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Dbt MCP Server

MCP server for dbt-core (OSS) users as the official dbt MCP only supports dbt Cloud. Supports project metadata, model and column-level lineage and

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Dbt MCP server?

If you want an AI assistant working directly with Dbt, the dbt mcp server is the bridge. MCP server for dbt-core (OSS) users as the official dbt MCP only supports dbt Cloud. Supports project metadata, model and column-level lineage and dbt documentation.

What Dbt does

Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for interacting with dbt project metadata, including dbt Docs artifacts (manifest.json, catalog.json). This server exposes dbt graph information and allows querying node details, model/column lineage, and related metadata.

Tools it exposes

Once connected, the assistant can call this tool directly:

  • Column — Level Lineage:**

Installing the dbt mcp server

Setup follows the standard MCP pattern: clone or install the server, then register it in your client's configuration file and restart the client. The configuration snippets on this page cover Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor.

Configuration

The server reads 3 environment variables: MANIFEST_PATH, SCHEMA_MAPPING_PATH, MANIFEST_CL_PATH. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than committing them.

Where it fits

Knowledge and memory servers address the most frustrating trait of language models — walking into every conversation with no recollection of the last one. Dbt sits in that group, and the shape of its toolset — Column — tells you what it is really for. Worth comparing against the other knowledge memory servers in this directory before you commit to one, since several overlap in scope but differ sharply in setup cost and permissions.

Practical notes

  • This server runs locally, so it operates with whatever access your machine and its credentials already have. Scope that deliberately rather than by default.
  • Written in Python.
  • MCP clients ask for confirmation before each tool call by default. Keep that on while you learn what the dbt mcp server actually does with your data.
  • Every entry in this directory is reviewed by hand before it goes live, and details are checked against the project's own documentation.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
ColumnLevel Lineage:**

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
MANIFEST_PATHFilesystem location the server is allowed to use.Optional
SCHEMA_MAPPING_PATHFilesystem location the server is allowed to use.Optional
MANIFEST_CL_PATHFilesystem location the server is allowed to use.Optional

Example prompts to try

  • “Use Dbt to Column.”

Frequently asked questions

It connects Dbt to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 1 tool (Column) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Dbt directly.

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