dashboard-management
DevelopmentHow analytics dashboards are stored, created, and modified. Covers SQL dashboard tables, legacy settings migration, valid panel sources, layout shape, and safe update patterns.
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Dashboard Management
Dashboards are SQL-backed resources. New dashboards and analyses live in the template tables, not in settings KV rows.
Storage
Current storage:
| Table | Purpose |
|---|---|
dashboards | Explorer and SQL dashboard records |
dashboard_views | Saved filter presets per dashboard |
dashboard_shares | Standard framework share grants |
dashboard_revisions | Bounded dashboard history snapshots |
analyses | Saved ad-hoc analysis records |
analysis_revisions | Bounded analysis history snapshots |
analysis_shares | Standard framework share grants for analyses |
Legacy settings keys such as u:<email>:dashboard-*, u:<email>:sql-dashboard-*, o:<orgId>:sql-dashboard-*, and adhoc-analysis-* are still read as a fallback and copied into SQL on access. Do not create new dashboard settings rows.
Use mutate-dashboard for existing dashboard edits. It resolves the current
user/org context, validates the resulting config, writes the SQL-backed record,
syncs collab, and returns compact proof. Use update-dashboard for new
full-config saves, UI full-config saves, or explicitly requested low-level
JSON-pointer edits.
Every meaningful dashboard save snapshots the previous state into
dashboard_revisions. Use list-dashboard-revisions to inspect available undo
points and restore-dashboard-revision to restore one; restore snapshots the
current state first, then syncs open dashboard editors.
Saved analyses follow the same undo model with analysis_revisions,
list-analysis-revisions, and restore-analysis-revision.
Never use db-patch, raw SQL, or settings-key edits to create or modify a
dashboard config. Those bypass the dashboard action's access checks, SQL
validation, collab sync, and proof-of-done return. If a dashboard action fails
because the argument shape was wrong, fix that action's arguments and retry
once — do not switch to db-patch or raw SQL.
Valid Panel Sources
panel.source is a backend selector, not a table name. It must be one of:
| Source | Query shape |
|---|---|
bigquery | Literal warehouse SQL. Table names belong inside the SQL string. |
ga4 | JSON descriptor for the Google Analytics Data API. |
amplitude | JSON descriptor for an Amplitude query. |
first-party | Read-only SQL over this template's analytics_events table, usually via query-agent-native-analytics. |
Do not use app-db as a dashboard source. For first-party events collected through /track, use source: "first-party" or the query-agent-native-analytics action rather than raw internal db-query.
AI-generated first-party panels are dashboard-time-bound by default. Set
config.timeScope to "dashboard" and include the matching dashboard time
filter in the SQL. The allowed values are:
dashboard: use the dashboard-selected time range; the default for ordinary metrics.fixed-window: use an explicit bounded window independent of the dashboard filter.cohort-history: use the bounded history of an explicitly defined cohort.all-time: scan all available history; use only when the user requests it and putall-time,lifetime, orhistoricalin the title or description.
{{timeRange}} requires an explicit matching filters entry with
id: "timeRange" and type: "select". {{<id>Start}} and {{<id>End}}
require a matching filters entry with that id and type: "date-range".
Do not rely on undeclared time variables. Server validation rejects unbound
first-party SQL, so declare the filter or choose an explicit non-dashboard
scope before saving.
Creating A Dashboard
When the user asks for a dashboard:
- Read the injected
<data-dictionary>block first (catalog-first). If relevant entries exist, use theirtable,columns,queryTemplate, and gotchas verbatim. - If a metric definition, date range, or grain is ambiguous and the choice would change the panel's numbers, use the
ask-questionclarifying tool once before building. Skip it when the dictionary or the user already settled it. - If a metric is not documented, do not guess column names. Ask for the table/columns or introspect the provider schema, then propose a dictionary entry with
save-data-dictionary-entry. - Build a complete
SqlDashboardConfigwithnameandpanels. Optionally set top-levelcolumns(1–6, default 2) to control how many grid columns the panels before any section use. - Every panel needs
id,title,source,chartType,width, andsql.widthis the number of grid columns the panel spans (1..6, clamped to the active section's column count). Section panels skipsourceandsqland may set their owncolumns(1–6) to override the dashboard default for the panels following the section. Extension panels (chartType: "extension") also skipsourceandsql; useconfig.extensionIdfor ordinary author-selected shared embeds. Useconfig.extensionSlotIdonly when the user explicitly asks for a personal/per-viewer slot (see "Embedding An Extension As A Panel"). - Persist with
update-dashboard, not raw SQL or settings writes. - Navigate to it with
pnpm action navigate --view=adhoc --dashboardId=<id>.
