Run dbt model review and tests from the workbench plugin

At a glance

Learning objectives

• Run /dbt-review-model, /dbt-write-tests, and /dbt-impact on a model change
• Read the review output against the model's grain and unique key
• Rank the generated tests by blast radius before accepting them

What you need

• A dbt project with a dev target in profiles.yml
• [object Object]
• A pull request or branch that changes a model

Steps

1. Run /dbt-review-model. (from plugin-dbt-workbench )
2. State a model's grain and match it to its unique key test. (from skill-dbt-model-review )
3. Run /dbt-write-tests. (from plugin-dbt-workbench )
4. Rank tests by the cost of the failure they prevent. (from skill-dbt-test-writer )
5. Run /dbt-impact. (from plugin-dbt-workbench )

Check yourself

• /dbt-review-model returns findings that reference the model's grain and materialisation.
• /dbt-write-tests proposes tests ordered by blast radius, and /dbt-impact lists the downstream nodes.

Worked example

amp plugin add de-agent/dbt-workbench

/dbt-review-model   # model review: grain + materialisation findings
/dbt-write-tests    # proposed test set, ranked by blast radius
/dbt-impact         # downstream nodes before you merge

models:
  - name: <model>
    columns:
      - name: <grain key>
        tests:
          - unique
          - not_null
      - name: <foreign key>
        tests:
          - relationships:
              to: ref('<dimension model>')
      - name: <enum column>
        tests:
          - accepted_values:
              values: [<allowed values>]

Sourced from

• dbt Workbench
• dbt Model Review
• dbt Test Writer

Security scan

Last sweep 2026-10-24: 0 finding(s), 0 marked as examples.

Common gotchas

• The plugin holds warehouse credentials through the dbt profile — scope it to a dev target.
• Late-arriving rows older than the watermark are silently dropped; keep the lookback window.
• is_incremental() must guard the filter or every full run is a full reload.

Production considerations

• The full-refresh guard hook blocks destructive rebuilds — leave it enabled.
• The plugin runs with filesystem read-write and warehouse network access; review its permissions before installing.

Diagram

dbt workbench
   |
   |- /dbt-review-model --> grain + materialisation findings
   |
   |- /dbt-write-tests --> tests ranked by blast radius
   |
   |- /dbt-impact --> downstream nodes --> merge with guard hook on

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