=== External Sources ==="
nocodb_api "db/meta/projects/${BASE_ID}" | jq -r '
    .sources[]? |
    "\(.id)\t\(.type)\t\(.config.host // "embedded")\t\(.enabled)"
' | column -t

echo ""
echo "=== API Tokens ==="
nocodb_api "db/meta/projects/${BASE_ID}/api-tokens" 2>/dev/null | jq -r '
    .list[]? |
    "\(.id)\t\(.description)\t\(.created_at[:10])"
' | column -t
```

## Output Rules
- **TOKEN EFFICIENCY**: Target <=50 lines per output
- Filter tables by base
- Never dump full record data -- extract schema and metadata only

## Output Format

Present results as a structured report:
```
Managing Nocodb Report
══════════════════════
Resources discovered: [count]

Resource       Status    Key Metric    Issues
──────────────────────────────────────────────
[name]         [ok/warn] [value]       [findings]

Summary: [total] resources | [ok] healthy | [warn] warnings | [crit] critical
Action Items: [list of prioritized findings]
```

Target ≤50 lines of output. Use tables for multi-resource comparisons.

## Anti-Hallucination Rules

1. **NEVER assume resource names** — always discover via CLI/API in Phase 1 before referencing in Phase 2.
2. **NEVER fabricate metric names or dimensions** — verify against the service documentation or `--help` output.
3. **NEVER mix CLI commands between service versions** — confirm which version/API you are targeting.
4. **ALWAYS use the discovery → verify → analyze chain** — every resource referenced must have been discovered first.
5. **ALWAYS handle empty results gracefully** — an empty response is valid data, not an error to retry.

## Counter-Rationalizations

| Shortcut | Counter | Why |
|----------|---------|-----|
| "I'll skip discovery and check known resources" | Always run Phase 1 discovery first | Resource names change, new resources appear — assumed names cause errors |
| "The user only asked for a quick check" | Follow the full discovery → analysis flow | Quick checks miss critical issues; structured analysis catches silent failures |
| "Default configuration is probably fine" | Audit configuration explicitly | Defaults often leave logging, security, and optimization features disabled |
| "Metrics aren't needed for this" | Always check relevant metrics when available | API/CLI responses show current state; metrics reveal trends and intermittent issues |
| "I don't have access to that" | Try the command and report the actual error | Assumed permission failures prevent useful investigation; actual errors are informative |

## Common Pitfalls

- **Shared views**: Shared view links grant public access -- audit and revoke unused links
- **External DB sync**: External database sources may drift from NocoDB schema cache
- **Webhook failures**: Failed webhook deliveries are not retried by default
- **Link columns**: LinkToAnotherRecord columns create implicit junction tables
- **Row limits**: Free tier or self-hosted may have practical row limits based on resources
- **API token scope**: API tokens have full access -- use per-base tokens where possible