Layout is always 1 column when the available content width is below the md threshold (panels stack), then expands to the configured column count at/above it. The grid uses a container query, so it also stacks when the agent sidebar narrows the content pane — not only at narrow viewports. So picking 3 or 4 columns is fine — the renderer keeps narrow layouts readable automatically.
pnpm action update-dashboard --dashboardId weekly-metrics --config '<full json>'
pnpm action navigate --view=adhoc --dashboardId=weekly-metrics
The save path dry-runs BigQuery panels before persisting. If validation returns a provider error, fix the query and retry. Never work around validation by writing directly to a table.
When To Use An Extension Instead
Native Analytics dashboards are JSON configs rendered by the built-in dashboard components. Use native dashboard actions only when the request fits that model: standard panels, supported chart types, filters, variables, sections, and grid layout.
If the user asks for a dashboard or analytical surface that needs bespoke UI or
code beyond the dashboard JSON/component model, create an extension instead.
Examples include custom interaction flows, non-standard visualizations, complex
multi-step workflows, highly custom layouts, custom client-side state, or a
dashboard-like app that needs behavior the built-in renderer cannot express. In
production mode, call create-extension automatically and then tell the user
that the request needed a bespoke surface, so you built it as an extension
rather than forcing it into a native dashboard config.
Embedding An Extension As A Panel
Use chartType: "extension" to add an extension box alongside normal SQL
charts. The panel skips source and sql. For ordinary requests such as "put
X in this dashboard," save the author-selected extension id in
config.extensionId. This makes the selection part of the shared dashboard and
keeps the widget present in scheduled report captures:
{
"id": "pipeline-widget",
"title": "Pipeline Widget",
"chartType": "extension",
"width": 3,
"config": { "extensionId": "extension-123" },
}
Direct embeds receive the dashboard id, name, description, current filters, and panel context. Embedding does not grant extension access, so share the extension with the dashboard audience.
Use a stable config.extensionSlotId only when the user explicitly wants each
viewer to choose or install their own widget:
analytics.dashboard.<dashboard-id>.panel.<panel-id>
Create or choose the extension, call add-extension-slot-target with the
extension id and slot id, then call install-extension with the same values.
The dashboard panel is shared, while the installed extension is per-user.
Empty slots show the normal install affordance instead of a broken iframe.
{
"id": "pipeline-widget",
"title": "Pipeline Widget",
"chartType": "extension",
"width": 3,
"config": {
"extensionSlotId": "analytics.dashboard.weekly-metrics.panel.pipeline-widget",
},
}
Notes:
- Both direct and slot-backed extensions receive dashboard and panel context.
- Installs and extension access are per viewer. Sharing the dashboard does not automatically install or grant access to its extension for other viewers.
- Slot installs are per-user preferences. Different viewers can see different widgets, and scheduled reports running as a service identity may show an empty slot. This is why slots are opt-in rather than the default.
Cloning A Direct-Extension Dashboard (e.g. per-customer copies)
When the user asks for a copy of an existing extension-backed dashboard for a
different customer/org (for example "make an Intuit version of the Roku usage
dashboard"), follow this playbook. Extension bodies are frequently tens of
thousands of characters. The reliable path is to read+transform+write the body
INSIDE run-code (where workspaceRead returns the full file) and then create
from that written file — never by pulling the body into chat context first or
re-typing it as a content argument.
