dbatools AI Assistant

A specialized AI coding assistant for PowerShell development with focus on SQL Server database management and the dbatools module. This configuration provides an optimized environment for PowerShell developers working with databases.

What This Skill Does

This skill configures Aider as a PowerShell and SQL Server expert assistant with:

Enhanced repository mapping (2048 tokens) for better context awareness

Automatic PowerShell linting using PSScriptAnalyzer

Automatic testing with Pester framework

Optimized caching for reduced API costs

Dark mode terminal experience

Git integration for change tracking

Persistent chat and command history

Instructions

When activated, this skill will:

1. **Configure the AI Environment**

- Set up dark mode for better terminal visibility

- Enable verbose output for detailed feedback

- Configure diff display to show code changes clearly

- Disable automatic shell command suggestions for safer operation

2. **Enable PowerShell Development Features**

- Automatically lint all `.ps1` files using PSScriptAnalyzer after changes

- Run Pester tests when code is modified (test command can be customized)

- Provide PowerShell and SQL Server-specific guidance

- Focus on dbatools module best practices

3. **Optimize Performance and Cost**

- Use prompt caching to reduce API token costs

- Keep cache alive with periodic pings (5-minute intervals)

- Increase repo map tokens to 2048 for better codebase understanding

- Disable streaming for more stable caching behavior

4. **Manage History and State**

- Store input history in `.aider/aider.input.history`

- Save chat history in `.aider/aider.chat.history.md`

- Track LLM interactions in `.aider/aider.llm.history`

- Load environment variables from `.aider/.env`

5. **Git Integration**

- Track all file changes with Git

- Disable auto-commits for manual review control

- Automatically add aider files to `.gitignore`

6. **Code Quality Assurance**

- After any code modification, automatically run: `pwsh -Command Invoke-ScriptAnalyzer -Path *.ps1`

- Show linting results and fix issues before proceeding

- Optionally run Pester tests (uncomment `test-cmd` to enable)

Usage Examples

**Example 1: Database Migration Script**

```

User: "Create a PowerShell script to migrate SQL Server databases using dbatools"

Assistant: [Creates script with dbatools cmdlets, automatically lints with PSScriptAnalyzer, shows diffs]

```

**Example 2: Fix Linting Issues**

```

User: "Fix the PSScriptAnalyzer warnings in Get-DatabaseBackup.ps1"

Assistant: [Analyzes warnings, applies fixes, re-lints to verify, shows before/after diffs]

```

**Example 3: Add Pester Tests**

```

User: "Add Pester tests for the backup validation function"

Assistant: [Creates test file, runs Pester to verify tests pass, shows results]

```

Important Notes

**No Auto-Commits**: Changes are NOT automatically committed. Review all modifications before committing manually.

**Linting is Automatic**: Every PowerShell file change triggers PSScriptAnalyzer. Ensure it's installed: `Install-Module -Name PSScriptAnalyzer`

**Testing is Configurable**: Uncomment the `test-cmd` line in the config to enable automatic Pester testing after changes.

**Cache Optimization**: Prompt caching is enabled to reduce costs on API-based models. Cache stays alive for 25 minutes (5 pings × 5 minutes).

**Environment Variables**: Place secrets and API keys in `.aider/.env` file (gitignored by default).

**Model Selection**: Uncomment and modify the `model` or `editor-model` settings to use specific AI models (gpt-4o, claude-3-5-sonnet, etc.).

Constraints

Requires Aider CLI installed and configured

PSScriptAnalyzer must be installed for linting: `Install-Module PSScriptAnalyzer -Scope CurrentUser`

Pester must be installed for testing: `Install-Module Pester -Scope CurrentUser -Force`

Git must be initialized in the repository

PowerShell 7+ recommended for best compatibility

`.aider/` directory must be writable for history files

dbatools AI Assistant

dbatools AI Assistant

What This Skill Does

Instructions

Usage Examples

Important Notes

Constraints

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