
Skill
cayenne-full-db-sync
synchronize Cayenne projects with database
Description
Use this skill when the user wants to bring their WHOLE Cayenne project in line with the database in one shot — the mapping, the Object-layer names, and the generated Java classes together. This is the end-to-end 'sync with the DB' workflow, and it orchestrates three skills in order: `cayenne-db-import` (import schema metadata into the DataMap) → `cayenne-model-naming` (polish the just-imported names) → `cayenne-cgen` (regenerate Java classes). Trigger on holistic phrases like 'sync my project with the database', 'sync with the DB', 'my schema changed, update everything', 'update my entities/classes from the database', 'reverse engineer and regenerate the classes', 'import the new tables and rebuild the entities', 'full DB sync', 'bring the model and classes up to date with the DB'. The distinguishing signal is scope: the user wants the whole project (mapping + names + Java code), not just one stage. For the *model/mapping only* (no name cleanup, no class generation) use `cayenne-db-import`; to (re)generate classes alone use `cayenne-cgen`; to clean names alone use `cayenne-model-naming`. Uses the `mcp__cayenne__dbimport_run` and `mcp__cayenne__cgen_run` MCP tools via the sub-skills; does NOT use Maven or Gradle goals.
SKILL.md
cayenne-full-db-sync
Bring an entire Cayenne project in line with the database in one pass. This skill is a thin orchestrator — it runs three existing skills in sequence and does not re-implement any of their logic:
cayenne-db-import— import DB schema metadata into the DataMap (the mapping XML).cayenne-model-naming— polish the Object-layer names of what the import just added.cayenne-cgen— regenerate the Java entity classes so the code matches the model.
Each sub-skill still runs within its own scope and carries its own required reading, MCP tool usage, failure handling, and anti-patterns. Your job here is to drive them in order, pass the shared project/DataMap identity through, and short-circuit correctly when a stage has nothing to do.
When to use this vs. a single skill
- Whole project should reflect the DB (mapping + names + Java) → this skill.
- Model/mapping only, no name cleanup or class generation →
cayenne-db-import. - Java classes only, model already correct →
cayenne-cgen. - Names only, no import or regeneration →
cayenne-model-naming.
If the request is ambiguous ("update from the DB"), default to this full sync — it is the common intent — but say what you're about to do (import → clean names → regenerate) before you start.
Required reading
This skill delegates, so read each sub-skill and let it pull its own references:
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/cayenne-db-import/SKILL.md${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/cayenne-model-naming/SKILL.md${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/cayenne-cgen/SKILL.md${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/references/project-layout.md— to resolve the project descriptor and DataMap once, up front.
Step 0 — Resolve the shared inputs once
All three stages operate on the same project. Resolve these before starting so you can pass them through:
projectPath— absolute path to the top-level project descriptor (cayenne-*.xml), viaproject-layout.md. Not a DataMap file.dataMap— the DataMap name from<map name="...">in the descriptor. If the project has multiple DataMaps and the user wants "everything", run the whole pipeline once per DataMap. If ambiguous, ask which DataMap; cache the answer.
Tell the user the plan in one line: "I'll import from the DB, clean up the new names, then regenerate the classes."
Step 1 — Import (cayenne-db-import)
Follow the cayenne-db-import skill to run dbimport_run for the resolved project/DataMap. Because
you are orchestrating, you drive the follow-up here — do not act on that skill's own Step 5
hand-off prompts (it would suggest naming/cgen again); this skill sequences them instead.
Branch on the result status:
importedwith a non-emptysummary(entities/relationships added/modified) → the model changed. Proceed to Step 2.up_to_date(orimportedwith an all-zero summary) → the mapping already matches the DB. Skip Step 2 (nothing new to name). Go straight to Step 3 to guarantee the Java classes are in sync —cgen_runis idempotent and simply reports everything skipped if the code is already current. Tell the user the model was already up to date.validation_failed→ followcayenne-db-import's remediation table for theerror.code. The common first-run case isdbconnector_not_configured, which routes through the Modeler GUI to save the connection; once resolved, re-run the import and continue the pipeline. If it can't be resolved, stop and surface the problem — do not run naming or cgen on a failed import.error(partial/mid-run failure) → surfaceerror.messageand the partial summary, then stop. Don't proceed to naming or cgen.
Step 2 — Clean up names (cayenne-model-naming)
Only when Step 1 imported real changes. Follow the cayenne-model-naming skill in its changed-only
mode — it scopes itself to the import's additions via git diff, so you don't tell it which entities
changed. Within this pipeline it runs unattended: apply the changed-scope renames and report
what changed; do not pause for per-rename confirmation. (Naming must run before cgen so the classes
are generated with the final names.)
Two carry-overs from that skill still hold: it only touches what the deterministic generator can't get
right (run-together names, team1-style collisions, a table prefix leaking into relationships), and
every rename updates its cross-references per model-naming-rename-safety.md.
Step 3 — Regenerate classes (cayenne-cgen)
Follow the cayenne-cgen skill to run cgen_run for the same project/DataMap. This materializes the
Java entity classes from the now-final model. Report the summary counts and the destination as that
skill describes.
Step 4 — Summarize the whole run
Give the user a single consolidated report of the three stages:
- Import — entities/relationships added/removed/modified (from the
dbimport_runsummary). - Names — the renames applied (old → new), or "none needed".
- Classes — files written / skipped, and the destination directory.
Then the usual follow-ups: remind them not to edit the _<Entity>.java superclasses (regenerated),
and to save the project in the Modeler if it's open.
Anti-patterns
- Don't use this for a single stage. Model-only import →
cayenne-db-import; classes-only →cayenne-cgen; names-only →cayenne-model-naming. This skill is for the whole pipeline. - Don't re-implement the sub-steps. Delegate to each skill so its MCP tool usage, failure modes, and anti-patterns all apply. This file only sequences and short-circuits.
- Don't run naming or cgen after a failed or empty import. A
validation_failed/errorstops the pipeline;up_to_dateskips naming (but cgen may still run as an idempotent guarantee). - Don't reorder the stages. Names must be finalized before cgen, or classes are generated with the names you're about to change.
- Don't rewrite the whole model during a sync. Naming stays in changed-only scope (import additions), never an entire-model pass, unless the user explicitly asks for one.
- Don't suggest
mvn cayenne:cdbimport/cayenne:cgenor the Gradle tasks. The sub-skills use the MCP tools exclusively; if the server isn't connected, they point atcayenne-mcp-server/README.mdand stop.
More skills from the cayenne repository
View all 8 skillscayenne-cgen
generate Cayenne entity Java classes
Jul 12Data ModelingJavaORMcayenne-db-import
import database schema into Cayenne DataMaps
Jul 19DatabaseJavaORMSQLcayenne-model-naming
clean up Cayenne object-layer names
Jul 22Data ModelingDatabaseJavaORMcayenne-modeler
manage Cayenne projects with CayenneModeler
Jul 12Data ModelingJavaORMcayenne-modeling
edit and extend Cayenne ORM models
Jul 19DatabaseJavaORMcayenne-query
write and modify Cayenne database queries
Jul 12DatabaseJavaORMSQL
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