get-sql-dashboardwithincludeConfig: trueon the source dashboard and confirm the target panel is achartType: "extension"panel withconfig.extensionId; grab that extension id. For a slot-backed panel, clone the dashboard panel with a new stableextensionSlotId, then target and install the desired extension into that slot instead of using this body-copy playbook.get-extensionfor that id withforceContent: trueexactly once. Reuse that body for the rest of the turn — a second same-run read intentionally omitscontentand returnscontentOmittedinstead. That is not the content disappearing; use the copy you already have. Do NOT try to re-fetch the body withrun-code(appAction('get-extension')) to page past a display truncation — the same-run omit makes it return emptycontent, wasting turns. If you need the full body again, read the workspace resource file (step 5) or setforceContent: trueon a single nativeget-extension.- Change ONLY the small customer-specific static config (e.g. the
ACCOUNT_USAGE_STATICblock: company name, title, org-discovery filters, messaging). Prefer a focusedupdate-extensionedit/patch over regenerating the entire HTML. - Call
create-extension/update-extensionas native tools. They are mutating actions and are NOT callable fromrun-code/appAction(the sandbox bridge only exposes read-only actions). Do not try to create or update an extension from insiderun-code. - If the source body already exists as a workspace/shared resource file
(e.g. a pre-built
intuit-analytics-extension.html), do the read AND the customer swap in ONErun-codecall, then create from the written file:- Inside
run-code:const src = await workspaceRead('<source>.html')returns the WHOLE file (it auto-pages; there is no 50k cap here), do the small string-replace on the static config block, thenawait workspaceWrite('<target>.html', modified). - Then call
create-extension(native) withcontentFromWorkspaceFile: '<target>.html'and leavecontentempty — the server reads the full file verbatim. Do NOT read the source body with theresourcesread tool (orget-extension) first just to transform it: that display is capped and wastes a turn. And do NOT re-emit an 80k+ char body as thecontentargument — it gets cut off mid-stream.contentFromAttachmentonly sees files the user pasted into chat, not workspace resources.create-extension/update-extensionare mutating and cannot run fromrun-code, so only the read+write+transform happens there.
- Inside
- Finally
update-dashboardto save a new dashboard embedding the new extension panel (chartType: "extension",config.extensionId), thennavigateto it.
Repairing An Existing Extension-Backed Dashboard
When the user asks to fix data loading in an existing or migrated
extension-backed dashboard, treat the current extension body as user-authored
design. Read the dashboard config and extension once, identify the smallest
data-loading seam, and call update-extension with focused patches or
edits. Preserve the existing layout, CSS, copy, and interactions. Do not
send a reconstructed full content body for a data-only repair;
update-extension blocks full-body replacement unless
allowFullReplacement: true is explicitly supplied. Use that flag only for a
user-requested broad visual rewrite or a complete replacement body supplied by
the user. If a focused edit fails, inspect the current body and change the
target rather than retrying the same arguments.
Display truncation is cosmetic — do not chase the "missing" tail
A tool result ending in ...[truncated — full result was N chars; only first 50,000 shown] (from the resources read tool or get-extension) means only the
DISPLAYED text was capped. The file is intact. run-code's workspaceRead
returns the full N chars, and contentFromWorkspaceFile hosts the full file.
Never read the same file twice or try to "page the rest" to recover the tail —
that is the single biggest source of wasted turns on clone requests. Decide to
clone, then go straight to the run-code read+transform+write path in step 5.
Config Shape
{
"name": "Weekly Metrics",
"description": "Core product and acquisition metrics",
// Default grid columns for panels before any section. 1–6, default 2.
// The grid is always 1 column on small screens and expands at `md:`.
"columns": 3,
"filters": [
{
"id": "date",
"type": "date-range",
"label": "Date Range",
"default": "30d",
},
],
"variables": {
"EVENTS": "`my_project.analytics.events`",
},
"panels": [
// 3 metric cards sit side-by-side at md+ thanks to the dashboard's "columns": 3.
{
"id": "kpi-clicks",
"title": "Clicks",
"source": "first-party",
"chartType": "metric",
"width": 1,
"config": { "timeScope": "dashboard" },
"sql": "SELECT COUNT(*) AS value FROM analytics_events WHERE event_name = 'click' AND event_date >= '{{dateStart}}' AND event_date < '{{dateEnd}}'",
},
{
"id": "kpi-signups",
"title": "Signups",
"source": "first-party",
"chartType": "metric",
"width": 1,
"config": { "timeScope": "dashboard" },
"sql": "SELECT COUNT(*) AS value FROM analytics_events WHERE event_name = 'signup' AND event_date >= '{{dateStart}}' AND event_date < '{{dateEnd}}'",
},
{
"id": "kpi-active",
"title": "Active users",
"source": "first-party",
"chartType": "metric",
"width": 1,
"config": { "timeScope": "dashboard" },
"sql": "SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT user_id) AS value FROM analytics_events WHERE event_date >= '{{dateStart}}' AND event_date < '{{dateEnd}}'",
},
// Section header switches the grid to 2 columns for the panels below it.
