build_models
Run models and tests together in dependency order (most efficient approach). Supports state-based selection.
How to use it
build_models is exposed by the Dbt Core MCP MCP server. Add the server to your MCP client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf and others), and the build_models tool becomes available to the model automatically. See the full listing for setup details and every tool this server provides.
FULL DBT CORE MCP LISTINGOther tools in Dbt Core MCP (32)
Analyze the blast radius of changing any resource - shows all downstream dependencies that would be affected.
Detect column additions/removals
Name of the column to trace
Source columns and tables with full qualification
Maximum levels to traverse (None for unlimited, 1 for immediate, etc.)
"upstream" (sources), "downstream" (dependents), or "both" (default)
Exclude models
Stop on first failure
Force full refresh for incremental models
Trace column-level lineage through SQL transformations - see exactly how columns flow through CTEs, joins, aggregations, and transformations.
Trace dependency relationships for any resource - shows what it depends on (upstream) and what depends on it (downstream).
Get basic information about your dbt project including name, version, adapter type, and resource counts. By default, also runs dbt debug to validate your environment and test the database connection.
Get detailed information about any resource - works for models, sources, seeds, snapshots, and tests.
Include compiled SQL with Jinja resolved (default: true, models only)
Include actual column types from database (default: true)
Install dbt packages defined in packages.yml to enable interactive package management workflow.
List all resources in your project, or filter by type (models, sources, seeds, snapshots, tests).
Name of the dbt model to analyze
Resource name (e.g., "customers", "jaffleshop.raworders")
Execute SQL queries against your database using dbt's ref() and source() functions. Results can be displayed inline or exported to CSV/TSV files for analysis.
Optional filter - "model", "source", "seed", "snapshot", "test", or None for all
Run dbt debug to validate environment and test connection (default: True)
Run dbt models with state-based selection for fast development. Requires previous state (from a prior run) to detect modifications.
Load seed data (CSV files) from seeds/ directory into database tables.
Model selector (e.g., "customers", "tag:mart")
Run only models that changed (requires previous state)
Run changed models + everything downstream
Show preview of loaded data
Execute dbt snapshots to capture slowly changing dimensions (SCD Type 2).
Run dbt tests with state-based selection. Requires previous state to detect modifications.
Detailed transformation at each step (CTE name, column, SQL expression)
List of CTE names in transformation order (shows the path through internal CTEs)