{
"id": "trends",
"title": "Trends",
"chartType": "section",
"width": 1,
"columns": 2,
},
{
"id": "events",
"title": "Events",
"source": "first-party",
"chartType": "line",
"width": 2,
"config": { "timeScope": "dashboard" },
"sql": "SELECT event_date AS date, COUNT(*) AS value FROM analytics_events WHERE event_date >= '{{dateStart}}' AND event_date < '{{dateEnd}}' GROUP BY 1 ORDER BY 1",
},
],
}
Filters And Variables
filters[] defines dashboard-wide controls. Filter values are available in panel SQL through {{var}} interpolation. Date ranges emit {{<id>Start}} and {{<id>End}}.
For dashboard-time-bound first-party SQL, use config.timeScope: "dashboard"
and a predicate that consumes the declared filter, such as
event_date >= '{{dateStart}}' AND event_date < '{{dateEnd}}'. A
{{timeRange}} token must have a matching select filter and SQL branches for
its options; date variables must have a matching date-range filter. The server
rejects unbound first-party SQL during dashboard validation.
Filter ids must be unique. Two filters with the same id collide on the same URL param, so changing one visibly updates the other in the UI. The dashboard save endpoint rejects duplicates with a 400.
Use type: "date-range" for paired start/end dates. Don't add two type: "date" filters labeled "Start" and "End" — even with distinct ids, that ships the wrong UX. A single date-range filter renders as the "from … to …" pair and exposes both halves to SQL via {{<id>Start}} / {{<id>End}}.
Use variables for shared constants such as table refs or project IDs. Identifier-like variables can be used bare (FROM {{EVENTS}}); string values should be inside SQL string literals ('{{author}}').
Use conditional blocks for optional filters:
{{?country}}AND country = '{{country}}'{{/country}}
Filters auto-apply on change — there is no Apply button. Each filter change writes to the URL and re-runs the affected panels. Other filters are preserved (the URL update is functional, not destructive). If you see a filter "reset" itself when another filter changes, look for a duplicate id first.
Modifying A Dashboard
For existing dashboard edits, default to mutate-dashboard. It gives the
agent a small typed script API without exposing arbitrary JavaScript execution.
The main action payload is a string, so it avoids native-array serialization
traps in tool calls while still giving the agent a code-like editing surface.
The server parses only documented dashboard.* method calls, applies the
resulting operations in memory, validates the final dashboard config, writes
SQL once, syncs collab, and returns compact proof.
Arguments must be JSON-compatible literals, so quote object keys. Variables, imports, loops, functions, templates, network, filesystem, DB access, and calling other actions from the script are not available.
type DashboardMutationApi = {
dashboard: {
set(patch: DashboardPatch): void;
setFilterDefault(
filterId: string,
value: string | number | boolean | null,
): void;
panel(id: string): PanelSelection;
section(id: string): SectionSelection;
panels(ids: string[]): PanelSelection;
panelsMatching(filter: PanelFilter): PanelSelection;
insertPanel(panel: PanelInput): InsertedPanel;
};
};
type DashboardPatch = {
name?: string;
description?: string;
columns?: number;
filters?: unknown[];
variables?: Record<string, string>;
parentId?: string;
};
type PanelTimeScope =
| "dashboard"
| "fixed-window"
| "cohort-history"
| "all-time";
type PanelConfig = Record<string, unknown> & {
// Use "dashboard" for AI-generated first-party panels by default.
timeScope?: PanelTimeScope;
// Fixed bar width in pixels for bar charts.
};
type PanelPatch = {
title?: string;
sql?: string;
source?:
| "bigquery"
| "ga4"
| "amplitude"
| "first-party"
| "demo"
| "prometheus"
| "program";
chartType?:
| "line"
| "area"
| "bar"
| "metric"
| "table"
| "pie"
| "section"
| "heatmap"
| "callout"
| "extension";
width?: number;
columns?: number;
tab?: string;
config?: PanelConfig;
description?: string;
};
type PanelInput = PanelPatch & {
id: string;
title: string;
chartType: NonNullable<PanelPatch["chartType"]>;
source?: PanelPatch["source"]; // required for non-section / non-extension panels
sql?: string; // required for non-section / non-extension panels
// For chartType "extension": use config.extensionId by default; extensionSlotId is opt-in per-viewer content.
};
type PanelFilter = {
id?: string;
ids?: string[];
idIncludes?: string;
title?: string;
titleIncludes?: string;
chartType?: PanelPatch["chartType"];
source?: PanelPatch["source"];
tab?: string;
isSection?: boolean;
};
type PanelSelection = {
moveToTop(): void;
moveToBottom(): void;
moveBefore(panelId: string): void;
moveAfter(panelId: string): void;
moveToIndex(index: number): void;
moveNextTo(panelId: string): void;
nextTo(panelId: string): void;
moveToRow(rowNumber: number): void;
moveToRowStart(rowNumber: number): void;
moveToRowEnd(rowNumber: number): void;
atRow(rowNumber: number): void;
atRowStart(rowNumber: number): void;
atRowEnd(rowNumber: number): void;
remove(): void;
set(patch: PanelPatch): void;
setTitle(title: string): void;
setSql(sql: string): void;
setWidth(width: number): void;
setConfig(patch: Record<string, unknown>): void;
setConfigPath(path: string, value: unknown): void;
duplicate(newPanelId: string, patch?: PanelPatch): PanelPlacement;
};
type SectionSelection = PanelSelection & {
append(panelIds: string[]): void;
};
type PanelPlacement = {
atTop(): void;
atBottom(): void;
before(panelId: string): void;
after(panelId: string): void;
atIndex(index: number): void;
nextTo(panelId: string): void;
atRow(rowNumber: number): void;
atRowStart(rowNumber: number): void;
atRowEnd(rowNumber: number): void;
};
type InsertedPanel = PanelPlacement;
Examples:
dashboard.panels(["dau-over-time", "wau-over-time"]).moveToTop();
dashboard
.panel("recurring-users-by-template")
.duplicate("recurring-users-by-template-bar", {
title: "Recurring Signed-In Users by Template (Bar)",
chartType: "bar",
})
.nextTo("recurring-users-by-template");
dashboard.setFilterDefault("emailFilter", "exclude_builder");
dashboard.panel("top-referrers").setTitle("Top Referrers by Domain");
dashboard.panel("retention").set({
width: 2,
config: { description: "Updated definition." },
});
dashboard.panelsMatching({ source: "first-party" }).setWidth(2);
dashboard
.panelsMatching({ titleIncludes: "Revenue" })
.setConfigPath("yAxis.format", "currency");
dashboard.panelsMatching({ titleIncludes: "Signed-In" }).moveToTop();
dashboard
.section("retention-activity-section")
.append(["repeat-users", "retention-over-time"]);
dashboard
.insertPanel({
id: "new-kpi",
title: "New KPI",
source: "first-party",
chartType: "metric",
width: 1,
config: { timeScope: "dashboard" },
// Assumes filters includes { id: "date", type: "date-range", default: "30d" }.
sql: "SELECT COUNT(*) AS value FROM analytics_events WHERE event_date >= '{{dateStart}}' AND event_date < '{{dateEnd}}'",
})
.atTop();
Native tool call:
{
"dashboardId": "weekly-metrics",
"code": "dashboard.panels([\"dau-over-time\",\"wau-over-time\"]).moveToTop();"
}
Use update-dashboard only for new full-config saves, UI full-config saves, or
when the user specifically requests low-level JSON-pointer edits.
get-sql-dashboard is compact by default. It returns panel summaries, ids,
titles, chart types, sources, layout groups, layout.panelOrder, and
layout.firstPanelIds without embedding every panel's full SQL. Use that
compact result to find panel ids and verify order. Pass includeConfig: true
only when you need full panel SQL/config for a detailed edit.
After a mutation, navigate to the dashboard if the user is elsewhere. The app syncs through the framework's polling/query invalidation path.
Reordering Panels
For simple "move this chart/section" requests, prefer mutate-dashboard with a
string script:
{
"dashboardId": "weekly-metrics",
"code": "dashboard.panels([\"dau-over-time\",\"wau-over-time\"]).moveToTop();"
}
Do not do index arithmetic with /panels/<index> unless the user specifically
asks for a low-level JSON-pointer edit. Use moveBefore, moveAfter,
moveToTop, moveToBottom, or moveToIndex against panel ids instead.
get-sql-dashboard returns layout.panelOrder, layout.firstPanelIds, and
row/group summaries. Use those fields for orientation and verification instead
of re-reading stale screenshots or counting positions from memory.
Existing Dashboard Edits
When the user asks to change existing panels:
- Read the current dashboard with
get-sql-dashboardcompact mode unless full SQL/config is required. - Call
mutate-dashboardonce with every change in one script. Usepanel(...),panels([...]), orpanelsMatching({...})selectors by id or metadata; do not compute shifted array indexes. - Verify the returned
panelCount,appliedOps,firstPanelIds, andsummary. If possible, read the affected panels back and confirm the exact fields changed.
For SQL-only panel edits, use dashboard.panel("id").setSql("..."). If the
metric semantics changed, also update the visible definition with
setConfigPath("description", "...") or set({ "description": "..." }). If
the title, source, chart type, width, or config shape changes together, put them
in the same set({...}) call.
First-Party User Metrics
For first-party /track events, be precise about identity:
| Metric intent | Identity expression |
|---|---|
| Account users, DAU, WAU, retention, cohorts | NULLIF(user_id, '') plus NULLIF(user_id, '') IS NOT NULL, but only on events that actually represent the activity being measured |
| Signed-in visitor activity | event_name = 'session status' AND signed_in = 'true' keyed by COALESCE(NULLIF(user_id, ''), NULLIF(anonymous_id, '')), labeled as signed-in visitors rather than account users |
| Public traffic, visitors, clip/share viewers | COALESCE(NULLIF(user_id, ''), NULLIF(anonymous_id, '')) |
Do not call anonymous visitors "users" in dashboard labels or descriptions. When a user asks for DAU, WAU, retention, repeat users, or account cohorts, exclude logged-out traffic unless they explicitly ask for visitor metrics. If the active/session events do not include account identity, do not substitute signup or identify events and call that DAU/WAU. Either update instrumentation to send account identity on active events, or label the dashboard metric as signed-in visitor activity.
For template/app activity metrics, exclude docs from DAU, WAU, retention, and
repeat-user panels. A docs event may carry signed_in = true from shared auth
state or tracker context, but docs traffic is not app usage and should not appear
as an app/template series. Use a minimum cohort-size threshold for retention
rates so one or two identities cannot create misleading 100% or 0% spikes.
Building Large First-Party Dashboards (compose-dashboard)
For a first-party analytics dashboard, prefer compose-dashboard over hand-authoring a big update-dashboard config. You name the metrics; the SERVER expands each into a full, validated panel (SQL + chart config) from the shipped metric catalog and saves them in ONE atomic call. This avoids the failure mode where the agent must stream a giant multi-panel update-dashboard argument inside the ~40s budget — that big tool-call can't be resumed mid-stream and is all-or-nothing on validation, so the agent thrashes (repeated update-dashboard + tool-search, never landing).
- Never hand-author large first-party configs panel-by-panel. Call
compose-dashboardwith the metric keys instead. - Unknown metric keys are skipped and reported in
unknownMetrics(not fatal). Each panel's SQL is validated independently — valid panels save, invalid ones are reported ininvalidMetrics. - By default (no
overwrite), composing into an existing dashboard APPENDS the new panels and skips ids already present.overwrite: truereplaces the whole config. - Each metric accepts an optional per-metric
windowof'30d' | '90d' | 'all'(only affects windowed virality/time metrics) andtitle/chartType/widthoverrides. Request'all'only when the user asks for all-time coverage, and describe it as full available history. - Returns
{ dashboardId, panelCount, createdMetrics, unknownMetrics, invalidMetrics, skippedExistingIds }— reportpanelCountas proof-of-done.
Available metric keys: total-signups, signups-over-time, signups-by-template, sessions-by-app, sessions-over-time, replay-sessions, replay-chunks-over-time, recent-replay-sessions, signed-in-vs-anon, total-template-clicks, total-demo-clicks, total-cli-copies, template-interest-over-time, clicks-by-template, demo-clicks-by-template, cli-copies-by-template, cli-copies-over-time, pageviews-over-time, top-referrer-domains, referred-signups-30d, viral-signup-share-30d, clip-share-signups-30d, signups-by-referral-source, referred-signups-over-time, top-referrers, share-funnel-30d, viral-participation-rate-90d, viral-coefficient-90d, activated-referrers-90d.
# Build a large first-party dashboard in ONE call (server generates the panels)
pnpm action compose-dashboard --dashboardId first-party-overview --title "First-Party Overview" \
--metrics '["total-signups","signups-over-time","signups-by-template","sessions-by-app","viral-coefficient-90d","top-referrers","share-funnel-30d"]'
Reliable Bulk Edits
This is the dashboard-specific application of the framework-wide reliable-mutations skill — read that for the general rule (one atomic write, verify end state, report proof-of-done).
Hosted agent runs have a ~40s budget. Many sequential update-dashboard calls (one per panel, plus schema-discovery calls) will blow that budget and leave the dashboard in a partial state — earlier inserts looked like they succeeded (✓), but nothing actually persisted. Avoid this:
- For a large first-party dashboard, use
compose-dashboard(see the section above): name the metrics, the server generates the panels in one call. Do not hand-author the big config. - Batch ALL edits into ONE
mutate-dashboardcall. One script can move, insert, remove, duplicate, and update many panels. Never loop dashboard edit actions panel-by-panel.- To bulk edit existing panels, use selectors:
dashboard.panelsMatching({"source":"first-party"}).setWidth(2); - To make nested config edits, use
setConfigPath("yAxis.format", "percent")instead of resending/clobbering the whole nested object.
- To bulk edit existing panels, use selectors:
- To add a shipped template's panels, prefer
install-dashboard-templatewithmergePanels: trueand the existingdashboardId. It appends only the template panels whose id is not already present (preserving existing panels and order) in one atomic save — you don't author each panel yourself. - Always verify the returned proof-of-done and report it.
mutate-dashboardreturnspanelCount,appliedOps,panelOrder,firstPanelIds,changedPanelIds,commandLog, and asummarystring.install-dashboard-template --mergePanelsreturnsaddedPanelIds,skippedExistingIds, andpanelCount. Tell the user the resulting panel count instead of assuming success.
# Add or edit several panels in ONE atomic call (never one call per panel)
pnpm action mutate-dashboard --dashboardId weekly-metrics \
--code 'dashboard.panelsMatching({"source":"first-party"}).setWidth(2);'
# Append a template's panels to an existing dashboard in one call
pnpm action install-dashboard-template --templateId skills-cli-funnel --dashboardId weekly-metrics --mergePanels true
Archiving vs deleting
Dashboards have a soft-delete state. The default user-facing destructive action is Archive (recoverable). Hard delete still exists, but lives behind a "Delete permanently" confirm in both the page header and the sidebar dropdown — and in the agent surface, behind the older delete-dashboard action. Archived rows stay in the dashboards table with archived_at set, are hidden from the default sidebar list, and remain accessible by id (so deep links in chat history keep working) until explicitly purged.
# Archive
pnpm action archive-dashboard --id weekly-metrics
# Restore
pnpm action archive-dashboard --id weekly-metrics --archived false
Default the agent to archive when the user says "delete" / "remove" / "get rid of" a dashboard. Reach for hard delete only when the user explicitly says "permanently", "for good", or similar. List queries default to active rows only — use ?archived=1 on /api/sql-dashboards (or the archived: 'all' | 'archived' | 'active' option on listDashboards) to see archived rows.
Sharing
Dashboards are private by default. Use the framework sharing actions:
pnpm action share-resource --resourceType dashboard --resourceId weekly-metrics --principalType org --principalId <org-id> --role viewer
pnpm action set-resource-visibility --resourceType dashboard --resourceId weekly-metrics --visibility org
Writes require editor access; deletes require admin access. Owners always satisfy access checks.
If a dashboard embeds an extension panel (chartType: "extension"), sharing the
dashboard does not share the extension. Share the referenced extension to the
same audience (share-resource --resourceType extension ...) so all dashboard
viewers can see the embedded content; otherwise they get an "extension
unavailable" placeholder.
Important Rules
- Never fabricate data or create a dashboard from guessed schema. A panel's SQL must hit a real source; do not present figures you did not actually query.
- Never write dashboard configs into the settings table.
- Never use
db-patchas a fallback for dashboard config edits. Usemutate-dashboardfor existing edits, orupdate-dashboardfor new/full config saves, and fix the action arguments. - Never set
panel.sourceto a table name or unsupported backend. - Use
first-partyfor/trackdata andquery-agent-native-analyticsfor ad-hoc first-party event questions. - Use
update-dashboardfor new dashboard config saves and full config replacements. Usemutate-dashboardfor existing dashboard edits.